We had regular SFV Bonsai Club meeting yesterday on Sunday 23. Now Obon Bonsai Show ended and no more Bonsai plant to take care by everybody, we could concentrate to take care our Own Bonsai.
Member total gathered around 16 including one special guest, visitor from Japan, whose daughter was member of Bonsai Club and I believe this Bonsai Club is a healthy cultural meeting place worth to see members in action.
This time we had delicious luncheon -curry rice prepared by host as usual and everybody enjoyed nice, big family size meeting and luncheon at host's garage and back yard.
I did not bring any Bonsai myself. The day before, one of the most respected members sent me message on Club-insurance matter. I had to think about this insurance matter and have to decide what we should do before we present this insurance idea at the meeting. As one of the treasurers of this Club and most knowledgeable person on Club's financial matter, I get idea what we have to do.
So, on this meeting, usually we discuss club matter after luncheon, this time I wanted to have serious talk (by myself) before luncheon.
The origin of insurance idea came from protecting Bonsai Club host and his house from any accidental injury claim by members. To join into umbrella insurance coverage of Community, we expected that host (whoever he might be), might get protection from any claims by injured party of Bonsai Club members if it ever happened. In the past, it never happened, but now our members include people of various cultural background and people behave differently. And since this Bonsai Club meeting is held successfully by the assistance of our Hosts' (Master and previous president) generous gesture to serve our purpose, we have to protect hosts from any future claims. If umbrella insurance cover activities at host's house, then we will have no problem. But we found out that our current Community insurance did not cover against outside of community. And we found out also that some federation of Bonsai Club had general insurance coverage. But it costs at least some amount. Here I, myself as a treasure, analyzed our financial stance and arrived at the negative conclusion. Financially we cannot afford any insurance. But to protect the Hosts of this important club activities from any unjust claim is A Must.
Now, I got the idea from my experience of visiting West Texas state park - Hueco Tanks State Park while living in El Paso. This "Hueco Tanks" is famous for rock climbing activities and volcanic rock formation in this state park made this park very interesting places to visit with ancient Indian pictograph or petrogryph in the rocks. This is rocky space and it is possible to get fallen and injured. So, state government protected themselves by claiming no responsibility on their part, meaning any activities are under responsibilities of either own parties. So, to enter this park, we have to sign the document of waiver of their (government, park service) responsibility before we pay proper fee and enter the park.
Now instead of joining insurance directly, we decided to use this Waiver method against our Bonsai Club members. Everybody is under his/her responsibility in case anything happens. No claim to hosts or club. Club is non-profit-organization maintaining family size cultural attraction-Bonsai lover only. And so members are responsible in any happenings - members have to use own health insurance or auto insurance if anything happen.
I promised to prepare some "document of Waiver" to get signed by everybody at next September meeting. Maybe this becomes my last service at this club. I am not sure now since my injury or finding my fragile body in May this year when I was walking dogs in this neighborhood, I lost confidence on my body and now I wonder whether I could climb neighborhood mountain as was before.
８月２３日、第４日曜日、いつものように盆栽クラブの会合がHost宅にて開かれました。
１６名ほどの参加者で、７月の１８名参加といい、かなり理想的な会合ぶりといえました。
Hostの用意されたカレーライス・ランチャン、参加者の持参されたお菓子などをつまみながら、楽しいひと時を過ごせました。
この日は主催者のリスクを回避するためにどのような方法をとるかで、事前に検討したアイデアを私がみなさんにお伝えし、保険加入は会計的にむつかしいということと、家族的な会合を維持するためには、今のままの規模でよい、ただし、Hostのリスクを回避するために、書類を作成して皆さんにサインしてもらうということ、その書類は自己責任を明記し、HostやClubには面倒をかけないという趣旨であることをみなさんにお伝えし、その線で行くという了承をえました。
私は自分で宿題を課したようなもので、大変です。実はこれからの１ヶ月ほど、日本からの訪問者が何組か予定されていて、個人的にあちこちドライブしなければならず、忙しくなるはずなのです。
私のブログの中の「心霊現象の科学」に関するエッセーを全部プリントしたもの －４００ページを越えるVolume－One Binderを、この日、信頼の出来るメンバーのおひとりにお渡しすることが出来ました。全部でなくとも、興味がありそうなところでも読んでいただいて、感想を聞かせていただけたら素晴らしいと思っています。私は自分では面白いと思っていますが、ひとによってはすこし難しいかもと思ったりして、不安もあります。
村田茂太郎 Shigetaro Murata ２０１５年８月２４日
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