Greetings Sorors ,
First , I want to say thank you to all sorors who attended our virtual 69th Boule Part II and 2021 Leadership Seminar . Additionally , I also extend special gratitude to the Leadership Development Committee , Directorate , presenters , volunteers , and the Corporate Office staff . They spent many long hours to ensure that our conference was an educational and engaging experience for everyone who attended .
This message will focus on many of the questions the Corporate Office routinely receives . The inquiries typically fall within the following categories : risk management , brand protection , end-of-year closeouts , reactivations , and Fall Mailing .
RISK MANAGEMENT " Some risks that are thought to be unknown are not unknown . With some foresight and critical thought , some risks that at first glance may seem unforeseen , can in fact be foreseen . Armed with the right set of tools , procedures , knowledge and insight , light can be shed on variables that lead to risk , allowing us to manage them ." – Daniel Wagner
I ' ve cited this quote before , but it continues to be our guiding principle as we make decisions in a highly technology-driven yet litigious society .
Insurance Requirements for Joint Fundraisers It seems every week , we receive questions regarding insurance requirements for activities sponsored jointly by chapters and foundations . As a reminder , the following are not protected under our insurance policy .
• Chapter Foundations
• Any member who is performing tasks outside of their responsibilities and the policies of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority
• Family members and guests of chapter members
Our insurance company has advised us if foundations and chapters are hosting an event jointly , both entities should carry insurance . You may be asking why . The answer is simple . Both entities could be held liable in the case of an accident . As already stated , our policy does not cover chapter foundations .
Colleges and Universities or Other Proprietors Some colleges and universities or a proprietor of an establishment where your chapter will host an event may require additional insureds added to the policy . In these cases , the chapter must submit an Additional Insured Request Form and a $ 50.00 administrative fee to the Executive Director no less than 30 days before the date it is needed .
Fundraisers Involving Food or Beverage In terms of fundraisers involving food ( including popcorn ) or beverage , the company you want to do business with must add the chapter as an additional insured to its insurance policy .
Cynthia D . Howell , Executive Director
Rationale : It is hard to think of a product ( food or beverages ) with more potential to cause damage , and that damage potentially won ' t be limited to one person . For instance , if the product is tainted , we would expect multiple people to become ill .
Additionally , many companies do not have enough cash in the bank to cover a catastrophic lawsuit ( or even a worker ' s comp claim ). This means if the company does not have a lot of cash , it will not be able to cover AKA ' s expenses should AKA be drawn into any lawsuit concerning the product . Sometimes such companies may simply go out of business or disappear when hit with a large lawsuit . As a result , AKA could be held solely responsible .
Insurance fills in the gap . With insurance , it doesn ' t matter whether a company has cash assets because the insurance will handle the claim . Suppose the company is unwilling to add the organization as an additional insured . In that case , the AKA Corporate Office must deny the fundraising request .
BRAND PROTECTION CONTINUES TO BE
EVERYONE ' S RESPONSIBILITY Every member must work to protect our brand and intellectual property . Our attorneys and brand management company are closely monitoring the use of all of our trademarked materials . However , we need your help . Please only use authorized vendors to produce clothing and merchandise displaying the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority , Inc . ® crest ( Coat of Arms ) and program logos . These vendors have completed the appropriate process , including paying a substantial fee to secure the rights to sell Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority merchandise . They possess high-resolution versions of all of our official logos .
4 I vyL eaf ® Summer 2021 Centennial edition