In addition to traditional insurance programs, Pachner & Associates has teamed up with risk purchasing groups to offer affordable liability insurance to nonprofit environmental conservation and outdoor activities organizations, as well as nature education centers, land trusts and certifications/standards associations in an A.M. Best’s A-rated insurance carriers.
Group Programs
American Hiking Society Alliance and New York/New Jersey Trail Conference
Please note that as of May, 2010, special low cost group insurance programs are available for members of the American Hiking Society Alliance of Trail Organizations and the New York/New Jersey Trail Conference. The coverage is broader and less expensive than that provided on a standalone basis. Information on the programs will be available through those organizations.
These programs enable not-for-profit organizations to operate with affordable liability insurance coverage for staff, volunteer directors and officers, volunteer administrators and activity leaders. We have separate property/inland marine coverage available for those organizations that own real or personal property, including offices, facilities, “unprotected” back country cabins or lodges and recreational equipment. Other nonprofit organization coverage is available for Directors & Officers LIability, Fidelity, ERISA Bonds and other coverages.
Certified Chapters of National Audubon Society
As of April 15, 2011 an exclusive low cost group insurance program specifically designed for and available only to Certified Chapters of National Audubon Society includes all coverage typically required by National Audubon Society Chapters of all sizes. Information is available in the section below.
About This Insurance Program
About This Insurance Program
- This exclusive insurance program is offered only to certified chapters of National Audubon Society.
- Designed specifically to meet the insurance needs of Audubon chapters of all sizes.
- Flexibility to choose low cost basic liability limits ranging from $1,000,000 each occurrence to $5,000,000 each occurrence, depending on the size and needs of the chapter.
- It features low rates for typical Audubon chapter operations, low minimum premiums, and a flexible menu of optional coverages
- Installment payment plans at no additional cost for premiums in excess of $3,000.
- The risk purchasing group policy contains coverage within the basic premium that commonly incurs additional cost and/or additional policies in other insurance programs currently available to the chapters
Basic Coverage Offered
Basic Coverage Offered
Audubon chapters are added to the group policy by a Certificate of Participation. They are afforded their own limits of liability and their own annual policy period. A copy of the master policy will also be provided when the certificate of participation is issued. Basic coverage includes:
- Commercial General Liability
- Full Legal Liability For Bodily Injury to Participants in Audubon Programs
- $25,000 Excess Medical Payments Coverage for All Participants in Audubon Chapter Activities
- Professional Errors & Omissions Liability
- Non-owned / Hired Automobile Liability
- The basic coverage does not include coverage for damage to the chapter's property - this is a separate option
Basic coverage and rates include a selection of limits from $1,000,000 each occurrence / $5,000,000 aggregate up to $5,000,000 each occurrence / $5,000,000 aggregate per chapter covering typical Audubon Chapter operations, including field trips (canoe and kayak trips included per brochure guidelines) meetings, fundraisers, social events, lectures, bird banding, bird rehabilitation or live bird educational programs, etc. All basic coverage options include an additional $25,000 limit on participant excess medical expense (subject to a $1,000 per claim deductible) No additional accident policy necessary to obtain this, and it covers all participants, not just volunteers.
Optional Coverage on Group Policy
Optional Coverage on Group Policy
Optional coverages can be added to the policy at additional cost (with low group rates):
- Liability coverage on rented or owned offices, headquarters and nature education centers
- Coverage on office, headquarters or nature education center contents
- Coverage on portable equipment such as scopes, glasses and mowers
- Liability coverage on sanctuary lands that are owned or for which you have easements
- Liability coverage on camps or clinics
- Abuse & molestation coverage
Additional coverage is available on a separate policy with low group rates:
- Directors & Officers Liability including Employment Practices Liability
Insurance Underwriters
Insurance Underwriters
The managing general underwriter of the Risk Purchasing Group is one of the leading outdoor recreation underwriters, K&K Insurance Group, Inc. of Fort Wayne, Indiana through a contract with Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company® of Columbus, OH, accorded a “superior” financial strength rating of A+ by the insurance industry rating organization A.M. Best Company.
Additional Low Cost Coverage Outside the Group Policy
Additional Low Cost Coverage Outside the Group Policy
We offer supplemental low cost coverage in addition to the group program available on a separate policy, but outside of the Risk Purchasing Group coverage due to limitations imposed by the enabling Risk Retention Act of 1986. Insurance applications are available below and on the page with brochures, applications & claim forms.
- Employee/Officer Fidelity Insurance or Crime Insurance (Covers dishonest acts of employees or non-compensated officers of the chapter)
[Different application for chapters located in Texas]
- ERISA Bonds (Covers dishonest acts of ERISA plan trustees as required by law)
- Property Insurance on Buildings (Coverage for damage to buildings, extra expense and loss of income resulting from a covered loss) Not required for coverage on office contents available as an option on the group policy.
- Workers' Compensation (Where required by state law for employees or volunteers. Pays medical expense and lost wages according to state law.) Please contact us for an application.
Who are Pachner & Associates, LLC?
Who are Pachner & Associates, LLC?
Insurance brokers Pachner & Associates, LLC specialize in insurance for nature education, environmental conservation, environmental research, trail associations, outdoor activity clubs, and the commercial non-motorized outdoor recreation industry around the U.S. We are members of The Conservation Alliance.
Our staff handling the Audubon Chapter program are trained insurance professionals with experience in nature education, so they will understand your chapter's insurance needs.
Who Is Don Pachner?
Who Is Don Pachner?
Don Pachner served on the board of an Audubon Chapter that experienced significant growth while he was insurance coordinator and conservation chair for six years, and served on the Habitat Committee of the New York State Council of Audubon Chapters during that time. He has advised his local Audubon chapter on their insurance program over the past 20 years, and has also networked with other Audubon chapters on insurance issues. He founded specialty insurance brokerage firm Pachner & Associates, LLC in 2003.
Prior to founding Pachner & Associates, LLC, Don worked at a respected international insurance brokerage firm in New York City for 25 years and as a computer consultant in the insurance industry.
How to Apply for the Group Program for Certified Chapters of National Audubon Society
How to Apply for the Group Program for Certified Chapters of National Audubon Society
To access this specially designed insurance program and its low rates, certified chapters in good standing must complete insurance applications and submit with payment or with a request for a premium quotation.
You may fax or scan/email the fully completed, signed and dated applications, then pay on our web site via “check over the web" ACH debit, or mail the check with your insurance application to our Bedford, NY post office box. Coverage is not bound until payment is received, and your application is reviewed and approved by Pachner & Associates.
Contact us for instructions on how to pay your insurance premium online.
Pachner & Associates does not offer a similar policy with these coverages and special group rates to other similar organizations or birding clubs. This insurance program is only available as a benefit to certified chapters of National Audubon Society.
You may contact Pachner & Associates via email at kestrel-at-pachner.info or call toll free at (800) 582-4884
Our mailing address is POB 926, Bedford, NY 10506-0926.
Some Helpful Information - Please Read Before Completing Insurance Applications
Group Insurance Program - Brochure & Insurance Application
- This application must be completed and is required to be elibigible for other coverage in the program
- The cost is based on the number of chapter members whom regularly participate in the activities of the chapter.
- We know that many members support your chapter's work only through financial contributions and membership dues, but do not participate in chapter activities such as monthly meetings, committee meetings, educational programs, or field trips, and those members are not counted for the purpose of calculating the insurance premium..
- This figure is a projection based on your best estimate of projected numbers for the upcoming year. It will be adjusted each year going forward (the current year's projection will not be adjusted retroactively.) You can often use the prior year's data and adjust for any expected membership trends.
- The insurance underwriters reserve the right to audit these figures
- Your responsible reporting of these figures allows us to keep rates low.
Who is Covered?
Who is Covered?
- This basic policy covers directors, officers, volunteers and employees for covered allegations of negligence arising out of their authorized work or authorized actions on behalf of the chapter, defends them individually, and pays any settlement or judgement on their behalf, as well as covering the chapter entity for these claims..
- This is not Directors & Officers Liability Insurance, which is offered on a separate group policy, and covers those same individals and the chapter for allegations involving financial harm to others or to the chapter, as well as allegations alleging improper employment practices or discrimination involving volunteers and employees, such as allegations of wrongful termination or removal from a position in the organization
- The Participant Accident Excess Medical Payments coverage is a no-fault coverage used to pay medical expense incurred by any participant while participating in chapter activities on an excess basis subject to the policy deductible of $1,000 per claim with a $25,000 limit per person. Volunteers.are covered participants.
- "Excess Basis" means that it covers only medical expense not otherwise covered by personal medical insurance, workers' compensation insurance, medicare Part B or other available insurance. It would pay for a large deductible on personal medical insurance, and would pay first dollar (less the $1,000 per claim deductible) for any claim where no other health/medical insurance exists.
What is Covered? Answers to some commonly asked questions about basic coverage...
What is Covered? Answers to some commonly asked questions about basic coverage...
- The basic policy covers third party claims and lawsuits arising out of allegations of bodily injury, property damage, personal injury (for mental anguish or emotional distress resulting from libel, slander, defamation, malicious prosecution, wrongful detention, etc.) and products liability.
- We have included Professional Liability for advice you have given to others on projects such as wildlife-friendly planning/consulting, for nature education courses, publication of field guides and sanctuary maps, etc.
- The damage to premises rented to you limit of $300,000 can be increased where required by a permit, lease or other written agreement, subject to an additional premium charge. Contact us should you require a higher limit.
- Hired Auto and Employer's Non-ownership Auto Liability covers on an excess basis for third party legal liability on claims brought against the chapter entity arising out of the use of automobiles on chapter business. This can include use of personal autos by volunteers or use of a rented vehicle, on chapter business, such as for field trips. It does not cover damage to vehicles you rent (e.g. it does not cover collision damage to a vehicle you have rented) and does not cover the individual driver/volunteer. This is the same coverage commonly offered by other programs at additional cost. Personal automobile insurance of your volunteer drivers includes coverage for any organization they drive on behalf of, and you have no control over what limits of liability those drivers carry.
Insurance Applications
Insurance Applications
Contact us should you require applications for any insurance coverage not listed here.
Group Insurance Program Incident/Claim Reporting Form
These programs enable not-for-profit organizations to operate with affordable liability insurance coverage for staff, volunteer directors and officers, volunteer administrators and activity leaders. We have separate property/inland marine coverage available for those organizations that own real or personal property, including offices, facilities, “unprotected” back country cabins or lodges and recreational equipment. Other nonprofit organization coverage is available for Directors & Officers Liability, Fidelity, ERISA Bonds and other coverages.
Our clients include regional outdoors organizations and associated chapters, grass roots conservation organizations and those with outdoors activity, National Scenic Trail construction and maintenance associations, and national associations of outdoors clubs and their chapters. We also write insurance on nonprofit mountaineering/alpine, skiing and paddling organizations.
Our risk purchasing group program designed for nonprofit trail associations & affiliated outdoor clubs, land trusts and environmental conservation organizations is comprised of two policies, a Commercial General Liability Policy with low rates, and a Participant Accident/Excess Medical Expense Policy required by the liability insurer to keep liability rates low.
Our client trail associations include both terrestrial and water-based trails.
On these policies, Non-owned/Hired Automobile Liability, Abuse & Molestation Coverage and Liquor Legal Liability coverage are optional and available at additional cost. Optional higher liability limits are available at additional cost on an excess liability policy.
Directors & Officers Liability Insurance is available on a separate policy at competitive rates where required by your organization. This policy normally covers claims against the organization resulting from alleged acts, errors or omission of the club’s directors, officers and volunteer committee members that result in financial harm to others or impairment of the organization’s assets, and typically excludes claims for bodily injury or tangible property damage. Employment Practices Liability Insurance is available at low cost to cover wrongful dismissal of staff/volunteers, third party discrimination, personal injury resulting in financial harm to others, tortious interference, etc.
NOTE: Our programs for outdoor activity organizations is designed primarily for outdoor activities that are non-motorized sports, such as hiking, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, kayaking or canoeing. We also have a separate program for downhill ski areas, ski clubs and ski instructors, snow cat skiing and ski mountaineering, technical or ice climbing and mountaineering, Class 4-5 white water paddling or equestrian activities. It is NOT designed for sports that primarily utilize powered conveyances such as snowmobile tours, ATV tours or heli-skiing.
For further information or an application for insurance, email Don Pachner with your organization’s name, address, web site URL and contact information at: outdoors@pachner.info.
