One problem with attorney's, 10 attorney's are likely to give you10
different answers. Attorneys tend to error on what they consider the
safe side.
I feel the value of the advice from an attorney will be directly
proportional to how much you pay them. How much was paid to the
club's attorney? What is the attorney's qualifications, background,
area of expertise? All attorneys are not equal. For best advice an
attorney specializing in the topic should be consulted and we should
expect to pay for the consultation. Ask the attorney the questions
and comments that have been posted here and then post the answers.
Jeff
No one can assure another's safety. Given people's litigious nature today, the attempt to assure some level of protection seems to makes sense to me. Foolproof? Absolutely not. But perhaps foolhardy without, as the club (yes) and the world (?) move forward? I presume legal council has acknowledged the validity/need of the waivers? If not, then as Jeff suggests, perhaps a step-back breather is warranted.
Understanding how other clubs have managed this topic provides information to help support an informed sense of direction. To operate in a vacuum without information disallows leveraging other's work; right or wrong. We do not need to be lemmings to understand what others do or have done. (I'm reminded of two adages; history repeating itself, and the creation of the wheel)
I would prefer NOT to have to sign a waiver, yet I will as a club member if it is the correct thing to institute. As I see it, the challenge is; what is most right? The area is gray, and if the decision is only 51% correct, it should prevail.
I've exhausted my thinking about this.
Bob Christ
-- Jeff Hopkins HPO SOFT Hopkins Phoenix Observatory http://www.hposoft.com/Astro/astro.html
Hopkins Phoenix Observatory
7812 West Clayton Drive
Phoenix, Arizona 85033-2439 U.S.A.
www.hposoft.com