Wood Carving Club

ozer59 · #1 03-19-2007, 10:32 PM

Hi,
I am a 47 year old guy who wants to learn the art of woodcarving. My Dad has been carving for the last 40 years. My Dad's dream for many years was to start a carving club, where there would be informal carving sessions at either his place or mine. I had talked to the President of a carving club and he had told me to get serious liaibilty insurance, so when someone cuts there finger on your property they will not sue you.. I was in shock that there was that chance of getting sued. We are looking at a chance to learn something or to just get out of the house. This is not a business, it is a dream.
I love carving and I would never think of suing someone if I cut my self with my own knife. What our your thought's on this topic. This is for fun not a business. email me at phwoodcarvers@optonline.net
Thank you

gene messer · #2 03-19-2007, 11:18 PM

I know that our carving club met at a art studio .. so we didnt carry any insurance ourselves .. But I do remember when we had a show at a mall .. We had to pay for insurance for our members ...
But I remember a incident that occured at a show one time when a customer actually walked up to a fellow carvers table next to me and showing his wife the carvings.. actually picked up my buddies carving knife and believe it or not was showing her how sharp it was and pressed it down on a piece of wood with the blade facing his thumb and sliced his thumb open ..My buddy had just gotten up and hadn't seen him do it and we had a bloody situation on our hand's .. People do some of the darndest things sometime's ..
It's sad to say we live in a sue crazy world and anything can happen .. Be cautious .. listen to wisdom ..
Perhaps having the members sign a waver of responsibility could work ...
good luck ..

Mitchell · #3 03-20-2007, 12:08 AM

Your post is confusing to me - are you wanting to teach or to be taught?

Where are you located?

Our club does not carry insurance. I don't think instructors (those that travel and teach) carry any insurance. Make 'em sign a waiver if you you have any doubts.

Thanks and welcome to the board!

squbrigg · #4 03-20-2007, 09:30 AM

Ozer59.... we did that very thing this past October. Began a carving group in our community, and it is still going strong. We eventually moved it to my house, and set up the basement area where I carve, for group carving. We meet every Monday evening 7 - 9 and all are welcome. Had a great session last night, and we even had cake and coffee to help us celebrate my wife's birthday.

As for insurance, well we don't worry too much about that, folks aren't sue crazy up here, and our group is new, so it is something we will have to look at eventually, before we do any shows or displays, but that's a long way off.

We are learning a lot from each other about carving and have a great time socializing to boot! I'd suggest you go for it and bugger the insurance worrys, but that's just me.

Bob

Robert Cahill · #5 03-20-2007, 10:10 AM

I don't know the answer. I belonged to a club where the meeting were in a town building we could use for a couple of hours twice a week. A woman wanted her teenage boys to come and learn carving and the club voted against it as they were afraid of one them cutting themselves and the club be held responsible. They had to be over 18 to join

squbrigg · #6 03-20-2007, 12:42 PM

Geeez ..... why is the world so full of folks unwilling to share their God given skill with the youth of our day, all because they are scared of being sued! Nobody seems to want to do anything for that fear! I hear of more boys and girls clubs having to close because on insurance claims, no bloody wonder kids today get frustrated with nothing to do but get into trouble! Insurance companies and lawyers, the ruination of the modern world.

I feel sorry for that group Robert, to me they seem to be missing out on something. I mean no disrespect either. We have a couple of 14 year olds that attend every session here at our group, and are determined to catch on to all the skills that they can: carving, burning, drawing, painting, etc. One is the grandson of one of the group and attends with his parents blessing, and the other his best friend, and his parents are tickled pink at his enthisusm.

Sorry for the vent, but it just irks me to hear that.

I'll be quiet now, and go back to my carving.

Bob

gene messer · #7 03-20-2007, 01:41 PM

Bob .. I dont know about up north .. but down here in Texas where I live .. In our small town of 70,000 .. our phone book has 12 pages of lawyers chock full ... the small refinery town I live in is a law-suite city ... That's why Texas house insurance is so high here .. There's a lawyer on every corner .. It upset's me too to see this .. especially with a hobby such as our's .. but these days you have to unfortunately deal with it and go on .. But I believe if everybody agrees to no insurance in the group .. go for it ..

ozer59 · #8 03-20-2007, 09:21 PM

Hi, I am the 47 year old carver with the question on the carving club. I live in Torrington, Ct and I would like to thank everyone for the positive thoughts. What my Dad and I wanted to have was informal carving sessions to learn from each other and enjoy our hobby. But when we were told that they recommended us to get liability insurance for the sue happy people we had put our thoughts of having a carving club aside. We are not teachers and were not planning on teaching anyone. Anyone that attended would be teaching all of us.

all and keep the positive thought's coming.

Steve Ozerhoski
Torrington, Ct
Plymouth Hollow Woodcarvers
phwoodcarvers@optonline.net

Eddy Smiles · #9 03-20-2007, 10:36 PM

Steve...

I belong to two carving organizations. I know for a fact that one does not carry insurance. I not sure about the other but I would bet that they do not either.

As for liability waivers they only give you a warm and fuzzy feeling. They're not worth a darn if some low down mutant lawyer wants to take you to court. But with that said there are some other factors that you might want to take into consideration.

First off, make up a comprehensive lability waiver anyway because at least it shows intent. It's much like the martial arts industry where it's not if you're going to hurt yourself, only when. Every school has their students sign a waiver which effectively puts them on notice that they are responsible for their own actions unless the school is negligent. It's my understanding that Law suits in the martial arts industry have less to do with injury and more to do with school negligence.

As for insurance, if you start real slow and with only invited members that you know something about, your own home liability insurance should cover you. The exception would be if you made a business of the club, incorporated and made money. In that case I don't think that any home owners insurance would cover you.

Another option is to see if you can hold your meetings at the site of a private business who carries liability insurance or at a public recreational building which likewise carries insurance for activities. The problem here is that you'd need to charge your members a fee because unless you really got lucky you'd have some sort of rent or leasing fee to pay for.

The bottom line is that if you've got a small group of carvers who already know and respect each other then I wouldn't hesitate for a minute to form a small informal carving gathering.

If I was you I'd start small and see where it goes from there.

ozer59 · #10 03-25-2007, 10:59 PM

Hi Everyone,
I am now trying to carve a Dauschund,aka weiner Dog!
Has anyone carved one of these dogs? I have a hard time around the face with the eyes and thing's I went to a carving show in Bristol CT and bought a book by Marv Kaisersatt. The book is called Caricature Heads. What a great book. Any beginners out there like me, you need to get it. It is great! I am trying to convince my Dad to post some of his carvings. I will try to get them on. He is a great carver. We are still in the works of starting our woodcarving club. Keep those chips flying.
Steve