So let's head down that hypothetical path. This isn't a thought
about the memo per say but more about SCCA members as
participants. Especially those, like myself, that are Safety
Stewards.
I've been asked at a marque club event to review/analyze, adjust,
and implement safety at their events. (hey, if a better course
design is an additional benefit out of this, so be it) :^)
So an incident happens. It could be in a section I adjusted or a
section I reviewed and deemed "safe" (as in the course is
"safe"). I might be liable for approval or changes implemented. I
also might be inferring SCCA's involvement be the fact I was
requested with the additional knowledge of being a Safety
Steward. I could be liable for not anticipating the incident, and
indirectly SCCA, since they are the trainers of the Stewards (and
me).
So as a Steward, I suppose I'm covering my butt, while actually
trying to setup a safe course.
Those with legal training are encouraged to add info, though will
not be accepted for complete legal advise, and I should consult
with my personal legal advisors for definitive answers.
Todd and Steve, reply to me if you wish, since you'll probably
bounce off the lists, since I don't think you are subscribed to
either.
Matt Murray
mattm@optonline net (the "dot" is missing to reduce data mining)
203-856-3703
mattmurray@weichert com
203-226-5100
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jamie Sculerati" <pullg@mindspring.com>
To: "Team.Net" <autox@autox.team.net>; "Evolution List"
<evolution-discussions@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Friday, January 10, 2003 10:35 PM
Subject: [evolution-disc.] The memo...another view
> I hadn't actually gotten around to reading Steve Johnson's
infamous memo
> until today, but after reading it, I don't find it threatening
at all. I
> don't have a pipeline into Steve Johnson's head, but after a
few years in
> the world of corporate consulting, the intent is pretty clear.
>
> Association of the SCCA with any event has a significant
meaning, both in
> terms of the club's reputation and legal responsibility.
Section 1.1 of the
> SIIR says that certain portions of the rulebook -- in
particular, those
> related to safety -- "are mandatory in all Solo II events that
a Region
> solely or jointly organizes, conducts, sanctions, or otherwise
cooperates as
> a Region in organizing." That's got some teeth in it from a
risk management
> point of view, because the insurance rates (or maintenance of
an insurance
> policy at all) are in part predicated on following those
standards. Other
> organizations can, and do have different standards -- for
instance, most of
> the events in the multi-club series in my area don't have a
dedicated safety
> steward position, because none of the other clubs sponsoring
events require
> such as measure. That doesn't prevent SCCA members from
participating as
> individuals, but events in the same series that are sponsored
or assisted by
> the local SCCA region *do* have a safety steward, because one
of the
> mandatory sections of the SIIR says they must.
>
> Likewise, the SCCA attempts to maintain a certain image in
motorsports. The
> memo's message was: protect it, even when partnering with or
lending a hand
> to other sanctioning bodies. It certainly *doesn't* mean don't
play with
> other organizations -- the road-racing side of the club has
been partnering
> with other sanctioning bodies for decades, and for a long time,
the SCCA
> profited from the association. But if, for instance, an SCCA
region
> partnered up for an event with the newly-formed Billy-Bob's
Autocross
> Series, and things didn't go well, whose image would suffer
more? In
> autocross, the Solo II rules are also part of the club's
reputation -- they
> are the current de facto standard for the sport. That's a
rather
> substantial piece of intellectual property, and should be
protected as such.
> Again, that doesn't mean other organizations shouldn't, can't,
or don't use
> them, but with full recognition (and credit) to the SCCA.
>
> Autocross is a fairly laid-back sport -- we tend to identify
with our fellow
> drivers more than with the organizations we all belong to. I
think
> Johnson's aware of the casual alliances regional Solo programs
tend to form
> with those in other clubs -- which shows he's paying attention
to the sport
> and the way it works, something I find very encouraging! With
a serious
> national-level sanctioning body standing up, he's trying to
anticipate
> cooperation and maintain the SCCA's strengths, which is, after
all, what
> members are paying him to do.
>
> Jamie
> '92 Prelude Si
> Speed Demon Racing
> http://www.mindspring.com/~jsculerati/sdr
/// unsubscribe/change address requests to majordomo@autox.team.net or try
/// http://www.team.net/mailman/listinfo
/// Partial archives at http://www.team.net/archive
|