I've been involved in 3 different lawsuits - 2 of which went to court
and none of which involved paddling. As long as a paddling club
doesn't charge to take trips, classes, whatever - just has a general
membership fee and none of the officers or directors has any monetary
investment, you're fine without insurance.

The real story is that there is no deep pockets to sue. The club has a
few hundred members paying maybe $20 each to belong. No lawyer is
going to take a case for that money. There is also no people to sue in
a club situtation. Sure you could try to sue the directors, officers,
trip leaders, etc but in reality that dog won't hunt. And lawyers know
it.

People are only too happy to sit on a jury and award huge payouts when
an insurance carrier or company is paying out the tab. Lawyers know
that. So go ahead - get club insurance - you're more likely to get a
lawsuit by buying insurance than by just going without as a volunteer
organization put together for recreation of its members and no profit
motive.

Dick Pierce, a paddler and Professor of Law at George Washington
University, pretty much agrees with my assessment though he won't tout
it publically. Read a book called "The Terrible Truth About Lawyers"
and you'll get a better understanding about why volunteer membership
clubs absolutely do not need liabiality insurance.