On Fri, 17 Apr 1998 22:00:44 EDT, Mac West wrote:

>John -
>
>At the very least you board has to be indemnified.  At best, it will purchase
>Officers and Directors insurance.  Contact me off line for more details.
>
>Mac West
>Informal Science, Inc.

        I missed the original posting but have the gist of the subject
from the many responses, and have one comment to make.

Just put yourself in the shoes of a person asked to join the board of
a non-profit museum.  It will invariably involve spending time and
money in support of the effort for which the reward is knowing you are
doing something for your community.  Then, if you are told the museum
has no liability insurance and that you might become involved in a law
suit against the museum (for whatever reason) thus exposing your
personal assets, would you still join?  Only a person without a house
or assets would expose himself and his family to the risk, no matter
how unlikely the risk might be.  

John Bing




Laguna Beach, CA