Welcome to a new Lodge Year! Congrats to all newly installed Lodge Officers and Chairpersons.

As a new Lodge year gets underway, please take note that Insurance Renewals For 2025-2026 are pending.
The Property Plus Certificates of Coverage and invoices from First InsuranceFunding will be arriving in April.

Property Plus Certificates of Coverage from Gallagher Insurance
The Certificate of Coverage renews the existing coverage for buildings, contents and Crime Insurance effective April 1, 2025. All Lodges, including those Lodges that rent and do not own a building, are required to participate in the Crime Insurance Policy as mandated by Section 4.232 of our Statutes. Please review your Certificate of Coverage for accuracy. Please contact Gallagher Insurance at (800) 421-3557 if any discrepancies are found.

1. Please verify that all Lodge buildings, sheds, pools and structures are listed.
2. If a building is not listed on the Certificate, it is not covered.
3. Business Personal Property limit is the amount of coverage for contents.
4. Business Income is the insurance available to replace income the Lodge might lose if a covered loss prevented the Lodge from continuing business operations.
5. Lodges that rent receive Crime Insurance per Section 4.232 of our Statutes.

Property Plus Insurance Guide Is Online
The Property Plus Insurance Guide explains coverage provided under the Property Plus Program and Crime Insurance. The Property Plus Insurance Guide is posted on the Safety & Insurance webpage of the Elks website.

Invoices/Finance Agreements from First Insurance Funding
Invoices will be sent directly from First Insurance Funding to each Lodge. Lodges that choose the financing option should sign the Premium Finance Agreement and submit it with the first month’s installment by May 1, 2025. Lodges with overdue balances will not be able to choose the financing option with First Insurance Funding.

IT IS THE START OF A NEW LODGE YEAR
Now is a great time to examine the Lodge’s legal wellbeing:

· Where are the Lodge’s legal documents located?
· Become familiar with all Lodge contracts.
· Lodge officers and trustees must maintain proper records.
· Contracts should avoid a conflict of interest.
· Does the Lodge have written personnel policies?
· The Lodge should have written work rules for its employees.
· Does the Lodge have an attorney that can review contracts?
· Now is the time to diary important dates such as renewal of licenses and permits.
· Service contracts should require that all contractors provide evidence of liability insurance.
· Service contracts should include contractual liability coverage.
· The Lodge should be named as additional insured on a contractor’s insurance policy.
· It is unacceptable for the Lodge to indemnify other individuals or corporations.
· Are the Lodge’s financial and business records properly filed for retrieval and provided with back-up redundancy?
· Has the Lodge prepared a rental agreement or contract to be signed by individuals or entities using the Lodge, according to the Laws of the Order?
· In these agreements, the entity using the Lodge should provide evidence of insurance coverage (see Pages 10-11 of the Liability Insurance Program booklet).
· Now is the time to review the Accident Prevention Manual and Liability Insurance Program booklet, which are posted on the Safety & Insurance page of the Elks website.