Archive for July 31, 2010
Why Change Security Patrol Name?
July 31, 2010 by bobfrank.
George Meese posted on the SCA-HOA message board:
“The Board of Directors wants to change the name of our Security Patrol to Courtesy Patrol. They say the change is at the request of our insurance carrier and attorney, both of whom have been acting in those capacities for the 10 year life of the Security Patrol. It seems strange that after 10 years, the name needs to be changed. At the last Board meeting, the discussion of the name change was continued to August 12th. Security Chief Joe Mihalich has requested that the date be changed due to the fact that he will be out of town on August 12th. He received a terse reply from Board Member Ann Small that stated the meeting date would not be changed and that one of his assistants could appear in his behalf. As most of us have observed, not only in this area, but nationwide, most security personnel, volunteers or paid, are called Security Patrol, not Courtesy Patrol. The name ‘Courtesy Patrol’ doesn’t carry the same message to criminals or trespassers that Security Patrol does. There has been no good or logical reasons given for this proposed change. Please notify all our Board Members that we want the Security Patrol to remain our Security Patrol.”
During my 2 years on the board, an issue about the name of Security Patrol was never raised by the Wells Fargo insurance broker or the underwriter.
Since that time, the underwriter changed to AIG, who has had financial problems. This new issue may be nothing more than an excuse by Wells Fargo and/or AIG to raise the policy rates for next year. Or, they may be heading towards proposing a separate policy covering just the Security Patrol.
Despite the rumors, I doubt this matter has anything to do with ‘legal advice’. It should be focused on the business aspects and avoid unnecessary emotional outrage. To me, it is a simple matter of ‘Who says there is something seriously wrong with the Security Patrol name, what evidence exists to force a change, and what are the consequences or costs if we do not change?’
Perhaps one or more of our residents experienced in insurance industry negotiations could look into this situation and advise the board and community on some options.
Perhaps we need to ask the Wells Fargo broker to expand the bids for 2011 to offer more choices on underwriters? But, since not many underwriters serve the HOA markets, that might not be viable.
Perhaps Director/Attorney Ann Small should tell the community what the broker has said it would cost next year if there was no change in the Security Patrol name? Surely Ann knows the answer to that question, and it certainly could not be considered confidential.
If there would be an increase in underwriter price, what data does the bidder offer to show the increased risks and proposed rates for continuing to use the ’security’ name? Since the insurance industry is driven by data, if the broker can not produce any data to show increasing law suits by similar patrols using security in the name, we could suspect we were just being jerked around.
Finally, if the broker insists we must have a separate policy or rider for keeping the Security Patrol name, maybe that minor cost would be worth it to avoid the disruption and destruction of morale within the SP community. I suspect whatever the costs might be, they would be trivial compared to dictating unreasonable terms to a very large group of dedicated volunteers who are worth many times their current costs.
After all, the costs would be paid by our community and the majority of homeowners may well prefer to pay an increased insurance cost than risk the destruction of the volunteer support of the organization.
Posted in Ann_Small, SCA Board, Laws & Rules, Operations | Print | 5 Comments »