Historically we have never charged joining or annual fees, the reason was simple, our Public Liability insurance premium has always been just a few hundred dollars and I have been content to pay for this out of the normal training fees I receive.
The recent collapse of HIH and the effects of the subsequent changes to the insurance industry has finally hit our Martial Art. We have suffered an increase in premium in excess of 2000%, our traditional insurer has ceased offering this type of cover and we have been forced to go out into the insurance market for cover.
As a result of this we are forced to levy an annual fee to cover each student. The fee is from 1st June to 31st May each year and any student that joins us is required to pay the full amount regardless of when they join our club.
As you might appreciate, accidents do happen in Martial Arts and, whilst all our instructors are Government accredited and we take as much care as is humanly possible, from time to time we do see people get hurt. Only an absolute fool would teach Martial Arts and have no Public Liability insurance cover.
Ultimately, the chief instructor is the target of any litigation that may be forthcoming.
We are therefore forced to apply a premium of $65 per year against every individual that trains with us from June 1st 2003. There can be NO exceptions whatsoever. Any student that has not paid the premium by the first lesson after June 1st must be turned away at the door, regardless of grade or age. I actually have to pay the premium for my own cover.
I wish you well in this ever-complex world we all live in.
Yours in Strong Mind
Harold Baldry
Chief Instructor.