Planning an event for your chapter? Whether it’s a sisterhood retreat, philanthropy fundraiser, or social gathering, we’ve got the tools to help you make it safe, successful, and aligned with your organization’s standards. Below you’ll find MJ Sorority’s most-requested resources on event planning, risk management, insurance, and more—plus answers to your most common event-related questions. Start here to plan with confidence.
Event Planning Guides & Tools
Event Planning Toolkit: A comprehensive resource offering guidance on contracts, risk management, and logistics for chapter events.
Chapter Event Planning Timeline: A visual guide outlining the steps and timing for event planning, ensuring all details are covered from start to finish.
Planning an Event for Your Chapter: A Checklist. A self-guided presentation to assist in planning chapter events, covering essential considerations.
Pre-Event Questionnaire: A printable checklist to help chapters evaluate potential risks and ensure compliance with organizational policies before hosting an event.
Co-Sponsoring Events with Other Student Organizations: Guidance on managing risk and ensuring proper insurance when co-hosting events with other groups.
Safe and Smart: Best Practices for Event Transportation: Recommendations for ensuring safe transportation arrangements for chapter events.
Questions to Ask Before Signing a Contract for Your Next Event: Key considerations to review before entering into event-related contracts.
Reviewing Certificates of Insurance: Instructions on how to read and understand Certificates of Insurance for events.
Steps to Receiving your Certificate of Insurance in a Timely Manner: A helpful resource to review before signing a contract.
Requesting a Certificate Flowchart (printable): A printable decision-tree to walk you through the process of requesting a Certificate of Insurance.
Certificates of Insurance Basics: Certificates of Insurance 101 and FAQs.
Certificates of Insurance: What are Certificates of Insurance and why would someone want one from you.
Department Positions on Common Risk Management Questions
Using Personal Homes for Chapter Events: Guidance on the implications and responsibilities when hosting events at private residences, including insurance considerations.
Position Paper: Event Planners. Insights into the use of external event planners, highlighting potential risks and the importance of aligning with sorority policies.
Risky Activities: A list of activities considered high-risk, advising chapters to avoid them to maintain safety and compliance, as well as an infographic version.
Position Paper: Liability Waivers & Template. Our risk management position on the use of liability waivers and our waiver template for our clients’ use.
Planning an Event FAQs
Planning a chapter event? Our Planning an Event FAQs cover the basics—from insurance and contracts to BYOB and venue requirements—to help you host a safe, successful event.
Real Talk Podcast – Event Planning Series
MJ Sorority offers a series of podcast episodes discussing various aspects of event planning, including:
- Event Planning: Security Pointers: Allison and Ruth discuss some common risk management reminders about event security.
- Special Event Policies: A discussion about special event policies.
- All About Liquor Liability: Discussion about liquor liability.
- All About Waivers: Discussion on liability waivers and their role in sorority events.
- Special Event Policies: Insights into special event policies, their necessity, and implementation.
- All About Contracts: An overview of insurance contracts, their importance, and key considerations.
- All About Certificates: Comprehensive information on Certificates of Insurance and their relevance to event planning.
- Risky Activities: Discussion on activities considered high-risk and recommendations for safer alternatives.
- Event Planning Part One: Ruth Akers is our resident “event planning expert.” In the first of what is sure to be many parts, we discuss some event planning basics with Ruth and Allison.
Stay tuned to the Event Planning section of our website library for continual updates.
Request a Certificate of Insurance
Use our website form to request a Certificate of Insurance here for your next event.
Check out our FAQs!
How long does it take to process a Certificate of Insurance?
It depends on what exactly is required by the specific venue and the nature of the event. We require two weeks’ notice for Certificate of Insurance/Event Review requests.Does MJ Insurance approve events?
No, MJ Insurance offers recommendations based on prudent risk management. Your national organization has the ultimate decision as to the approval of your event based on your organization’s risk management policies and the specifics of the event.How long does it take to process a Certificate of Insurance?
It depends on what exactly is required by the specific venue and the nature of the event. We require two weeks’ notice for Certificate of Insurance/Event Review requests.
