First of all Old Hippie, Im sure the call for money at circuit assemblies varies around the world - our assembly hall is fully paid for also but we still get the deficits announced. Have a look at an old thread called Circuit Accounts Servants Confesses how the SCAM WORKS!! It was by a poster who'd actually been on the accounts department and knows how it was all worked out. Like I said, Im sure it varies around the world somewhat, and that was an old post. No one is suggesting that these halls are free.
In relation to the Katrina/ Insurance thing. Perhaps a more appropriate thing for the Work Crew Team leader would be to encourage the recipient of all that voluntary labour to use some or all of their insurance cheque to help the volunteers out with their expenses, rather than give the estimated cost to the WTS. Or not suggest anything at all, just know that someone who is a brother or sister will do the right thing, and let them exercise their conscience in the matter!
Marking this thread for future reference.