MEMBERS of Francis Drake Bowling Club at Monterey won't go down without a fight.
They have challenged the administrator of Ramsgate RSL Memorial Club Limited, Greg Russell, to call a general meeting to have the closure of Francis Drake and proposed sale of the property approved first by the members.
The bowling and memorial clubs amalgamated in 2007 under the agreement that Francis Drake would run for another 10 years.
But the decision was announced by the RSL on March 14, and reported in the Leader on March 20, for reasons which included "financial difficulties" which were said to be imperilling the RSL's future.
A letter was sent by the bowling club's secretary Pat Bugden to the administrator on March 25, following the closure on March 24.
"A decision to close the club is tantamount to a decision to sell and should be approved by the members," Mr Bugden said.
"If the administrator won't call the meeting then we will be looking for the support of the members to force him to call the meeting."
Mr Bugden said members also wanted an explanation about the current state of the group's finances.
"We need to know why the finances of the Ramsgate group have deteriorated to the extent that Francis Drake has to be closed now without the amalgamation agreement running its full 10-year term," he said.
‘‘Is it Francis Drake that is causing the problem or is it Ramsgate which is incurring the losses, and the administrator and Ramsgate management are looking for the sale of the Francis Drake property to bail them out?’’
Chief executive of Ramsgate RSL Group, Phillip Bragg, said the decision to close Francis Drake had been made by the club’s administrator because the RSL did not have an elected board.
‘‘In order for the board of a club to meet its legal obligations and directors to meet their duties — such as acting in the best interests of the club — the decision to close licensed premises is one made by a board,’’ he said.
‘‘In this case the decision was made by the administrator who has similar responsibilities, as the [RSL] currently does not have an elected board.
‘‘However, members of the club will be asked to vote on a resolution at this year’s annual general meeting to change the Francis Drake premises from core to non-core property.’’
