Ultimatum over Hakoah merger
DOUBLE Bay Bowling Club’s (DBBC’s) board has told its members to back them or dump them.
DOUBLE Bay Bowling Club’s (DBBC’s) board has told its members to back them or dump them.
The ultimatum came from club president John Rosen after he officially terminated merger talks with the Hakoah Club.
“If a majority of members are of the opinion that they wish the board to continue with negotiations with Hakoah then, regrettably, this board will have no [other] option than to resign to allow the members to elect a new board whose members are prepared to continue along the amalgamation path,” Rosen said in a letter to members in December.
The announcement came after Rosen and his board met with communal heavyweights Brian Schwartz, David Balkin and David Gonski.
A majority of members voted at the club’s annual general meeting late last year to force the board to meet with the businessmen in an attempt to try and restart talks with Hakoah.
Rosen said no constructive proposals arose from the three leaders and there are still unresolved issues, such as concerns over the financial viability of the amalgamated club and the inability of such a club to provide a guarantee that bowling facilities will continue to be made available at White City.
When the Hakoah Club purchased a 22,000-square-metre property at White City for $13.5 million in June 2010, its board entered amalgamation talks with DBBC, but DBBC suddenly withdrew from talks in July without consulting with its membership, and the club was divided.
Balkin said, “It seems unlikely that 75 per cent of Double Bay Bowling Club’s membership will support leaving their present location for White City at this time, which is really the core issue for their club to address before attempting to restart any new negotiations with Hakoah,” Balkin said.
“If my assumption is correct, it is better for all concerned not to comment further because it would add unnecessary division to a club that is already somewhat fractured as a result of their negotiations with Hakoah.”
JOSHUA LEVI
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