AN extraordinary general meeting of members to discuss a vote of no-confidence in the management of Wodonga RSL will be held next month.
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Mr Williams said on Wednesday he was posting letters notifying members of the meeting date and out of respect for that process he would not tell The Border Mail the timing.
However, he conceded it would be next month and advertised in The Border Mail.
The meeting follows five per cent of members, equating to 14 people, signing a petition calling for a no-confidence motion in the committee of management to be considered by members.
Mr Williams, who was presented the petition by member Ian Deegan, said he believed half of those who signed the document had “never attended a meeting”.
“Gullible people have signed paperwork and done irreparable damage,” Mr Williams said.
“They’ve split the RSL in two.”
Mr Williams said he believed the petition was driven by politics with some members struggling to adapt to changes related to cost cutting and spending policies.
He said the club had a record profit in the last year.
Mr Deegan rejected Mr Williams’ depiction of those who signed the petition.
“It’s rubbish, you’ve got life members and members of 20 or 30 years who are saying ‘enough is enough’,” he said.
“To say there’s gullible people shows how out of touch he is with the people.”
The Wodonga RSL sub-branch management committee also includes member for Benambra Bill Tilley, who is vice president.
He was unwilling to talk about on the brouhaha when contacted by The Border Mail on Wednesday.
“I don’t have any comment,” Mr Tilley said.
“The committee is elected by its members for its members and there are strict governance rules around committees.
“The president needs to make any public statement.”
Mr Tilley did say he would not be renominating for the committee at this year’s annual meeting, following two years on it.
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Mr Botting has threatened legal action against the sub-branch on the basis his termination was a breach of contract.
He believes he was axed because he supported those agitating against the management committee.
The termination letter penned by Mr Williams to Mr Botting stated he had “brought the club into disrepute by overcharging a client” and used an eftpos machine despite not being authorised.
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