The step follows a special sub-branch meeting in January where police attended.

A post about the meeting was then put on Facebook and that prompted criticism which sparked letters to commenters.

RSL sub-branch president Jim Begley could not say how many letters had been sent out, but The Border Mail has been told at least ten.

In letters seen by The Border Mail, sub-branch vice president Ben Clifton tells recipients their Facebook criticism has brought the RSL Into "disrepute" and breached a branch by-law.

Mr Begley said letter recipients were identified via security camera attending the January meeting, but noted some may not be members.

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"We're saying 'why were you gobbing off on Facebook?," Mr Begley said.

"You've got to have some reason to do it, you don't go out of your way to have a lash at people for no reason."

A relative of one person summoned said the action was "absolutely appalling".

"It's all freedom of speech, I can't understand what their issue is," he said.

There are claims the action has been taken to suspend critics so they will be unable to vote at the sub-branch's annual meeting on March 31.

"What a load of rubbish," Mr Begley said to that theory.

Former Wodonga RSL secretary Ian Deegan said the letters and hearings were "over the top".

"Bringing people in and fronting people is like a kangaroo court," he said.

"I believe they have damaged the brand of the RSL and I believe by Melbourne not stepping in and doing anything ti will damage their brand as well," Mr Deegan said.

"What needs to happen at the annual general meeting is a complete new direction with new people."

The Wodonga RSL sub-branch management survived a vote of no-confidence in February 2019 after terminating the employment of its chef Lee Botting.

Mr Botting later took legal action against the RSL and won a payout which is subject to a confidentiality order.

The Border Mail understands that a recipient of a 'please explain' letter has been accused of speaking about the amount of money that Mr Botting received.

Mr Begley said screenshots of the Facebook comments were widely circulated, although The Border Mail was told they were originally on a closed personal page.

He said three or four people had agreed to attend hearings scheduled for Saturday morning and afternoon.

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