Management Structure Fault Lines Exposed
The Annual General Body Meeting of the club was held on Sunday 7 May 2023. The meeting was well attended. There were some contentious issues. In the elections for RWA 15 A held a week earlier the incumbent team lost to the team led by DD Mishra who was elected subsequently by the new Executive Committee as the President of RWA and took charge. According to norms the President of RWA is the President of the Club.
The agenda of the AGM of the club included election of Management Committee (CMC) consisting of six members from the ‘Resident category’ and three from the ‘Non Resident’ category. A few members of newly elected EC of RWA were also candidates for the CMC. High decibel campaign by both the ‘incumbent’ and the ‘challenging team’ was witnessed. The contest between the incumbent team and new team as expected became intense.
The campaign was evident even during the meeting. Participation by the members in the debate was based more on group affiliation than considered view on the issue. Unfortunately acrimonious scenes were witnessed in the meeting. The members were raising their voice and pointing fingers at each other creating overall chaotic condition. Even the spouses and family members were seen sloganeering. A member permitted by the presiding officer was not allowed to speak from the podium. The trigger was an issue concerning admission fee for the new members and about reimbursing extra money charged earlier. No doubt it is serious contentious issue which needed to be addressed in detail instead of taking position for or against by sloganeering probably guided by the loyalty to the team contesting elections.
The behavior and conduct of members individually and collectively are responsible for the shameful proceeding. This needs to be condemned in no uncertain terms.
The President who was presiding over the meeting requested members repeatedly to maintain order and let the meeting function properly. However the appeal was not conceded and the noisy scene continued. The President, the gentleman that he is, did not want to exercise his option of disciplinary action.
The President had desired the matter may first be considered by the CMC. The opinion thus expressed is legitimate and well within the rights and power of the President. The Secretary informed that the issue has been examined by the CMC and the General Body is to take the final decision. He further explained that the attendance in the AGM being good it is appropriate opportunity to take up the item for consideration. The conflicting position by the President and the Secretary is probably a tricky and sticky point of conduct of business of the Club. This merits consideration.
No explanation can justify or condone the shameful behavior of some members. However it is also indicative of systemic failure.
The President of the RWA 15 A is automatically the President of the club. There is no confusion or controversy about this position. The point to ponder is ‘when should the incoming President take charge as the President of the club?’
In one perspective the business of the year should be completed by the team of the year. That means the AGM which has been notified by the outgoing team and the agenda of the meeting circulated by them must be conducted and completed by the outgoing team. After finishing the business of the year the charge of the ‘The President of the Sports and Cultural Club Sector 15 A’ is handed over to the newly elected President formally and ceremonially by offering bouquets of flowers or any other item befitting the occasion. In the interim period he/she may be designated ‘President Elect’. It may be mentioned that this system is followed by many organizations where the election for the post of ‘President’ is concluded a few days prior to the Annual Meeting and the charge is handed over at the end of the meeting.
The CMC in its meeting on 18 June 2023 approved the membership fee schedule overriding the decision of AGM. Subsequently an addendum to the Minutes of the AGM has been circulated by the current President. This addendum effectively modifies the Minutes. Does he have the authority of changing Minutes signed by the Secretary and the President of the year to which the Minutes pertain? The profile of events raises some serious and uncomfortable questions.
It is unfortunate that factionalism and bickering is continuing. Need for this communication by the President and not the Secretary also exhibits fault lines of the management structure of the club which merit to be addressed.
Such a happening as witnessed in the last AGM is unfortunate and does not speak well for the sector. Efforts must be made to ensure that it does not happen again in future.
It is suggested that the notice for election of RWA EC may mention that the President of RWA elected by EC members will take charge as the President of the Sports and Cultural Club at the conclusion of the Annual General Body of the Club as last item of agenda of the AGM.
