The Demise of a Sports Club Disclaimer: This is just a story. The writer holds no responsibility for any resemblance of this story with any real life occurrence. The Foothill Sports Club changed its management last December. It was bought over by a cash-rich building developer. The members of the club were worried that with the demise of the club, the fate of the club and its members was in the hand of the new management. Members were worried that the club would not survive long as there was a hearsay that the developer intended to build a condominium on the present premise of the club and the club would be either dissolved as a premature death or it would be relocated elsewhere. The members were helpless as the agreement signed by the members and the bylaws of the club were prepared lopsidedly in favour of the management of the club. The members were like the mincemeat on the chopping block. They could not do anything but to abide to the decision of the new management to increase the monthly subscription of the members by 50% beginning from the month of July this year. The drastic hike of subscription did not reflect the corresponding upgrading of the club facilities since the new management hold the fort. In fact most of the members were complaining that the swimming pool was poorly maintained. The pool bottom was always covered with dirt. Most of the members felt that the chlorine content in the pool water was higher than permissible. The members in general felt that the fee increase was too high as compared to other similar clubs in the region. Mr Henry Ng, an outspoken member of the club, took the initiative to get the members to sign a petition letter urging the management to reduce the quantum of increase of the monthly subscription, a portion of the letter reads: “We wish to express our concern about the inflated rate of the monthly subscription of the club member, from RM 63.60 to RM95.40, an increase of 50%. We are well aware that with the increase in monthly subscription, our club members would be paying the highest monthly fee in this region, as compared to RM50 in the Safira Club of Seberang Jaya and RM 20 in the Kulim Chinese Recreation Club. The inflated hike of the monthly subscription of the club is certainly not compatible with the current facilities provided by the management as compared with other similar clubs in the region. Moreover, most of the members join the club only for swimming. They seldom make use of other facilities of the club. Of course, we do not object to the increase of the monthly subscription as we understand that no enterprise would involve in a business that is losing money. What we cannot agree is the quantum of increase as proposed by the management unless the management can convince the members that with such an increase of monthly fee the members would enjoy a value added facilities in terms of quality and quantity.” Other individuals also wrote separate letters of appeal to the management; a typical one has this to say: “I disagree to your increase of 50% in subscription. Any justifiable increase should be 10 - 15% only. I hope you would consider my appeal favourably as the drastic increase by you may cause many members to stop payment of their subscription or even discontinue their membership…...” But, unfortunately, all sorts of complaints and letters of appeal fell upon deaf ears as the management took an indifferent attitude to all these feedbacks as it was holding the trump card as provided by the agreement and the bylaws of the club. The management had no worry at all about the retention rate of the club members. It would be too happy to see that all the members quit the club the sooner the better so that the club would be closed immediately without having to compensate its members a single cent. Once the club is closed, a condominium will be constructed on its premise which would help the developer to generate a more lucrative income. This story spells a gospel truth: ‘Money dictates terms and conditions.’
Posted on: Sat, 31 Aug 2013 10:49:40 +0000
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