requesting the recording of a meeting

Undervalued

rocky1996 said:

Thank you for your comments the situation was a number of members contracted covid from an outing which members attended a third in fact so as a precaution we decided to close the club for 5 days. We have quite a number of vulnerable people so we were acting in the interest of our members. However a small minority entered the club to play pool despite it being closed. They threatened to remove locks if we did not return the key to allow them to play. It resulted in one of them having a stand off at a committee members house swearing and threatening etc if they didn't get the key to the club. When the residents were notified of the closure not one person contacted a committee member to question it. We had done it once before and again everyone followed the rules of a temporary closure without question. I believe our action given the circumstances was more than reasonable. Before this we had never had any issues and contrary to your thoughts was a thriving friendly group of people. The pool players meet on set days the coffee morning and craft club meet on set days the only ones to breach the rule was the pool players. We believe we acted without discrimination or favour and was for a valid reason. Minutes were independently taken as a matter of course  but of course every one makes notes. We tried to be open we sent replies to each person present from our insurers who actually agreed with us to closing. When we did this before it was also deemed good practice from our local health Board. All organisations have rules if you dont enforce them what's the point then anything would be acceptable. Our minutes will be the ones we refer to of course if they think they have any new evidence from there audio then we will of course look at it fairly at any appeal. We have a full constitution which gives the committee the right and authority to  make decisions for the smooth running of the club financially and administratively and for the well being of club members. We have a full committee in place and have never had to have a member/s before the committee in many many years  well before my time .

The committee's actions, as you describe them, seem perfectly reasonable. However that is of course based on one side of the story and without seeing the club's constitution and rules. Disciplinary matters in these sort of organisations can be a minefield if you have a litigious (or barrack room lawyer) member. Presumably the club has insurance which indemnifies the committee members? If so, you need to keep the insurance company in the loop.

Is your club affiliated to a national body? If so it would be worth seeking their advice.

In both cases, do it before there is a problem, not afterwards!

Was the "stand off" reported to the police?

Manxman_in_exile

@rocky1996 -  don't want to be nosy but can I ask a question?

You refer to your members as including a number of "vulnerable people" and as "residents".  You also refer to your "local health board".  

Is your club perhaps for people with particular health needs or who are members of some sort of residential institution?  I'm just wondering if perhaps some of your members may have - for example - some sort of learning impairment, then you may need to be careful as to how you deal with them in this sort of situation.

rocky1996

Its a residential park for over 55s our Insurers are fully in the loop they have our risk assessment with regards Covid that mentioned as an option the closure of the club to prevent further risk and have  agreed with our decision in closing the club.
Our constuition gives the committee powers to make rules  as deemed necessary for the smooth financial, administrative running and well being of the club members. I think we will look at joining a national body . It wasn't notified to the police but during our investigation it appears this person has been reported to the park owners for similar actions. I have not asked for those details as a character thing  but  we have spoken to a witness and she saw him   actually strike a 70 year old around the face . Un believable ? You have all been so helpful the last thing you'd expect on a park of this type. Of course we all learn things from this and we are of course looking forward at the constitution to ensure its broken down into more specific sections rather sweeping statements. But we do believe we acted in the best interests of our members and missing pool for two days  is surely a small price to pay. If it was so important to them the pub is less than 3 miles away and they can all drive and own cars. Thanks again everyone it has been really helpful.

born_again

rocky1996 said:

Its a residential park for over 55s our Insurers are fully in the loop they have our risk assessment with regards Covid that mentioned as an option the closure of the club to prevent further risk and have  agreed with our decision in closing the club.
Our constuition gives the committee powers to make rules  as deemed necessary for the smooth financial, administrative running and well being of the club members. I think we will look at joining a national body . It wasn't notified to the police but during our investigation it appears this person has been reported to the park owners for similar actions. I have not asked for those details as a character thing  but  we have spoken to a witness and she saw him   actually strike a 70 year old around the face . Un believable ? You have all been so helpful the last thing you'd expect on a park of this type. Of course we all learn things from this and we are of course looking forward at the constitution to ensure its broken down into more specific sections rather sweeping statements. But we do believe we acted in the best interests of our members and missing pool for two days  is surely a small price to pay. If it was so important to them the pub is less than 3 miles away and they can all drive and own cars. Thanks again everyone it has been really helpful.

In which case why were police not called?

Is the club part of the residential park & as such anyone living there has a right to use it as they see fit, unless park pwners decide to close it?
Or is it run as a separate entity by a committee?