Crisis meeting held to discuss Raetihi rugby club future

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 13, Issue 618, 28 December 1995, Page 1

Crisis meeting held to discuss Raetihi rugby club future

It's tough decision time for the Raetihi Rugby Football Club — whether to go into recess or amalgamate with Ohakune Karioi. The club held its AGM last Wednesday, 20 December, with a very small number attending — just enough to hold the meeting and to allow for voting to take place. The main business of the meeting was to look at the club's financial situation and to discuss the future of the club. Following the reading of the minutes the president, Stuart Haitana, told the meeting that as president he found it very difficult to fill the shoes of the past president, Ronnie Jensen, who ran the club very well. Mr Haitana said that with exceptions to the Under 21 Development Squad there were seven financial members and, as a result, the club is facing real difficulties and the question of recess or combining with Ohakune needed to addressed. It was decided to appoint an interim committee from all of those who attended the meeting to look at the club's future. The committee is as follows: AmiriaTeki; Jessie Seamen; Rainier Winiata; RaymondRapana; Sharlene Winiata; Merv Williams; Marty McGrath; Brett Journeaux.

An election of officers and committee members was held with those elected as officers being: patron J Seaman; president S Haitana; vice president S Winiata and R Jensen; treasurer H Haitana; secretary S McDonough. The meeting also discussed the forthcoming premier division and how that would fit in with an amalgamation with Ohakune Karioi. The Wanganui Rugby Football Union has decided that there is to be a premier division round and clubs must apply to the WRFU if they want their players to be considered for that division. The question arose, if Raetihi combined with Ohakune to select players for a premier team from within this district would there be enough players remaining to retain each club's identity and still play in senior division rugby, within the Northern Wanganui Union. Or would the two clubs have to join forces yet again to allow these games to be played. Opinions were divided, and it was decided to arrange a meeting with Ohakune, taking the concerns to that meeting before deciding the club's own future. It is hoped the meeting can be arranged for early January as the season starts in April.