Tenerife Club Meeting Puts 1,279 Voting Rights at Risk, Lawsuits Feared

The Círculo de Amistad XII de Enero, a private club in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, is holding a special meeting next Thursday. This meeting could significantly change what it means to be a member and might even lead to lawsuits.

The main reason for the meeting is a proposal from over 250 members to change nine rules in the club's constitution. These changes would directly affect the voting rights of "preferred members."

The proposed reform would take away voting rights from members who have been part of the club for more than forty continuous years. Currently, these long-standing members stop paying fees after forty years but still get to vote in meetings. The new plan aims to make sure only members who are actively paying fees can vote.

If this change passes, 1,279 members—about a quarter of the 5,000 members who can currently vote—would lose their voting rights. The club's board of directors is worried about this. They warn that it could lead to many legal challenges from affected members. This would not only cause administrative problems and cost the club a lot of money, but it would also leave these members in an uncertain legal situation until courts make a decision.

Other proposals at the meeting include changing how presidential elections are run. It's suggested that there be two voting locations: one at the main building on Ruiz de Padrón street and another at the Barranco Hondo sports facilities. Each would have its own list of voters to ensure everyone can participate and prevent people from voting twice. However, some question if this is practical or even necessary.

Another topic for discussion is how to handle tied votes. The proposal suggests a thirty-minute break and a new vote if there's a tie. If it's still a tie, the issue would be removed from the agenda. The aim is also to make the rules clearer to avoid confusion, though the proposal doesn't mention the president's power to cast a deciding vote in a tie. Finally, there's a suggestion to clearly state that the club will strictly collect dues from members who owe money.

The board of directors says they offered the group proposing the changes a chance to agree on a compromise, but the group chose to push for this special meeting instead. This situation puts the Círculo de Amistad XII de Enero at a critical point for its internal management. There's a real risk of deep divisions and a long legal battle that could affect the stability and operation of this century-old institution.