Former Basketball Otago (BBO) board member Angela Ruske has emerged as the leader of a group who are desperate to help the organisation stave off liquidation.
Last week, BBO advised its members it was insolvent and would hold a special meeting next month to ratify the appointment of a liquidator.
At its annual meeting at the Edgar Centre last night the expected fireworks never eventuated, with people sitting in stunned silence for about 20 minutes while the meeting went through the usual procedures.
The long-awaited financial result for the year ending December 2013 was as expected.
The association reported a net deficit of $45,199, leaving the organisation with negative equity of $98,030.
The biggest budget blowout was in operational expenses - $81,534 more than expected - and in administration costs, up $37,074 on the budget.
However, worse news is expected at the special meeting on December 16. It is understood BBO has accrued up to another $100,000 of further debt in the past year.
BBO chairman Ricky Carr departed quickly and did not answer questions from the Otago Daily Times.
Before leaving, he said he could not recall when the board had decided to begin the liquidation proceedings.
An email obtained by the newspaper suggests Carr had floated the topic of liquidation as early as July.
In August, Carr was saying publicly that BBO would continue to trade. While Carr's night was over, the meeting continued for almost two hours.
Ruske initiated the informal meeting by asking the community to come together in an effort to raise the $100,000 needed to avoid liquidation.
''From here we can only get as many keen people as we can together with the focus of raising funds so that we can repay what we can to the creditors out there that have missed out,'' she said.
''And so basketball can continue and we can maintain some level of goodwill for the future for all these talented and up-and-coming basketballers, but also for the kids that just want to come and play and enjoy just being out on the court. We need to provide them a future.''
Ruske said she got the sense within the room that there was the will to raise the money.
''When you've even got a sponsor who is owed money who is willing to put his hand up and offer help that speaks volumes. There are people here who get so much out of the sport they would like to see us right the wrongs.''
Ruske felt it was vital the basketball community made an effort to repay some of the creditors.
''That is definitely part of my motivation.''
Ruske resigned from the board of BBO in October 2013 because she felt her concerns were not being listened to.
''I felt helpless being on the board and thought I could do more being off the board.''
Asked how BBO had got into such a financial mess, Ruske said there was ''a whole host of things which went wrong'' over many years.
Sport Otago chief executive John Brimble said his organisation would continue to work towards making sure amateur basketball was offered in the city.
Sport Otago community sports adviser Alan Nicholls said he could help the group ''co-ordinate fund-raising options so they maximise their chances of getting the most amount of money''.
''I know everybody will give it their utmost to make it succeed, but it will be a big ask to raise the required amount of money.''
The Otago Rugby Football Union avoided liquidation two years ago with the help of the community, so there is a precedent.
