Nearly the entire board of Helsinki's Finnish Club will resign if women are not accepted as members in next week's vote. The board says it cannot lead an organization without long-term stability.
The club will hold its crucial membership vote on October 30. Changing the rules requires 75 percent approval from current members.
Club chairman Veli-Pekka Dfva signed a letter stating the board's position. Only one board member plans to remain if women are rejected.
"We cannot take responsibility for leading the Club in a situation where the long-term conditions for sustainable operation and survival are missing," the letter states.
The vote concerns removing a clause added to rules in the 1960s. That clause states only men can be club members.
This marks the second major leadership crisis over gender equality at the prestigious club. Former chairman Raimo Ilveskero resigned last autumn when the club decided against accepting women. Then, nearly 70 percent of members voted in favor of women's membership.
The current board argues that financial stability depends on expanding membership. The club's property sales have been discussed due to economic pressures.
Dfva has held active discussions with Finland's National Coalition Party about returning as a tenant. The party previously occupied club premises for ten years before moving in 2021.
National Coalition Party secretary Maggie Keskinen declined to comment on potential negotiations. She said no official discussions about returning have occurred.
The 1876-founded Finnish Club describes itself as a cultural club for Finnish-minded men of different ages. The membership debate has sometimes become heated, with the letter calling for maintaining club spirit through respect and listening.
This standoff reveals how traditional institutions struggle to balance heritage with modern equality demands. The club's future now depends on whether members prioritize tradition over financial and social sustainability.