Registered membership for Bowls Dunedin dropped by 85 from 1638 to 1553.
''Our declining membership should be a grave concern,'' Thomson told the 106th annual meeting of Bowls Dunedin.
''We have lost 5% of our membership. In future years clubs, need to arrest the decline that is becoming more evident.''
Six clubs increased their membership over the past financial year. They were Caversham, Forbury Park, Karitane, Macandrew Bay, St Clair and St Kilda.
St Clair had the biggest increase - its membership improved from 86 to 91.
Taieri has the biggest membership in the centre with 144. Fairfield, with 118 members, is the only other club with more than 100 members.
The financial situation of Bowls Dunedin improved during the past 12 months. It had a net surplus of $3540 compared with a loss of $5059 in the previous year.
The new president of the centre is Cyril Gilfedder (North East Valley) and the vice-president is Jo-Anne Marshall (Caledonian).
The new board members are Pete Thomson (Balmacewen) and Mitchell Will (North East Valley). They replace retiring members Len Marr (Logan Park) and Jan Tucker (Caledonian).
Bowls Dunedin: Officers
Patron: Ian Roche QSM.
President: Cyril Gilfedder (North East Valley).
Vice-president: Jo-Anne Marshall (Caledonian).
Board: Richard Hambleton (Taieri), Adrian Hale (Fairfield), Geoff Hanna (Mornington), Pete Thomson (Balmacewen) and Mitchell Will (North East Valley).
Secretary: Darryl Young.
