The times, they are a'changing (at the Faculty Club)

The email from the Faculty Club below was blocked by a (not-so) clever spam-blocking system called Minecast, which some departments at UCLA use. But that's a story for another day. Here is the message:

Message from the Faculty Club President, Linda Sarna

February 26, 2025

Dear Colleagues,

As our community is recovering from the dreadful fires in January and the rains in February, Spring is around the corner. Since the beginning of our partnership with UCLA Housing & Hospitality (H & H), January 2nd, the operations at the Club continue to evolve. As some members heard at our February 22 Board of Governors meeting, Andrea Curthoys, our valued General Manager for the past 18-months, has made the decision to step down, effective March 3.  A Bruin alum, Andrea was especially helpful in facilitating the transition to our new operational structure with H & H over the past six-months. During her time here, she brought creative ideas and fun promotions that enhanced the Club’s culture. We very much appreciate her many contributions to the Club and wish her well.

Following discussions with H&H leadership, we want to assure you that a strong team and support structure are in place to ensure a seamless transition. Guadalupe (Lupe) Morales, who has been working at the Faculty Club since December, will step in as Interim General Manager, overseeing day-to-day operations while the recruitment effort is conducted to search for a permanent replacement. With over twenty-five years of experience as a Food Service Manager, and thirty-five in the hospitality industry, she is a font of knowledge.  I am sure that many of you have seen her on site. Please say hello! Additionally, Al Ferrone, H&H’s Senior Director of Food & Beverage, will continue to provide operational oversight and strategic guidance, ensuring the Board remains informed and that the Club continues to run smoothly.

With the continued leadership of Lupe and Al, as well as the full support of H&H, members should anticipate no fall-off in level of service and hospitality during the transitional period and during the recruitment process for a new General Manager. In fact, we were happy to receive positive comments about the Club’s food at our Board meeting.  The Faculty Club’s operations will continue without disruption, and we remain committed to enhancing the overall experience for our members. We appreciate your ongoing support during this transition and will keep you informed as we move forward with the recruitment process.

The Board has been actively engaged in creating a new set of Bylaws to fit with the changes in responsibility for the Board of the Faculty Club. We expect to approve these in late March. This may affect the timing for future Board elections.

In keeping with our changed operational structure as well as the time frame for staffing at the Club, we have changed the time and dates of our future Board meetings (now March 21, April 24, May 22, and June 13, all from 2-3:30).

We are hopeful that the change in our name from the Faculty Club to the University Club will be approved soon. Finally, we are moving forward with the renovation plans for the North Hallway restroom. Stay tuned!

All the best,

Linda Sarna

President, Faculty Club