The Names, They Are A'Changing

Email received today:

Message from the UCLA Faculty Club's President, Linda Sarna

April 4, 2025

Dear Club Members,

Happy Spring! Since January, the Club has been engaged in a new partnership with Housing & Hospitality (H&H). Despite the fires, rains, holidays and other disruptions affecting the ability of the Club to be open for its members, we are making excellent progress in meeting the goals of our mission while pursuing fiscal sustainability. Factors affecting this positive outcome are the strong usage of the Club by members, including the increased number of Events. H&H now has a labor model that works under the leadership of our Interim General Manager Guadalupe (Lupe) Morales. H&H is in the process of hiring a new GM for the position. In addition to two resignations, four other employees were laid off and encouraged to pursue other options at UCLA. On a positive note, all of our current employees have completed their required training, and one received outstanding recognition for her service. I meet frequently with the GM and with H&H leadership, Al Ferrone and Peter Angelis, so that we are all on the same page, focused on the success of the club. This includes moving forward with the renovation for the North Hallway restroom. At our June Board Meeting on Wednesday, June 18, we will have a full discussion of the financial status of the Club since the transition.

The dramatic changes in the administrative structure of the Club, required us to do a careful analysis of our Bylaws. As a result, after long discussions and multiple drafts, the approved new Bylaws will guide the Board’s direction, beginning July 1. Rather than a cumbersome and labor-intensive committee structure, the new smaller Board will work together as a “Committee of the Whole” to accomplish our mission. We will still have an elected leadership team consisting of a Chair, Vice Chair 1 (Treasurer) and Vice Chair 2 (Secretary), and two At-Large Members. Representatives from the UCLA Emeriti Association, the UCLA Faculty Women’s Club, and UCLA Administration will continue as voting members.

Previously, the Club held elections in the Spring with a new Board launching September 1. Because of the myriad of operational details involved in the transition, as well as efforts in revising the Club’s Bylaws to reflect the new scope of Board responsibilities, the Board made the difficult but thoughtful decision to suspend elections for this year. The new smaller Board with Victoria Steele as Chair, will begin July 1. My term will end June 30th. The Club will have elections for open positions in Spring 2026.

Although the new Interim Operating Agreement, an integration of the 2019 and 2024 agreements, has not yet been approved, we are posting the Club’s new approved Bylaws on our website. We will update them when the Operating Agreement becomes finalized.

Last month, we received the excellent news from Administrative Vice Chancellor Michael Beck that Chancellor Frenk and Executive Vice Chancellor/Provost Hunt approved the Club’s name change to the University Club. The formal name will be the UCLA University Club. This historic change was supported by our members and more accurately reflects our membership. Over the next few months, the change will become more evident in the signage to our building, our website and communication materials. Stay tuned!

Our next Board meeting on Thursday, April 24, 2-3:30, will be in person and is open to our members. More information will be forthcoming.

Finally, I encourage all of you to support the Club, especially by your attendance at two upcoming special events, the Easter Brunch and Egg Hunt on April 20, and the Mother’s Day Brunch on May 11. H&H are doing their best to continue our traditions and make these memorable occasions for you and yours. These events are by reservation only so please contact reservations@fc.ucla.edu as soon as possible.

I hope to see you there!

The Board has done their best on your behalf. I remain optimistic about the future success of the Club.

Best wishes for a successful Spring Quarter,

Linda Sarna

President, University Club

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Yours truly can't help but note that the email starts with the name being "Faculty Club" in the heading, but ends in University Club. So I guess the change occurred while reading the message.