Changing Times

Message from Linda Sarna, President of the University Club [via email]

May 5, 2025

Dear Club Members,

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

It has been a busy month and I have important news to share.

At our March Board meeting, we approved a new set of Bylaws, now posted on our website. The revised Bylaws reduced the number of Board seats to five elected and three non-elected members. We also restructured the leadership so that the five elected members now serve as a “Committee of the Whole.” Officer titles have been updated as well: Chair; Vice Chair 1 (Secretary); and Vice Chair 2 (Treasurer). The leadership team is rounded out by two at-large members.

The new Bylaws specified that the composition of the 2025-26 Board was to consist of five continuing members from the 2024-2025 Board who were duly elected and willing to continue their service. In our April Board meeting we held a vote to officially elect them. 

• Chair, Victoria Steele (term ends in 2026)
• Vice Chair 1, Steve Cederbaum (term ends in 2027)
• Vice Chair 2, Kyle McJunkin (term ends in 2027)
• At-large member, Claire Bellanti (term ends in 2026)
• At-large member, Matt Lindauer (term ends in 2028)

Non-elected liaisons who will continue as voting members are:

• Emeriti Association, Bruce Miller
• Faculty Women’s Club, Anne Marie Spataru
• UCLA Administration, Sue Santon
• Sheila Davis, Anne Pautler, and I will conclude our service on June 30th.

The new Board members will begin their terms July 1, 2025.

As I noted in my prior message, we will hold a full election in Spring 2026 to fill vacancies left by outgoing members.

In line with the requirements of our Bylaws, I have notified Chancellor Frenk about the new Board roster for 2025-2026.

Our final 2024-2025 Board meeting on Thursday, May 22, 2-3, will be in person at the Club and available via Zoom. Please note that we are cancelling the previously scheduled June 18 Board Meeting.

At the May meeting, Al Ferrone, Senior Director of UCLA’s Housing & Hospitality will share with us available information about the financial status of the Club since the transition to our new partnership in January. This report will reflect usage of the Club by Members and for events. We will have an opportunity to ask questions about events as well as the financial prospects for reopening of the Coral Grill. As you recall, in order to address our over $6.5 million deficit, during these past several months we have been focused on continuing our mission in a cost-conscious way that will ensure stability for the future.

Some of you may have noticed that the “Faculty Club” sign has been removed from our outside front wall. While we wait for the new “UCLA University Club” sign to be installed, we are working on a media roll-out to officially announce our new name and brand identity. Stay tuned!

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Lupe Morales for accepting the assignment to serve as Interim General Manager. We are fortunate to have her leadership during this transitional period. For now, a campus-wide hiring freeze is impacting our recruitment of a permanent General Manager.

In closing, I also want to offer my profound gratitude to all the members of the Board who have agreed to serve on the incoming Board. Grateful thanks as well to those who will be stepping off in June. Above all, I thank you, our members, for your ongoing support. It has been quite a year!

Best wishes,

Linda Sarna

President, University Club