Q: Do I have to be an employee (or spouse of an employee) of the University of California, Davis to be a member of UFC?

A: No. UFC membership is open to anyone supportive of UCD.

Q: Are my $45 annual dues based on the calendar year, or the academic year?

A: The academic year.

Q: Do I have to pay the $45 annual dues if I participate in only one section?

A: Yes. Your $45 dues pay for UFC's operating expenses, including the printing and mailing of the yearly program handbook and the roster; fees for the website services; insurance; subsidizing some of our programs; and other expenses. These costs exist whether you are a major participant or a minor participant. In addition, $9 of your dues is used to fund scholarships.

Q: Will I receive a receipt for my scholarship donation for income tax purposes?

A: Yes.

Q: Do I have to be a newcomer to town to join the Newcomers Group?

A: No. Any new UFC member is welcome to participate in the Newcomers Group.

Q: Do the sections change from time to time?

A: Yes. As interests change, so do our sections. Some sections have been active for decades; others were added just this year. Some sections may be dropped if interest declines.

Q: I am interested in UFC, but I work full-time. What do you have for me?

A: The Program Committee plans events throughout the year with a desire to accommodate varied schedules. Some events are during the day, some are in the evening, and some are on weekends. Section leaders also attempt to hold their activities at times convenient to varied schedules.

Q: How are the Marion Freeborn scholarship recipients selected?

A: Marion Freeborn Scholarships are awarded to high achieving undergraduates according to a cooperative procedure that includes members of University Farm Circle and the University of California, Davis.  Those procedures are currently being reviewed to ensure they conform to the requirements for endowment funds of public educational institutions and may be subject to change.

Q: How are the scholarships funded?

A: The scholarships are funded from the interest earned on our endowment, a portion of members' dues, and donations.

Q: What kind of interest does the endowment earn?

A: It earns two types of interest:

1. "Growth" interest that is rolled over and added to the principal each year.
   
2. "Earnings" interest that is returned to us each year to be used toward funding our scholarships.

Q: Are profits made from UFC's monthly programs?

A: Not usually. The UFC board attempts to set the price of a program to equal the cost of that program. If a profit is made, those moneys go toward offsetting a program that lost money. Any money remaining at the end of the fiscal year is rolled over to fund UFC's scholarships.

Q: What is in the Members Only section? Why can't I access it?

A: The Members Only section contains private information available only to current members, such as an online membership directory from which members can email each other, past newsletters, UFC Board information, UCD resource listings, and more. If a member has paid current dues, his or her password will allow access to these pages.

Q: I forgot the password to the Members Only section of the website. What should I do?

A: As of fall 2020, each UFC member creates a unique password. Illustrated directions are here.  Note that your dues are due Oct. 1 each year and must be current to log in to the Members Only section and to receive the yearly mailed roster.  If you have trouble logging in, please contact the Data Management Chair.

Susan Rodgers helping at a Holiday Home Tour
to raise money for scholarships.
UFC members designed, donated items, and 
assembled a variety of baskets to sell at the boutique.
Photo by Pat Stromberg