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Board of Visitors and Fellows
Visionary Leadership
Visitors and Fellows are a select group of friends of the Department of Viticulture and Enology who share its vision of purpose. They play a direct and personal role in sustaining the Department as the premier international University Center for teaching and research in grape growing and wine making.
The Department of Viticulture and Enology has recently conducted an intensive review of its programs and industry relationships, and has identified three primary strategic change initiatives which merit immediate attention.
* Improve communications with the Department's University, public and professional constituents. The Department realizes that its vision of excellence can only be achieved through maintaining effective working relationships with its colleagues in the trade and with the general public.
* Broaden the relevance and productivity of the Department's research programs. The limited amount of funding available for grape and wine research requires that the Department streamline and prioritize it research programs in order to extend the effectiveness of its work.
* Evaluate the Department's long-term needs for teaching and research space. The fundamental space issue is the Department's challenge to conduct modern, pertinent instruction and advanced research in its current facilities.
Members of the Board of Visitors and Fellows (BVF) agree to provide leadership, advice, and counsel to the Department about these strategic directions and to support its long-term goals and objectives. The members of this prestigious group invest in the Department's future, develop personal relationships with its faculty members and participate in the vibrant life of the University. They are a very special resource.
The members of BVF take due pride in the significant role they play in building an internationally recognized Department whose first priority is sustained excellence. Ultimately, their commitment will determine the kind of individuals who will lead tomorrow's grape and wine industries into the next millennium.
Membership
Members of the Board of Visitors and Fellows are industrial leaders, educators, wine appreciators and interested friends and colleagues from various segments of society and from all parts of the world. They are dedicated to superior teaching and research and are committed to maintaining the world-class grape and wine industries in California as well as the United States as a whole. The BVF has two levels of membership.
Visitors
Visitors are an extraordinary group of members who perform a key leadership role for the Board of Visitors and Fellows and the Department. The Visitors serve as overseers of the BVF, each member having committed to a three-year term of service, as well as having made a substantial membership investment in the Department. These distinguished individuals represent a broad cross-section of leaders from the public sector including the grape and wine industries.
Fellows
Fellow form the sustaining membership core of the Board. They are partners of the Department who commit annually to provide the support needed to achieve the Department's goals of excellence.
Member Benefits
By being closely associated with a world-class institution that teaches and conducts research in the grape and wine fields, members of the BVF have opportunities to:
* Develop a personal link to individual faculty members in the Department.
* Interact and meet with individuals from all levels of the grape and wine industries including growers and makers of fine wines.
* Meet new colleagues who share their interest in wine and grapes.
Members of BVF receive special recognition within both the University and the industry as supporters of the Department. Members are:
* Attend Annual and Special Board Meetings.
* Invited to special tours and tastings.
* Offered special bottlings, lectures, publications and briefings about the University and the industry.
* Extended invitations to special events of significance to the Department and the industry.
* Provided timely information about the Department's teaching, research activities and other programs.
The Department of Viticulture and Enology
The UC Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology began its teaching and research programs in viticulture and enology in 1880 by an Act of the California Legislature. In 1933, after the repeal of Prohibition, these activities moved to the Davis Campus and provided crucial assistance to the California grape and wine industries in rebuilding their devastated infrastructure. Since then, UC Davis has been instrumental in advancing the quality and the reputation for excellence of California's grapes and wines.
The Department has partnered with the industry by supplying well-trained graduates. Through its scientific discoveries and innovations it has solved both short-term problems and found solutions to major systemic problems. The Department's reputation extends nationally and internationally because of the preeminence of its teaching and research. It is renowned for integrating grape growing and wine making in a single department. Its faculty has earned the Department a worldwide reputation as the academic leader. It is an institution whose tradition of excellence benefits the industries that have grown from its teachings and creation of knowledge and the public who appreciates its marketplace products.
Member Responsibilities
By their membership, Visitors and Fellows agree to the following responsibilities:
* Provide expert advice, counsel and assistance to the Department in setting and accomplishing its strategic direction.
* Acquire and maintain knowledge about the Department and its programs and goals.
* Represent the Department to the public as well as within the industry
* Participate in the Department's academic and social activities.
* Participate through personal or corporate gifts in development programs of the Department.
The Challenges of the 21st Century
For the past two decades the University and the Department have suffered a diminishing level of California state support. At the same time, the grape and wine industries have expanded rapidly. Public interest in grapes and wine is at an all-time high, and as a greater segment of the population becomes educated about and interested in grape and wine products, the Department and the industry need to meet an increasing demand for information, pertinent research and quality products. Furthermore, if the grape and wine industries continue to grow as they have in the past twenty years, the Department must be able to position itself to effectively provide technical support and highly-trained personnel.
The Department has already begun setting goals for the future and identifying strategic initiatives linked to these concerns. With the support of the Board of Visitors and Fellows, it is the hope of the Department of Viticulture and Enology that the implementation of these strategic initiatives now and into the 21st Century will strengthen not only the Department, but the University and the grape growing and wine making industries as well and ensure the Department's world reputation as the premier institution of its kind.
The UC Davis Foundation, The Board of Visitors and Fellows of the Department of Viticulture and Enology is an unincorporated, non-profit organization functioning as an approved body of the UC Davis Foundation. The UC Davis Foundation is a non-profit, public benefit corporation organized for the purpose of encouraging voluntary private support for the benefit of UC Davis and is recognized under federal and state laws as a qualified donor for tax-deductible charitable contributions. Responsibility for governance of the Foundation, including investments, is vested in its Board of Trustees, which is composed of community leaders and senior campus administrators. Each year, the UC Davis Foundation undergoes an external audit. Audited financial statements are available upon request.
Privacy Notice. The 1977 California Information Practices Act requires UC Davis to provide the following information to individuals asked to supply information about themselves:
UC Davis is requesting this information to maintain accurate support group and donor files in the office of the Department of Viticulture and Enology. Furnishing this information is strictly voluntary and it will be maintained confidentially. The information may be used by other University departments in the regular course of business but will not be disseminated to others except if required by law. You have the right to review your own data file. Inquiries should be forwarded to the Department Chair, Department of Viticulture and Enology, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, California 95616.
Donor's Consent. The University is grateful for the support it receives from alumni and friends. One of the ways our thanks is expressed is through listing the names of donors in various publications. Should you wish that your name not appear as a donor, please notify us if you have not already done so.
Non-discrimination. The University of California does not discriminate in any of its policies, procedures or practices. The University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer.
Special Note. Your membership contribution may be multiplied through a company matching gift program. Please check with your company to see whether a matching gift is available.