Many of our Gator fans send emails with questions about where we meet, when, dues, gatherings, t-shirts, etc., and to help answer these and many more we’ve created this FAQ page. If you do not see the answer to your question here, please contact us (see CONTACT US page) and we will try to answer it!

Joining the Gator Club
As you know there has been a lot of discussion regarding the combined dues program. We know that many of you are still wondering what this program will mean to you. To help answer these concerns, we've brought together the questions we've been asked most often.

Q. What does the Combined Dues plan consist of?
A. There are two key components that make up the combined dues plan. One component deals with the merging of Gator Club® and Alumni Association membership dues. The second component deals with the implementation of a new club structure based on alumni population.

Q. Why is the Alumni Association developing a new club structure for Gator Clubs®?
A. The Alumni Association is developing a new club structure to provide the most effective and efficient way of serving alumni and promoting the University of Florida based on the number of Gator Clubs® in existence and the number of staff available to service the clubs.

Q. How will it work?
A. There will be specific performance requirements for clubs located in areas with large, medium and small numbers of alumni. For example, clubs in areas with heavy concentration of alumni will be required to participate in more Alumni Association programming than clubs in areas with a small alumni population. All Gator Clubs® will have an opportunity to receive certain services from the Alumni Association and these services will be proportionate with what the clubs are required to do.

Q. How will the University of Florida benefit as a result of a combined dues membership?
A. The combining of membership dues will eliminate confusion between the local Gator Club® and University of Florida Alumni Association membership dues. This will eliminate competition for members and increase overall memberships. The UF Alumni Association will be able to communicate more effectively with its members and hopefully increase membership attendance and participation in Gator Club® events.

Q. How will the Gator Club® benefit as a result of a combined dues membership?
A. The combining of membership dues will eliminate confusion between the local Gator Club® and Alumni Association membership dues. This will eliminate competition for members and provide UF alumni and friends an opportunity to enjoy the benefits of joining two organizations for the price of one membership. Gator Clubs® will not be responsible for the administration and expenses associated with recruiting and retaining members. Gator Clubs® will be better positioned to serve the UF Alumni Association's™ mission.

Q. How will the combined dues membership directly effect Gator Club® finances?
A. The combining of dues should not have a significant effect on most Gator Club® finances. Some clubs revenue streams may be reduced as a result of the new program, but most clubs will remain viable and financially secure. There will be a few that actually make more money as a result of the new program while doing less of the work associated with recruiting and retaining memberships. But, there will be a few clubs needing to make changes in terms of how they operate and function as a club.

Q. How will the Gator Club® supplement the money lost as result of the combined dues membership?
A. Clubs can ask for scholarship and/or activity fund contributions to replace dues collected from memberships. There should not be a series of different structures within the clubs that give the impression of separate membership dues. All voluntary contributions should not be specific in the amount; it should be left up the contributor to decide. A portion of the contribution may be eligible for a charitable contribution deduction. Clubs can begin to charge a minimal fee at monthly meetings and other club functions. Clubs can obtain corporate sponsorships and begin to use them to offset event costs.

Q. How will the combined dues membership and new club structure effect how Gator Clubs® operate and function in the future?
A. Many clubs will have to look at new and innovative ways of gaining revenue.

Q. Why are Gator Clubs® receiving $2 per every member?
A. The $2 amount is a result of what is most feasible for the Alumni Association at this time to initiate the program based on evaluating clubs financial statements and the objective of maintaining Gator Club® stability.

Q. When will the combined dues program go into effect?
A. The UF Alumni Association, with the guidance from each Gator Club® will conduct a targeted direct mail campaign announcing the combined dues program coinciding with the Spring 2003 membership drives associated with Gator Gatherings. Direct funding for the program will not take effect until July 1, 2003.

Q. What is the current geographic range for each defined Gator Club® area?
A. The UF Alumni Association is in the process of redefining Gator Club® assigned geographic ranges and converting ZIP codes to counties. A list of counties will be provided to each club in the coming months.

Q: What are the annual dues used for?
A: Dues go towards the Pay-Per-View football games (usually at least 2 games per year, per viewing location), Gator merchandise (for raffles), miscellaneous supplies such as raffle tickets, Gator Club Membership Cards, etc. Dues also can be used for events such as bowl game expenses (keep your fingers crossed!). Without our dues paying members, we would not be able to receive the pay-per-view games, design/purchase the t-shirts, etc. PLEASE PAY YOUR DUES EVERY YEAR TO STAY LISTED AS AN ACTIVE MEMBER!

Q: Does the So Cal Gator Club watch all the Gator games?
A: Of course! We meet every Saturday during the football season at all our locations to watch the games together. If the game is not televised on a national station, we receive the game via satellite. During basketball season we will meet to watch selected games, those scheduled late enough for west-coast viewing and the playoff games.

Q: Who attends the games?
A: ALL FLORIDA FANS! Whether you are Alumni, parents of students, friends of UF, or just in general love the Gators please come out and join us!

Q: Who can become an Official Member of the So Cal Gator Club?
A: Anyone! All we require is that you are a GATOR FAN! And that you pay your annual dues.

Q: What is my Official Southern California Membership Card good for?
A: First of all, it proves that you are an Official Dues-Paying Member! Next, at Hooter’s you will receive 20% off of your total bill. At Tony P’s, you will receive a free raffle ticket, for our Gator merchandise raffles held throughout the year. At National’s, you will receive 10% off your food & beverage tab with your card. If we hold special events, Official Members will receive a discount on the fees for the event.

Q: Where can I purchase a So Cal Gator Club T-Shirt?
A: This year’s shirts "TBD" can be purchased ONLY at the Marina del Rey and Burbank viewing locations. Please DO NOT send a check to the Gator Club for a shirt or towel, we cannot mail them nor can we hold them for you. We have limited quantities, so they are on a first-come, first-served basis.

Q: How do I volunteer to help out with future activities?
A: Many ways! We are always on the lookout for good Gator fans to assist. Depending on what type of role you are looking for, or activity to help out with, drop us an email (CONTACT US) or see us at the Game Day locations.

Q: I have a GREAT idea to organize a group activity/event/party/social/ networking session/etc. for the club! What do I do now?
A: Please contact Events Coordinator at Tony P’s during the games. If it seems like a good idea, we’ll work with you to coordinate it for our members.

Q: I’d like to contact other So Cal Gator Members. How do I do that?
A: Due to the UF Alumni Association and the Southern California Gator Club’s privacy policy, we cannot give out any personal information to other club members. We can, though, try to facilitate communication between parties.