Since 1924

Engaging Speakers • Engrossing Topics • Great Conversations • Delicious Lunches • Close Friendships

University Club meetings and programs are now in-person.

The Club President and Members Welcome You

The University Club of Claremont has just celebrated its hundredth anniversary. While our club has changed greatly over the past century, it’s original goals are mostly the same: to promote friendship, intellectual curiosity, and education in the Claremont area.

We invite you to attend our lunch meetings to learn from a wide variety of programs and to meet people who value education.

David Sonner, President 2025-2026
E Mail : david_sonner@verizon.net

UClub first-time guest

We invite you to be our guest at any upcoming luncheon meeting of the University Club of Claremont, held the second and fourth Tuesdays of most months (first two Tuesdays of November and December), at the Doubletree Hotel in Claremont. We gather at 11:30, have a good lunch at 12:00, and enjoy an intellectually stimulating program before adjourning about 1:30. The current lunch price is $25, but you will be our first-time guest by bringing or referring to this ticket.

In order to be included in our lunch count, we need your RSVP to secretary@universityclubofclaremont.org by noon of the Saturday before the luncheon through December 2024. We look forward to welcoming you soon.

April 2025 Programs

April 8

“How Generative AI Is Reshaping Our World—And Our Lives”

Speaker – Robert Klitgaard, Claremont Graduate University

Robert Klitgaard

Artificial intelligence is no longer a distant frontier—it is here, rewriting the rules of work, creativity, decision-making, and human interaction. But as we scramble to integrate AI into everything from education to public policy, a fundamental problem remains: most discussions about AI focus on either hype or fear rather than equipping students, professionals, scholars, and leaders with practical strategies to use it wisely. Instead of offering abstract predictions, Professor Klitgaard will discuss how AI is already reshaping healthcare, business, government, and the arts. Participants will receive a free link to Co-Intelligence Applied: Thirteen Examples of How Generative AI Is Transforming Our World—And Ourselves (February 2025).

Robert Klitgaard is a professor at Claremont Graduate University, where he served as president from 2005-9. Formerly Dean of the Pardee RAND Graduate School and a professor at Harvard and Yale, he consults around the world on government reform and economic strategy. His Tropical Gangsters was named one of the New York Times’ Books of the Century. He is a member of the World Economic Forum Impact Circle on Artificial Intelligence and runs workshops on AI for leaders, evaluators, and professors in the United States, Latin America, and Asia.

In-Person Meeting!

Held in the Sycamore Room, Doubletree Inn, 555 W Foothill Blvd, Claremont

11:30 am: social time * 12:00 am: lunch * 1:00 pm: speaker
Lunch is $25 for members and guests (subsidized by the Club)

April 22

“Fairplex Community Programs and the LA County Fair”

Speaker – Benny Ayala, Fairplex Intergovernmental Affairs Manager

Benny Ayala

The Fairplex has the LA County Fair (coming up May 2 to May 26) – and much more. Started over 100 years ago, it’s now a non-profit mutual benefit organization covering 487 acres in Pomona, offering lots and lots of events and learning opportunities for the community throughout the year.

This presentation will provide an overview of Fairplex, highlighting its role as a dynamic community space that brings together education, entertainment, and innovation. It will cover Fairplex Presents events, showcasing unique experiences like the LA County Fair and other year-round programs, and our partners that reside in our campus who help drive our mission forward. Finally, we’ll take a closer look at the LA County Fair, its impact, and how it continues to be a beloved tradition for the region.

Benny is the Intergovernmental Affairs Manager at Fairplex, where he oversees various intergovernmental relationships and leads Guest Relations for the renowned LA County Fair. With a background in public service, Benny previously served as a District Representative for a California State Senate office, fostering connections within the Pomona community and the broader Inland Empire region. Before his work in government, Benny dedicated himself to education and community enrichment as an Afterschool Program Director and preschool teacher at the Pomona YMCA in Diamond Bar. Beyond his professional pursuits, Benny finds joy in tinkering with cars and caring for his beloved chickens in his leisure time.