MISSION AND TRUTHS:
The mission of The Founder’s Club, LLC (“Founder’s Club” or
“FC”) is to provide, via private association, a diverse
group of people a community environment for social
gatherings, events and meetings wherein members [and their
permitted guests] may gather for general discussions, story
sharing and respectful and congenial debate. The Founder’s
Club is a private social club for those whose hearts burn
with a love of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
It is a place for those who love fine food and drink; a
place to enliven one’s mind; a place to honor the men and
women who forged our great nation and to carry on their
radical ideals of liberty. But most importantly, it is home
to those whose unwavering ambition is to leave to posterity
a better world than they themselves inherited.
THE THREE PILLARS IN THE FOUNDER'S PHILOSOPHY
LIFE
The founders recognized that life is a sacred gift from
above; that each individual is sovereign in his own being
and that the mere state of existence, not status or class,
brings about the enactment of one’s Natural Rights.
LIBERTY
The founders believed that the natural state of humankind is
to be free and that one is entitled to act in his or her own
enlightened self-interest provided that one’s interests
don’t infringe unfairly upon another’s. This concept was
radical in its day and remains so today. Liberty is fragile
and must be preserved.
THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS
To the founding generation the pursuit of happiness had a
more bountiful meaning. It was not limited to the material
possessions and simple pleasures we might enjoy (even though
that was part of it- just look at Benjamin Franklin as an
example!). The Founder’s truly believed that the truest
happiness is attained while In robust pursuit of the best
one can be. Our forefathers and mothers saw one’s life as a
beautiful tapestry to be woven, thread by thread, into the
most magnificent scene one can possibly create. Yet, at the
same time, they realized we are all human, our tapestries
are frayed and flawed, each one not yet perfect. Thus,
though perfection is unattainable, it is ones duty to pursue
it none-the-less.
To further its mission and purposes, the Founder’s Club
hereby declares the following truths:
- Membership is open to select men and women interested in
the history of the United States of America, and who
enjoy fine food and spirits.
- All members must be committed to the advancement of the
preservation of historical aspects of United States of
America for the enlightenment of current and future
generations.
- The Founder’s Club is a private association formed
solely for the mission and purposes set forth herein and
membership is available by invitation only.
- To be eligible for membership, all potential members
must be sponsored by another member in good standing.
- Membership in good standing includes access to Founder’s
Club facility, events, resources for members and their
permitted guests and members only portions of Founder’s
Club facility.
- No person shall be excluded from membership in, or from
any program or activity of, the Founder’s Club because
of race, religious beliefs, gender, national or ethnic
origin, sexual orientation, age (except those persons
under 25 years of age), or physical disability.
MEMBERSHIP:
The Founder’s Club, LLC is a Georgia limited liability
company that owns and operates a private association, which
membership therein shall be by invitation only. Membership
is open to individual persons only. There shall be no
corporate or entity membership of any kind whatsoever. All
individual members of the Founder’s Club shall be at least
25 years of age, unless otherwise agreed by the Chairperson.
A member in good standing may sponsor an eligible
prospective individual for membership and by written
invitation to join the Founder’s Club. The prospective
member’s application on the Founder’s Club approved form,
accompanied by the initiation fee and applicable dues, shall
be returned to the Chairperson. The applicant member shall
be declared elected to individual membership upon the
decision of the Chairperson. The individual membership of
this Club may be divided into three classifications:
Founding Fathers, Founding Mothers and Mirabilis. From time
to time, the Chairperson may accept Apprentice membership,
upon such terms and conditions as shall be determined by the
Chairperson, in his sole discretion. Memberships are not
transferable except upon the express written consent of the
Chairperson, who shall grant or withhold any such consent in
his sole discretion.
Members shall be deemed to have no ownership interest in the
FC or its property or the property of FC’s affiliates. The
American History Guild will loan to FC, from time to time,
historical artifacts (collectively, “AHG Property”). Members
shall be deemed to have no ownership interest in the AHG
Property.
All members shall be entitled to all applicable licenses and
privileges of the Founder’s Club, and all members shall
share in its responsibilities. These responsibilities shall
include support of its purposes and compliance with this
Declaration and Founder’s Club Rules and standards of
conduct.
The Chairperson shall establish Founder’s Club Rules, as
amended from time and time, which shall include standards of
conduct including conduct required at Founder’s Club
facilities and events. Members agree to comply with said
Founder’s Club Rules and Regulations including standards of
conduct.
The Chairperson has sole discretion to terminate a membership
for violation of this Declaration, the Rules and Regulations
or standards of conduct including but not limited to late or
nonpayment of fees or dues or conduct unbecoming a FC
member. The Chairperson may expel, suspend, or decline to
renew membership of any member (a) who violates the Rules
and Regulations; (b) who does not at all times act
consistent with this Declaration; (c) who acts in a manner
inconsistent with standards of conduct; or (d) for other
just cause.
Individual membership of the Founder’s Club is divided into
three different types as described below. Each type shall be
limited in number and shall receive the benefits and
privileges as set forth in this Declaration.
| Type: |
FOUNDING FATHERS |
FOUNDING MOTHERS |
MIRABILIS |
| Limited to: |
76 |
13 (3 card /1 card) |
410 |
| Nonrefundable
Initiation Fee:
|
$7,600.00 |
$7,600.00/$1,776.00 |
$1,776.00 |
| Monthly dues:
|
$76.00 |
$76.00 |
$76.00 |
| Monthly food and beverage minimum purchase:
|
$76.00 |
$76.00 |
$76.00 |
| Discount: |
17.76% |
17.76% |
13.00% |
| Initiation gifts: |
Proprietary items: wooden cigar box with cards,
cigars, custom steak knife, custom whiskey
|
Proprietary items: jewelry box, custom jewelry with
cards,
|
Proprietary items: jewelry box with custom jewelry,
cards
|
| Preferred/priority seating and access at FC
facilities and venues:
|
Yes |
Yes/ No |
No |
| Membership cards: |
3 |
3/1 |
1 |
The initiation fee shall be nonrefundable and payable when a
membership application is filed with the Chairperson. Upon
acceptance a new member and payment of all applicable fees
and applicable dues being received by the Chairperson, each
new member shall receive such materials and gifts as may be
provided for new members by the Founder’s Club. All fees
paid shall be returned to the applicant if the application
is not accepted. Monthly dues shall be paid by all members
no later the dates specified to maintain membership.
Upon acceptance of membership, all dues, fees and other
applicable charges, will be charged to the member credit
card on file. Members are responsible for all charges
incurred on such member’s account, including those incurred
by such member’s family members and guests. Members agree
that FC may charge member’s account and applicable credit
card(s) in accordance herewith. Each member agrees to pay
all reasonable attorneys’ fees actually incurred,
investigator fees, and costs in the event a member account
is turned over for collection.
Members agree to pay the account in full when payment is due.
Members hereby deemed to authorize FC and/or its affiliates
to charge the member credit card(s) on file with FC for
monthly charges. All members must have two (2) valid credit
cards on file with FC at all times. Should the transaction
not be completed with the primary card, the secondary card
on file will be charged.
Each member shall be deemed to have read and agreed to
conform to and be bound by the enrollment terms contained
herein, and the FC Declaration, as may be amended from time
to time.
EACH MEMBER HEREBY FULLY RELEASES AND DISCHARGES THE
FOUNDER’S CLUB, LLC, ITS EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, SHAREHOLDERS,
MEMBERS, CHAIRPERSONS, MANAGERS, AFFILIATES AND ASSIGNS FROM
ANY LIABILITY, INJURY, LOSS, DAMAGE OR CLAIM ARISING FROM
USE OF THE RESTAURANT AND THE FOUNDER’S CLUB AND ITS
FACILITIES.
ACCESS TO FC FACILITY:
Upon completion, members in good standing shall have access
to the FC facility known as Liberty Hall located at 33 South
Main Street, Alpharetta, Georgia (“Liberty Hall”). Liberty
Hall is a 4 story building and the main headquarters and
meeting place of the FC. Liberty Hall consists of the
Republic restaurant on the main level, mezzanine level, 4th
floor, roof top terrace and cellar levels. Members will have
access to a storage cabinet on the 4th floor, as designated
by the Chairperson. Liberty Hall will contract with a third
party to operate the Republic restaurant. Most if not all FC
events will occur at Liberty Hall, which events include a
weekly lecture series and quest speaker events. The views
and opinions expressed by guest speakers are those of the
guest speakers and do not necessarily reflect the official
policy or position of FC, its principals, members or
Chairperson. Private rooms will be available by reservation
on a first come, first serve basis for use by members in
good standing, with priority given to members assigned to
each room, as applicable.
Immediate Family Privileges: subject to availability, the
member’s spouse (or the significant other of a member) and
their unmarried children between the ages of twenty-one (21)
and twenty-three (23) who are living at home, attending
school on a full-time basis or in the military, are allowed
the same usage privileges enjoyed by the member. Extended
Family Privileges: subject to availability, the parents, and
the adult children and grandchildren of the member or his or
her spouse, and their respective spouses, are allowed the
same usage privileges, subject to availability, enjoyed by
the member, upon the payment of reduced fees and other
applicable fees. Extended family members must be accompanied
by the member at all times. Members are responsible to
ensure that his or her family, extended family and guests
comply with this Declaration, the Rules and standards of
conduct.
Cigar smoking will be permitted in designated areas and the
roof top terrace. Each Member, for himself or herself and
guests, acknowledges the presence of cigar smoke in the FC
Facility and at events accepts the associated risk including
health risks, if any, associated with second hand smoke.
Cigarette smoking shall not be permitted in the club.
Warning: The Surgeon General has determined that
cigar/cigarette smoking is dangerous to your health. Cigars
are not a safe alternative to cigarettes. For more
information visit http://www.surgeongeneral.gov.
CHAIRPERSON:
The Chairperson shall serve for life, is the chief executive
officer of the FC and is responsible for fulfilling the
mission of FC. The Chairperson presides at meetings of FC,
if any, and the FC Executive Committee, if any; appoints all
Committees; and has general supervision of the operation of
the FC. The Chairperson shall be an ex officio member of all
Committees of the FC and shall serve as one of the FC’s
representative. The Chairperson is the only person that may
take action binding upon the FC. The initial Chairperson
shall be John T. Adams, who shall be succeeded by Ellen
Adams. The Vice Chairperson shall be appointed by the
Chairperson and shall act as Chairperson with the same
powers and rights if the Chairperson is permanently unable
to act. The initial Vice Chairperson shall be D. Tracy
Ward.
ADVISORY BOARD:
The FC Advisory Board (“FCAB”) shall provide non-binding
strategic advice to the Chairperson regarding the FC and its
mission. The FCAB shall consist of the Chairperson and four
(4) members selected by the Chairperson in his sole
discretion, who shall serve at the pleasure of the
Chairperson. The members of the FCAB shall share their
professional expertise, diverse knowledge, their connections
to local and national resource, colleagues and peers and
other forms of needed assistance as requested by the
Chairperson. The FCAB has no governing function within the
FC. The FACB shall meet quarterly with the Chairperson and
attend FC functions and events.
AMENDMENTS:
This Declaration, the Rules including the standards of
conduct may be amended from time to time by the Chairperson,
in the sole discretion of the Chairperson.
NO DUTY.
Member agrees and acknowledges that neither FC nor its
Chairperson or principals is an agent or fiduciary of member
or any other third party in connection with the FC or
membership therein (and FC hereby disclaims any such
fiduciary duties). Member agrees he or she shall not make,
and hereby waives, any claim based on an assertion of such
an agency or fiduciary relationship; and (iii) nothing
herein will be construed to create a partnership, joint
venture, agency, or employment relationship between FC and
the Member. Member does not have authority to enter into
agreements of any kind on behalf of FC, or otherwise bind or
obligate FC in any manner to any third party, by virtue of
the membership and/or the relationship contemplated by this
Declaration.
INDEMNITY.
As a material part of the offer and acceptance of membership
by FC, Member agrees to indemnify, defend and hold FC and
its affiliates, their respective past, present and future
principals, members, managers, officers, employees, agents,
representatives, advisors and consultants (collectively, the
“Indemnified Parties”), to the fullest extent lawful, free
and harmless of, from and against any and all loss, injury,
damage, claim, demand, liability, lien, cost or expense,
including reasonable attorneys’ fees actually incurred and
costs (collectively, “Losses”), arising out of, resulting
from or in any way directly or indirectly connected to the
FC, activities of Member or Member’s family members and
guests or otherwise conducted with respect to the FC;
provided, however, member shall not be liable under the
foregoing indemnity and reimbursement agreement for Losses,
which are finally determined (whether by a binding
arbitration or in a judicial proceeding) to have resulted
primarily from the willful misconduct or gross negligence of
or by the Indemnified Parties. The foregoing indemnification
obligations shall apply to all modifications of this
Declaration and shall survive the termination of member’s
membership and/or this Declaration.
LAWS.
Member agrees to comply with all applicable laws in
connection with FC and membership therein. This Declaration
shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of the State of Georgia, without giving effect to
conflicts of laws principles.
ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES.
An electronic signature, as defined in O.C.G.A. § 10-12-1 et.
seq., of a member shall have the same force and effect as an
original of such signature(s) and member hereby agrees to be
bound by any electronic signature(s) and by any electronic
record of this instrument executed or adopted with one or
more electronic signatures.