House Rules



THE GOVERNORS CLUB
Chartered in 1982, the Governors Club is housed in the beautifully refurbished old building that many Tallahasseeans remember as the Oddfellows Lodge. One block from the State Capitol, in the historic heart of Old Tallahassee, the Club provides fine dining and service with warm southern hospitality to Members and their guests. Membership is statewide, with the political, professional, business and university communities well represented. All living Governors of Florida as well as many other notables are honored Members. Membership is by invitation only.
The Club serves lunch Monday-Friday and dinner from Monday-Saturday offering formal and casual dining on three beautifully appointed floors.


CLUB ROOMS
The Governors Club is unquestionably the finest facility in Tallahassee for private functions. The selection of beautiful private rooms, the unsurpassed variety and quality of menus, and professional service make the Club the only choice for receptions, dinners, luncheons, meetings and breakfasts. Rooms available for private parties include:

The Main Dining Room, accommodating up to 120 people for seated banquets, or 250 people for receptions, meetings, breakfasts, luncheons and dinner in opulent style. This room features a fireplace, a 700 bottle fine wine cabinet and is the choice for memorable events in Tallahassee.
The Plantation Room, seating up to 50 on the second floor, is open and airy, with an elegant hand painted mural and tapestry covered chairs. This room is often used in conjunction with the Parlour Lounge and/or Balcony for receptions of up to 200 people.

The Balcony, is the Club’s latest addition. The Balcony connects to each of the second floor dining areas and the parlour lounge, making this area perfect for an indoor/outdoor event. The Balcony is also available for alfresco dining at lunch or dinner; seating 50 comfortably.

The Parlour Bar, located on the second floor is the Club’s main lounge featuring a mahogany bar and cozy groupings of chairs and sofas. An ideal place for quiet conversation, the Parlour Bar is also perfect for receptions and pre-dinner gatherings. The Parlour when used in conjunction with the Main Dining Room, Plantation Room and Balcony accommodates up to 600 people for cocktail receptions.
The Governors Board Room, seating 22 on the third floor features a long polished mahogany table and is perfect for private meetings, luncheons and dinners.

The Capital Room, seating up to 32 on the third floor, overlooks the State Capitol and is popular for meetings, luncheons and dinners, and can be used in conjunction with the Library Bar for cocktail receptions.
The Private Dining Room, seating 8 on the third floor is the most intimate of Club rooms.

The Library Bar, located on the third floor, is a breathtaking room paneled completely in mahogany and seats up to 16 comfortably. A built-in bar, television and wood burning fireplace are featured.

The B.C. Room, located on the Grill Mezzanine, overlooks the Grill through 3 huge windows, seats up to 24, and features a 35” television and V.C.R., making it a perfect room for informal meetings and presentations.



HOUSE RULES MEMBERSHIP

  1. Membership in the Governors Club is by invitation only. Invitations are extended to prospective members by the Membership Committee or through sponsorship by two members. Upon approval by the Board of Governors and payment of the initiation fee in full, an individual member thereafter has full rights as a member of the Governors Club.
  2. Junior Executive category members are members who are under 35 years of age and who have been extended an invitation to join the Club but are allowed to pay their initiation fee over a period of time established by the Board of Governors. Upon payment in full of their initiation fee, Junior Executive category members become full members.
  3. Legacy Members are for the children and grandchildren of current members who are in good standing.  The first three hundred dollars is waived from the Initiation fee.  If the prospective member is joining as a Legacy Junior Executive, then the first year is waived. If the prospective member is joining as a Legacy Regular Member then the full amount less the three hundred dollar is due immediately.
  4. All memberships in the Governors Club are individual. There are no corporate or business memberships or reciprocal memberships in Florida or reciprocal memberships within a 250 mile radius of Tallahassee. Business associates, professional partners, or individuals who are otherwise related to or affiliated with an individual member do not have Club privileges.
  5. A spouse of an individual member may use the Club at all times in the same manner as the named individual member subject to all provisions of the House Rules. Children of a member may use the Club but such privilege shall expire at age 25. Prior arrangements with the Club by a parent member will be required for Club use by children.
  6. Memberships in the Governors Club are non-transferable except to a surviving spouse. Memberships may not be placed on an inactive basis except as approved by the Board on an individual basis.
  7. The affairs of the Club are managed by a Board of Governors elected by the membership. The Board may fine, suspend, or expel members for willful infractions of the House Rules or the Bylaws, or for any acts or conduct that it deems disorderly, injurious or hostile to the best interests of the Club.

HOURS OF OPERATION

  1. Main Dining Room and Balcony Lunch: Tuesday-Thursday 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Dinner: Thursday-Saturday 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
  2. Grill Lunch: Monday-Friday 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Dinner: Monday-Saturday 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
  3. The hours of operation for the club facilities are subject to seasonal and Legislative changes. Facilities are available for private parties on days and times when the Club would not normally be open, by prior arrangement.
  4. The Club will be closed Sundays, New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and December 24, 25 and 26 of each year.

GUESTS

  1. Guests may accompany a member of the Club at any time the Club is open. No guest or other person may use the Club except when accompanied by a member, except as otherwise provided herein.
    1. An out of town guest of a member may use the Club unaccompanied, provided that the individual lives outside a fifty mile radius of Tallahassee. The use will be pursuant to prior arrangement by the host member. Guest use is valid for up to seven consecutive days. Members are entitled to request guest privileges twice in a calendar quarter. All guest charges
    2. shall be billed to the host member’s account and all checks signed by the guest shall be signed with the member’s account number.
  2. Once each calendar year, a member may have a local guest use the Club without the member being present. Such use must be approved in advance by the General Manager, and all guest charges will be billed to the member’s account.
  3. Members shall be responsible for their guests compliance with these House Rules.
  4. Members of Reciprocal Clubs may use the Governors Club facility twice per calendar quarter. Guest use is valid for up to 7 consecutive days.

ATTIRE

  1. Appropriate dress in good taste is required at all times for Members and their guests.
  2. Service shall not be available to male guests over the age of 12 in the Main Dining Room at any hour nor elsewhere on the Second Floor after 6:0O p.m. unless a jacket is worn, with the exception of the balcony which is casual. The requirement for a jacket is waived between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
  3. Casual attire shall be permitted in the Grill Dining Room. Balcony and Club Entry Foyer, however such attire must be within the bounds of proper dress and fashion.
  4. Definition of Attire:

Business: Men are required to wear jackets and women are required to wear clothing that is appropriate for a professional environment.
Business Casual: Members and their guests are allowed to wear clothing that is of a more casual style, such as khakis and sport shirts.
Casual: This allows for the most relaxed of clothing.  These items would include shorts, sandals, jeans, t-shirts etc. for both women and men.
Private Rooms: Dress is at the discretion of the member hosting the private event.  Any type of clothing deemed appropriate by the member is allowed.


RESERVATIONS

  1. Reservations for the Main Dining Room and Balcony are encouraged and should be made whenever possible. Reservations in the Main Dining Room and Balcony will be held for 30 minutes past the appointed time, then released if the Member has not arrived.
  2. Reservations are available, but not required for service in the Grill. Reservations will be held for 10 minutes past the appointed time, then released if the Member has not arrived. Reservations for Grill dining normally will not he accepted more than 7 days in advance.
  3. Separate menus will be maintained for the formal Club and casual Grill. Main Dining Room and Balcony service shall be from the Club menu, and Grill service shall be from the Grill menu exclusively.

PRIVATE DINING ROOMS

  1. Reservations for private dining functions can be arranged through the Club’s Function Coordinator.
  2. A menu tailored to the needs of the party will be contracted in advance. Dining a la carte is generally not available for groups of more than ten.
  3. Members reserving a private room for ála carte dining (when a menu is not set in advance), will be charged a per person fee if all or a portion of the party fails to show, or cancels within two hours of scheduled arrival.
  4. All of the Club’s dining rooms are normally available for private parties. Members using a private room will be charged a room fee. The Grill Mezzanine (B.C. Room)is available for private parties of 12 or more for lunch or dinner.

SMOKING POLICY

  1. Smoking in the Main part of the Club is prohibited.
  2. Smoking is allowed in the Lounge.

CELLULAR PHONES

  1. Cellular phones are never allowed in the Main Dining Room.
  2. Cellular phones are allowed in the Private Dining Rooms at the at the discretion of the Host.

ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

  1. The Club management reserves the right to deny service of alcoholic beverages to any person at any time.
  2. The Club shall comply with alcoholic beverage laws of the state. No employee of the Club or any member, or a guest of a member shall cause to be served to any person under the legal drinking age, any alcoholic beverages. Members permitting or allowing the consumption of alcoholic beverages by under age persons in the Club shall be subject to termination of service, expulsion or discipline by the Board of Governors. Such penalties shall include, but not be limited to, the assessment on a monthly bill of any fines or penalties imposed by a state, county or city authority in case of such violations.
  3. All persons being served alcoholic beverages whether they be a member, or the guest of a member shall have appropriate identification which indicates that they are of the legal drinking age. All employees are required to request identification of any person who appears to be less than 30 years of age.
  4. Alcoholic beverages may not be removed from the Club in any manner or at any time.
  5. The manager or person in charge at the time of any incident may take any reasonable measures necessary to insure full compliance with the beverage laws of this state, and the membership acknowledges that protecting a valuable license to serve alcoholic beverages as a convenience and service to the Cub members is of utmost importance.

CHARGES

  1. A service charge, as established by the Board of Governors, shall be added to all restaurant and bar checks. Tips are not permitted under any circumstances, except for valet parking. Any member who presents a cash gratuity to an employee of the Club, other than valet parkers, shall be subject to a fine of $250.00.
  2. All restaurant and bar checks shall be signed with the member’s signature and membership number. No cash shall be received in payment of any restaurant or bar checks.

PARKING AND PERSONAL ARTICLES

  1. Valet parking is available from 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. weekdays and 5:00 p.m. until closing Monday- Saturday. A parking fee will be charged and placed on the member’s account.
  2. The valet parking attendants are allowed to receive cash gratuity.
  3. The Club assumes no responsibility for auto accessories or articles left in the cars parked by valets.
  4. The Club assumes no responsibility for property of members or guests brought onto the Club’s premises.

PUBLICITY AND NEWS MEDIA

  1. The Club’s quarters and premises shall not be used for a general public function of similar purpose without prior written Executive Committee approval. Functions held at the Governors Club must be by personal invitation only. Ticket sales or solicitation for ticket sales for an event held at the Club are not allowed and will result in cancellation of the function.
  2. Media coverage, interviews and the like are permitted in private dining areas only at the host Member’s invitation, and with approval by Club Management. The member shall remain responsible for the behavior of their guests.
  3. Use of photographic and recording equipment is permitted in private dining rooms within the bounds of good taste and in a manner that does not disturb other guests. Prior approval for the use of such equipment is required from Management.
  4. Club Members shall not generate publicity about the Club unless specifically authorized by the Executive Committee.
  5. The manager and staff are expressly forbidden to disclose to any nonmember, directly or indirectly, the identity of any Member of the Club unless authorized by the Executive Committee.

ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE

    1. 1. Each member will be billed by the administrative office of the Governors Club, no later than the first working day of each month.
    2. 2. Each member will be sent a billing statement for any unpaid balance thirty days after the first billing date. A finance charge of 1.5% will be added to the amount carried over from the previous statement.
    3. When the past due portion, including finance charges, has not been paid by the 53rd day following the first billing date, the member is considered financially delinquent. The Finance and Audit Committee shall notify the member by regular mail that club privileges will be suspended unless full payment of the member’s account is received or postmarked by the 60th day. Any such suspension shall last until the account is paid in full.
    4. Seven days prior to the 90th day the account has remained unpaid, a certified letter from the Club President will notify the member that expulsion from the Club will result if payment of the total balance is not postmarked by the 90th day. Once a member has been expelled by the Board of Governors, all outstanding obligations must be paid in full, and a penalty fee of 50% of the current initiation fee is required prior to being considered for reinstatement.
    5. Members may pay with credit card at the point of sale and when the account is delinquent more than 90 days.