Elwood Conservation Club

NOTICE:

The monthly club meeting is the first Thursday of each month.

The next club meeting will be Thursday, May 1, 2025 at 6:00 PM.

NOTICE:

Ralph Lee, Long Time Life Member

August 7, 1938 - April 2, 2025

Ralph Edwin Lee, age 86 and a lifelong resident of Elwood, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 2, 2025 surrounded by his family at Community Hospital in Anderson. He was born Aug. 7, 1938 in Elwood, the son of Charles and Jean (Jackson) Lee. Ralph lost both his parents and grandfather Jackson at a very young age, so he was raised by his grandmother, Gladys Jackson. Ralph was a 1956 graduate of Wendell L Wilkie High School. He began his strong work ethic at a young age. While in high school, Ralph worked full time at Dietzen's Bakery before school and after school at Frenchie's Bakery in Elwood. After graduation Ralph went to work at Delco Remy in Anderson and retired from there in 1995 after 32 years of employment. Ralph married the love of his life, Mildred Lorene Bogard, on April 19, 1958, and they were blessed with 64 years of marriage before Mildred's passing in May of 2022. Ralph and Mildred formerly attended the Third Street Church of God for many years. Ralph was one of the founding members of the former 50-Plus Club. He was a lifetime member of the Elwood Conservation Club and a lifetime member of the NRA. Ralph especially loved to play cards. He took pride in his yard and was very meticulous about the way it was kept. Ralph enjoyed hunting and fishing and was always up for a road trip or camping trip. In his younger years, he changed the oil in his cars and always made sure cars were clean and in good running order. He was known for making the best pies, pastries, and donuts all from scratch. Ralph was a remarkable man that would do anything he could for anybody. He will always be remembered as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. Ralph's family finds peace and comfort knowing that he's back with the love of his life, Mildred, rejoicing in Heaven. Ralph is survived by his 3 children, Doris Lee-Shaw of Muncie, Sharon (Brian) Haynes of Elwood, and Marcus Lee of Elwood; brother, Charles "Bill" (Claire) Lee of Anderson; sister-in-Law, Joan Jackson of Elwood; 5 grandchildren, Christopher (Debbie) Shaw, Melissa (Jon) Bucur, Kaylee (Doug) Rosenbaum, Rebecca (Tim) Flannery, and Abigale (Stephen) Foy; 10 great-grandchildren, Olivia (Luis) Santos, Micah, Tyler Shaw, Allison Bucur, Kade Bucur, Connor Sylvester, Hunter Rosenbaum, Leah Rosenbaum, Laila Flannery, and another expected in July - Abraham Foy; a great-great grandchild, Rafael Santos; and several nieces and nephews. Ralph was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Ray Jackson and Marvin Jackson; his lifelong friends, Danny and Bernie Hayes; great- grandchild Brian Rosenbaum; and love of his life, Mildred Lee. A funeral service celebrating Ralph’s life and faith will be conducted at 1:00 pm on Thursday, April 10, 2025 at Copher-Fesler-May Funeral Home in Elwood with Pastor Brian Rominger. Burial will follow in the Elwood City Cemetery. Visitation for family and friends will be held from 11 am to 1 pm prior to the funeral Thursday at Copher-Fesler-May Funeral Home. Online condolences and memories may be shared at copherfeslermay.com.

NOTICE:

THE CLUB IS NOT ACCEPTING NEW MEMBERS AT THIS TIME.

Renewals of memberships ($65.00 per year) by CURRENT MEMBERS can be done, as usual, by mail, by making an appointment or at a monthly meeting. Please contact the club President, John Dougherty (765-552-3058) with any questions about memberships.

The club doesn't accept credit cards.

NOTICE:

MONTHLY CLEANUP DAY

ECC has cleanup the last Saturday of every month. There is a discount of $3 off your annual dues for each hour of your participation in these cleanups. Please contact the club President, John Dougherty with any questions about participating.

NOTICE:

Only guests need to sign the "hold harmless" forms provided at the left of the sign-in desk. A guest will need to sign a form each time they come on the property. Your spouse and your children under 18 are not considered to be guests.

Members are responsible to see that this is done with every guest.

Members only need to sign a "hold harmless" form when they renew their membership and forms for your spouse and your children (under 18) will also be signed at that time.

NOTICE:

RELEASE AND HOLD HARMLESS AGREEMENT

EFFECTIVE SUNDAY JULY 1, 2018 ALL GUESTS

There will be "Release and Hold Harmless Agreement" forms for GUESTS at the sign in location (just to the left of the desk) and a drop box for the signed release forms. THIS FORM MUST BE SIGNED BY EVERY GUEST EVERY TIME THEY COME WITH A MEMBER WITHOUT FAIL. Members are responsible for seeing that this is done. GUESTS THAT DO NOT SIGN THIS FORM WILL NOT BE ALLOWED ON THE PROPERTY. NO EXCEPTIONS!

MEMBERS (renewing or new)

Everyone will have to sign a copy of that agreement to be included with their membership application when they join or renew. Present members will sign this agreement when they renew but NOT BEFORE. A new copy of this form will have to be signed EACH time you renew your membership. A combination "Membership Application/Release and Hold Harmless Agreement" form is available to download for RENEWALS off our "How To Join" webpage. If you mail in your membership renewal, failure to include the "Release and Hold Harmless Agreement" will hold up receiving your membership card. A spouse of a member must sign one when the member renews and the member must sign one for each minor child they have that they intend to bring with them to the property.

(Passed by a vote of the members at the JUNE 2018 monthly meeting.)

NOTICE:

Effective immediately, the fee will be $65.00 for ALL memberships (new or renewal) with no discounts for renewing before your membership expires. There will be NO grace period allowed when your membership expires. This means that if you let your membership expire, you will no longer be a member or allowed on the property except as a guest of a member.

(Passed by a vote of the members at the November 3, 2016 monthly meeting.)

NOTICE:

DO NOT put any membership money or applications in the "Guest Fees" slot at the sign-in desk. ONLY guest fees should be put in the slot. Also, do not attempt to leave any checks or applications at any clubhouse door.

Also, ALL (this means ALL!) new and renewal memberships require an application. Sending membership fees without an application will hold up receiving your membership card as we will not send your card until we receive the application.

NOTICE:

ECC GUEST POLICY FROM THE GROUNDS AND STANDING RANGE RULES

Guest Policy: You may bring guests to the club. Members are limited to one (1) guest on club grounds at anytime. Guests must be sponsored by you, the member, signed in and be accompanied by you at all times. Any misdeed incurred by your guest will be your responsibility. You will be held accountable and your membership is at risk of expulsion. A guest may use the gun ranges if registered by paying a $5.00 fee for a one (1) day guest pass. This fee is waived for a guest visiting the grounds as a prospective member but no range use will be allowed. Your spouse is NOT allowed to sponsor guests. Past or delinquent members may use the ranges ONLY as a sponsored guest as outlined above and no exceptions will be made. General public is only permitted during supervised scheduled events.

THIS MEANS: YOU MUST BE A MEMBER OR THE GUEST OF A MEMBER TO BE ON THE PROPERTY. IF YOU ARE NOT A MEMBER OR THE GUEST OF A MEMBER AND YOU ARE FOUND ON THE PROPERTY, YOU WILL BE TOLD TO LEAVE IMMEDIATELY. IF YOU DO NOT LEAVE, FURTHER ACTION WILL BE TAKEN.

NOTICE:

Rule 1 of the "Grounds and Standing Range Rules"

1. All Members must have their current membership visible on their person or range bag when on club property and be signed in. Members have the right to check other member’s cards while on club grounds.

SAFETY is first, last and always.