Colgate Lake, Greene County
Sunday, July 1, 10 am – 1 pm
Meet in the parking lot

Colgate Lake is located past Tannersville near E. Jewett in Greene County. We expect chanterelles. In fact, we think that the location is worth more than one walk the following week if conditions are good. We have found B. edulis, Lactarius hygrophoroides and chanterelles there in the past.

Please see the link for directions. Thruway exit 21 Catskill, then follow directions from the East.

http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/50670.html

The website above has a pretty picture of the lake itself. What it doesn’t show is the scenic view of the mountains across the lake (Thomas Cole and Blackhead Mountains).

This is a great swimming/family location. Bring the kids! If they tire of mycology, there’s always swimming.

Walk leader is Barbara Plume
Barbara.Plume@otda.state.ny.us

Hope to see you there!

Things to bring:
Mushroom basket and knife
Field guide
Water / food

Camera
Good walking shoes / sun hat
Bug spray
Bathing suit / towel if you’d like to swim
Sunscreen

Barbara

If you are coming from south of Saugerties, follow these directions.
(If you're coming from the Albany area, take 87 South
Merge onto I-87 N / NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY N toward ALBANY (Portions
toll).
6.  Take the RT-32 exit, EXIT 20, toward SAUGERTIES.
7.  Turn LEFT onto RT-212 / RT-32.
8.  Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto RT-32.
      RT-32 is just past CHURCHLAND LN
9.   Stay STRAIGHT to go onto RT-32A.
10. Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto RT-23A.
       RT-23A is 0.1 miles past WOODSTOCK AVE
11. Turn RIGHT onto CR-23C / HILL ST. Continue to follow CR-23C.
      CR-23C is just past BROOKSIDE RD
12. Turn RIGHT onto COLGATE RD / CR-78.
      COLGATE RD is 0.3 miles past HYER RD
13. Welcome to TANNERSVILLE, NY.
       Your destination is 0.8 miles past HALSEY BRK
       If you reach HALSEY BROOK DR you've gone about 0.1 miles too far

4204 Albany Post Rd, Hyde Park, NY

This is an easy walk with gently sloping trails. Last years walk was outstanding! This years should be just as good as long as we all do our rain dances.
We plan on starting at 9:30. Arrive early so we can all sign in, tick proof ourselves and have a prewalk intro.
Please park in the Dirt Lot, Behind Pete’s Restaurant. DO NOT PARK in the paved parking lot behind the restaurant.

Things you should bring…

Sunscreen, bug spray, a knife, paper bags and/or basket for collecting, a field guide, water, a snack, a camera, a notebook, pen and colored pencils for field scetches

Wear hiking boots, long light colored pants

  Well, the Cinco de Mayo morel walk was a bit disappointing because the morels didn't come to the party this year. However, the dryad's saddles and ramps did!  It was a great turnout for members too - 27 in all. We also found several fawn mushrooms (Pluteus cervinus) with their pink colored detached or free gills. Nice to know there are wild places like the rail trail in the middle of the metropolis of Poughkeepsi. It's the wild places that keep us knit to mother earth and the web she weaves.  For a time your worries fade and you focus on the moment, is there a morel hiding in there? How did they get that old car in the middle of these woods and who would throw out that perfectly good flower pot?

Until next time, look up, look down, there is amazement and beauty all around.

Then we had the election for officers and here are the results:
President – Gerry McDonald
Vice President – Lisa Resnick
… Treasurer – Cynthia Fisher
Secretary – Kelly Sinclair
Membership – Carol McDonald
Walks – Jill Weiss
MHMA Delegate to NEMF – Barb Plume

Following the Official club business, there was a wine making demonstration by Cynthia Fisher as well!

Please join me in saying thanks for stepping forward, and wishing Good Luck to our new Leadership!

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We just completed the final session of our Mushroom school yesterday. It was well attended and although we did not break even on it financially, it will surely pay dividends through the knowledge assimilated into the club members that attended. A side benefit of this is that as a result we have several members who have indicated that they will work toward improving their knowledge on a specialized genus/family/related subject… So the club is starting a program to develop our own experts as well!!!

Thanks to Bill Bakaitis for a great experience.

If you wanted to attend but could not, please let me know why… The feedback will be helpful.

For those of you who could not make it, but wanted to… I can tell you that DCC (Dutchess Community College) has agreed to offer Bill’s course as well… It is an evening course scheduled for the first two Thursdays in April, then skip a Thursday for their graduation ceremonies, and then the next two Thursdays in May. The price is somewhere around $125 per person. If you want more info, just let me know…

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I am dissapointed to report that there was very low attendance at our club meeting last week. However, it was a great opportunity for those of us who did attend to have a “house-cleaning” discussion to get a bunch of organizational issues addressed.

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At that meeting, I announced that I must step back from the leadership group to allow me to attend to my family & personal life. We discovered that club by-laws actually dictate that it is time for a turn-over in leadership anyway which makes me feel better about stepping back.

So there was a nomination of Gerry MacDonald to become the club President. He was not present but accepted the nomination yesterday at Mushroom School.

There was also a nomination of Lisa Resnick to become the Vice-President. She was not present either, but accepted the nomination yesterday at Mushroom School also.

Here is a synopsis of elected positions and the status as I know it today:

PRESIDENT:
Responsibility Summary: Oversee and empower club leadership to keep the club moving forward. Serve as primary club ambassador to other organizations and public officials. Schedule, Attend and Conduct leadership and official club meetings. Create and Schedule (or oversee creation and scheduling) desireable events for the membership. Serve as the official judge and designate winners of club awards. Attend as many club events as possible.

Due For Changeover? Yes
Currently Held By: Myself
Current Officer Desire To Continue: No, I am not able to continue.
Nominations: Gerry MacDonald – Accepted Nomination

VICE-PRESIDENT:
Responsibility Summary: Assist club President in keeping the club moving forward. Serve as secondary ambassador to other organizations and public officials. Attend as many club events as possible. Attend leadership and official club meetings.

Due For Changeover? Yes
Currently Held By: Barbara Plume
Current Officer Desire To Continue: Yes, if no one steps forward.
Nominations: Lisa Resnick – Accepted Nomination

SECRETARY:
Responsibility Summary: Record and archive minutes of official club meetings for later use. Handle/Facilitate dissemination of information to club members. Maintain club email list, maintain Facebook page, Proof webpage periodically to maintain accuracy of information. Assist Membership with member application processing as needed. Prompt club leadership as necessary to keep membership informed of upcoming events. Attend leadership and official club meetings.

Due For Changeover? Yes
Currently Held By: Kelly Sinclair
Current Officer Desire To Continue: Yes if no one steps forward.
Nominations: No Nominations

MEMBERSHIP:
Responsibility Summary: Handle club membership records. Accept and process applications. Maintain accurate records of membership, member contact information. Maintain archived hardcopy of member waiver/applications. Generate membership renewal letters in beginning of March each year. Oversee membership confirmation/member card distribution with necessary assistance from club Secretary. Provide current membership status report(s) as requested by President. Attend leadership and official club meetings.

Due For Changeover? No
Currently Held By: Carol MacDonald
Current Officer Desire To Continue: Yes
Nominations: No Nominations

TREASURER:
Responsibility Summary: Handle club accounting books. Receive/Track/Deposit/Account For: dues and other payments/donations. Make payments as directed by acting President. Provide accurate Treasury Reports at least once per year, and additionally as requested by President. Attend leadership and official club meetings.

Due For Changeover? No
Currently Held By: Cynthia Fisher
Current Officer Desire To Continue: Yes
Nominations: No Nominations

Nomination registration is still open and it will be possible for additional nominations to be registered up to immediately prior to Election.

ELECTIONS ARE SCHEDULED FOR WEDNESDAY MARCH 21ST…
HERE IS A LINK TO EVENT INFO: http://www.facebook.com/events/225745414187606/?context=create#!/events/297497413641394/

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OUR NEXT EVENT IS TUESDAY MARCH 6TH…

MHMA Movie Night & Social

This night was scheduled to be the Mycophagy Workshop. Due to lack of sufficient registration, we are postponing the Mycophagy Workshop and substituting with a Movie we have been wanting to watch for sometime now!!!

The movie will be Know Your Mushrooms…. Running Time is 73 Minutes.

There will be a short discussion prior to movie to make any announcements, and address any club concerns, then we will get into the movie.

-Open to members and non-members.
-You are welcome to bring a snack to share
-Coffee & Tea will be provided

MOVIE TRAILERS:

http://www.sphinxproductions.com/films/mushrooms/trailer/

MOVIE INFO:

http://filmswelike.com/dvdswelike/mann/mushrooms/

MHMA INFO:

http://www.midhudsonmyco.org/

MCC INFO:
Marbletown Community Center
PO Box 217, 3564 Main Street (Route 209)
Stone Ridge, NY 12484
Website: http://www.marbletown.net/government/community_center.cfm
Email: marbletowncommcenter@hvc.rr.com
Telephone: 845-687-0800
Hours 8a-4p M-F
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FIANLLY I WILL SEND ONE MORE REMINDER….

PLEASE,
PLEASE,
PLEASE,

Send in your Membership Application/Renewal Form… We will be mailing out in the beginning of March to those who have not yet responded to our electronic renewal reminders. This will be your last chance to save us the time, effort, unecessary paper and postage of mailing a renewal notice to you. Take a minute and print out the form!!!
Here is the link…

http://www.midhudsonmyco.org/wp-content/uploads/MHMAMemberApp.pdf

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-E

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1). REMINDER FOR TONIGHT’S SCREENING
Open to members and non-members, this will be a purely social event. We will enjoy the movie MUSHROOM SEEKERS (see description below) produced by one of our own MHMA members Pam Kray. Coffee/Tea & Popcorn will be available, So please eat prior and come to enjoy a movie. (Ok to bring a snack to share!)

Pam will attend as well to answer questions and provide additional insight. I have also asked her to bring a few copies of the DVD for any members wishing to take one home.

There will also be a 50-50.

-MUSHROOM SEEKERS by Pam Kray (2002; 55 minutes)
Mushroom Seekers is a first-person exploration of the world of wild mushrooms and the people who look for them. When American filmmaker, Pam Kray, noticed people carrying baskets of wild mushrooms in the subways of Prague in 1993, she began to examine her own lack of familiarity with mushrooms in her surroundings. The ensuing journey of filmmaker into mushroom cultures took her from the Czech Republic through the U.S. to Mexico, from national pastime to arcane hobby to sacred undertaking. The production of the video spanned from 1998 to 2002.
(The dvd release includes 30 minutes of extras from movie outtakes of herbalist Susun Weed and film artist Bradley Eros, and from interviews shot in 2011 with world class mycologist and author, Gary Lincoff, and with Paul Sadowski, of the New York Mycological Society.)

MHMA INFO: http://www.midhudsonmyco.org/

PAM KRAY / MUSHROOM SEEKERS INFO: http://www.pamkray.com/data/​mushroom.html

MCC INFO:
Marbletown Community Center
PO Box 217, 3564 Main Street
Stone Ridge, NY 12484
Website: http://www.marbletown.net/​government/community_center.cfm
Email: marbletowncommcenter@hvc.rr.co​m
Telephone: 845-687-0800
Hours 8a-4p M-F
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2). I think I can comfortably say that by all accounts, the first session Of Mushroom School very well. There is still room for more students so please consider working this excellent opportunity into your schedule… Even if you can only make one session it is well worth it!
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3). Please check the list below… If your name is on it, we do not have a record of you renewing your club membership for 2012. We will send out renewal notices March 1st. Please save us the expense and get your renewal in ASAP.

Becker, Hugo & Arlene
Burroughs, Joan
Butler, Chris & Maria Reidelbach
Currier Laura Hiro Ichikawa
Castleman, Nancy SEE Eisenson
Clark, Jesica
Collini, Angela
Cutten, John & Gerlinde
Dame, Malyn
Damon, James
Delacorte, Malcolm
Diamant, Justin
Dizney, Joe
Edgerton, Charles
Eisenson, Marc
Gelvin, James
Gerrard T. Edward
Goldstein, Kane & Warren Goldstein
Gronowitz, Eva & Lenny
Griswold Susan
Heinitz, Sheena
Hainick, Ira SEE Kitagawa
Hoell, Arthur
Imai, Motoharu & Yoko Matsubayashi
Intonti Eva & Lenny
Jenners, Andrew & Joy Simmerman
Joroff, Jan
Katchmer, Rusty (Helen)
Kissam, Sandra
Kovolosky, Joe & Tina
Lacon, Evan
Levy-Michasiow, Kieley & Matt & Boys
Lisowski, Stefan
Machan, Dyan, Johan Demeij
Mage, Judy &Manuela Dobos
Magliato, Nick
Mathisen Nancy
Maurer, Lillian
Melville, Shelia
Mischo, Susan & Nicole
Mocuta, Anda & Dan
Murphy Megan
Okorofsky, Laurel
Ourso, Deidre
Pollpck, Sheldon Allison Busch
Rabaudo, Lisa & Jan deBakker
Rank, Chiwa, Andrew Rnak
Sawtelle Andrew Meathes Wernimont
Shafir, Ruzen & Dizabella
Sharko, Susan
Siddique, Naseer & Emily
Starger, Lisa
Stein, Jerry & Julie
Winika, Cynthia
Zorika, Urusula
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4). I think we have a good start on recipes for Kelly to process for our cookbook, keep them coming… We’ll shoot for a fall release… MMM-kay?
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See you tonight!

-Elmer

I want to:
1). Correct some inaccuracies in the last date listing.
2). Remind You Of The Educational Series which starts this coming Sunday and encourage you to find a way to attend.
3). Announce the film for Movie Night coming up this coming Tuesday… It was produced by one of our own MHMA members!!! (See Below)
4). Remind you to get in your Membership App/Renewal & Dues.

-Elmer

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LISTING OF UPCOMING EVENTS: (Full Listing Below)

SUN FEB 05th – 1-4 – Session #1 @ GCole Auctions in Red Hook

TUE FEB 07th – 7pm – MHMA MOVIE NIGHT @ MCC in Stone Ridge Feature Film: MUSHROOM SEEKERS produced by MHMA member Pam Kray

SUN FEB 12th – 1-4 – Session #2 @ GCole Auctions in Red Hook

SUN FEB 19th – 1-4 – Session #3 @ GCole Auctions in Red Hook

WED FEB 22nd – 7pm – CLUB MEETING & MEMBER SOCIAL @ MCC in Stone Ridge

SUN FEB 26th – 1-4 – Session #4 @ GCole Auctions in Red Hook

SUN MAR 04th – 1-4 – Make Up Date @ GCole Auctions in Red Hook

TUE MAR 06th – 7pm SHARP!!! – MYCOPHAGY WORKSHOP @ MCC in Stone Ridge

WED MAR 21st – 7pm – CLUB MEETING W/ELECTIONS & MEMBER SOCIAL

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Educational Course…
SUN FEB 05th – Session #1 @ G.Cole Auctions in Red Hook
SUN FEB 12th – Session #2 @ G.Cole Auctions in Red Hook
SUN FEB 19th – Session #3 @ G.Cole Auctions in Red Hook
SUN FEB 26th – Session #4 @ G.Cole Auctions in Red Hook
SUN MAR 04th – Make Up Date @ G.Cole Auctions in Red Hook

Flyer – http://www.georgecoleauctions.com/00mhma/mhma-field_id_course_2012.pdf

4 PART “TOP DOWN” STUDY OF THE FIELD ID OF MUSHROOMS
PRESENTED FOR MID-HUDSON MYCOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION
Course description: Many times beginners are shown a handful of mushroom species and told to remember them. Learning about mushrooms in this fashion leads to a “patchwork” knowledge base and leaves the student with a potentially keen sense of a few species and a very fuzzy, (if any) understanding of how mushrooms are related and how they are different. This course is designed to provide a “Top Down” look into mushrooms especially for intermediate and eager beginner-level mushroom collectors or naturalists who wish to enhance their knowledge of mushrooms which fruit in our area. Illustrated lectures based upon field characteristics will improve the student’s knowledge of the biology, life cycles, ecology and rich variety of forms found in the Mid Hudson Valley’s macro fungi. (see fuflyer for course content topics)

Dates: Four three-hour classes once/week. Sunday afternoons, Feb 5,12,19,26 with March 4 as a bad weather day if need be. Promptly 1:00pm -4:00 pm each day.

Attend all sessions by registering in advance, or pay at the door no registration necessary. (keep in mind, if you pre-register we will guarantee you get all the handouts. We will prepare extras for walkups, but it will be first come first serve on handouts for the session and if more people show up than we are prepared for, then we will get you the handouts later. The bottom line is please don't do the lazy thing and just show up… Please pre-register if at all possible and we will not have any problems mmmm-kay?!!!)

Location: George Cole Auction Hall – 7578 North Broadway (Route 9) Red Hook, NY 12571.

This is a great opportunity for club members and non-members to improve their Field Id skills and overall understanding of mushrooms in general. I hope you will take advantage of this opportunity for yourself as well as pass the word along to your list of friends and family who might like to attend as well.

EVENTS AT MCC (Marbletown Community Center In Stone Ridge)
TUE FEB 07th 7PM – MHMA MOVIE NIGHT
-Open to members and non-members, this will be a purely social event. We will enjoy the movie MUSHROOM SEEKERS (see description below) produced by one of our own MHMA members Pam Kray. Coffee/Tea & Popcorn will be available, So please eat prior and come to enjoy a movie. (Ok to bring a snack to share!) Pam will attend as well to answer questions and provide additional insight. I have also asked her to bring a few copies of the DVD for any members wishing to take one home. There will also be a 50-50.
-MUSHROOM SEEKERS by Pam Kray (2002; 55 minutes)
Mushroom Seekers is a first-person exploration of the world of wild mushrooms and the people who look for them. When American filmmaker, Pam Kray, noticed people carrying baskets of wild mushrooms in the subways of Prague in 1993, she began to examine her own lack of familiarity with mushrooms in her surroundings. The ensuing journey of filmmaker into mushroom cultures took her from the Czech Republic through the U.S. to Mexico, from national pastime to arcane hobby to sacred undertaking. The production of the video spanned from 1998 to 2002.
(The dvd release includes 30 minutes of extras from movie outtakes of herbalist Susun Weed and film artist Bradley Eros, and from interviews shot in 2011 with world class mycologist and author, Gary Lincoff, and with Paul Sadowski, of the New York Mycological Society.)

WED FEB 22nd 7PM – CLUB MEETING & MEMBER SOCIAL
-Open to members only (non-members can join on the spot). There will be a short program, an official meeting with reports from each chair/officer, club officer nominations, time to discuss any club issues, and some time to socialize as well. Coffee/Tea will be available, So please eat prior. (Ok to bring a snack to share!) There will also be a 50-50.

TUE MAR 06th 7PM SHARP!!! – MYCOPHAGY WORKSHOP
-Open to members and non-members. Cost is $10 per person to pay for supplies. Children under 7 (and anyone showing valid id that proves their name is Santa Claus) are free!!! Attendees will roll up their sleeves and actually participate in following Leader Jill Weiss and her assistants in making Gnochi and at least two other dishes (other dishes depend on availability of ingredients so they are tba at this moment)… Attendees will sample their creations, and will have some take home fare as well… Class size is limited to the first 25 paid registrations so don't wait too long…
In order to make sure we record the FIRST 25 registrations, please Mail registration (with check for $10 per person) to:
MHMA – Mycophagy Workshop
PO Box 3873
Kingston NY 12402
The food will be finished later than most people are used to eating, so please make sure to eat your dinner prior to the workshop… AND BE PROMPT AS THE EVENT WILL START PROMPTLY!!! If this is a popular event we will make a continuing series out of it!!!
PS: Jill is looking for a potato ricer… anybody have any leads?

WED MAR 21st 7PM – CLUB MEETING W/OFFICER ELECTIONS & MEMBER SOCIAL
-Open to members only (non-members can join on the spot). There will be a short program, an official club meeting with reports from each chair/officer, elections for officers, time to discuss any club issues, and some time to socialize as well. Coffee/Tea will be available, So please eat prior. (Ok to bring a snack to share!) There will also be a 50-50.

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Check list:
-Write dates on your calendar
-Register for Educational Course

I think that is about it…

-Elmer

The location is the George Cole Auction Hall in Red Hook, NY… The Address is 7578 North Broadway (Route 9). The Auction Hall is in the Red Hook Business Park. The Buisness Park is right on Route 9, ~1/8 mile North of the intersection of Rts 9 & 199.
 

COURSE DESCRIPTION AND REGISTRATION FORM:

www.georgecoleauctions.com/00mhma/mhma-field_id_course_2012.pdf

FYI – Schedule Is:

All Four Sundays In February from 1pm-4pm… Make-up date in case of a foul weather cancellation is March 4th from 1pm-4pm.  See inside the flyer for breakdown of subjects covered in each session.

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Hello And Happy New Year Fellow Mycophiles,

I hope you found last year to be productive and are looking forward, as I am, to making 2012 even better.

On behalf of the MHMA Leadership, I have a few great club events we are finally able to announce. So without further delay

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FIRST AND FAST!:
On Saturday, January 21st, we will hold our annual potluck Winter Meal / Awards Banquet from 2-5 pm, which will again take place at the Poughkeepise Friends Meeting House, 279 Hooker Ave in Poughkeepsie. Yahoo Map Directions: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=279+Hooker+Avenue,+Poughkeepsie,+NY&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=279+Hooker+Ave,+Poughkeepsie,+NY+12603&gl=us&ei=vkLdTLA2xKnwBrbLiPoP&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CBkQ8gEwAA

As is traditional, this will be a traditional potluck meal. That is, what you bring is what we eat! So bring your favorite dish to share, perhaps something (non-alcoholic) to drink (alcohol is not permitted at the meeting house).

In order to ensure that we don't have 10 salads and 15 desserts with no main courses, Please RSVP with what part of the meal you plan to bring. The categories are salad, side dish, entree and dessert. We will post and update the list on the club website… www.midhudsonmyco.org

Also let us know how many are coming with you (adults & children under 12) if possible so we can be prepared with the appropriate amount of chairs place settings, whoopie cushions, etc…

Please note: Due to the potential dangers of misidentifications, it is MHMA policy for members not to bring dishes containing wild mushrooms unless the mushrooms were identified as a safe edible by one of the club experts… (For the safety and long life of our dear friends!) Please jot down the name of the dish and recipe (on an index card or something similar) to be present by the dish, and retained for the club cookbook.

Jill Weiss will be our Executive Chef again for this year's meal and though last year's unbelievable meal will be a tough act to beat I am sure she has a few tricks up her sleeve…

This event is open to all members and non-members… There is no charge, so please invite friends/anyone you think may be interested in joining the club. The more the merrier.

Feel free to bring your mushroom books/recipes. We have many new members who would love to see what's available.

This gathering will also include an awards ceremony, a treasurer's report, and a short business meeting in which members will have the opportunity to present and discuss ideas of what we want to do for educational programs, walks and events for the winter season and for the 2012 season… It will also be an opportunity for members to voice ideas for changes or improvements for MHMA.

Non-members will enjoy as well as there will be door prizes, slide show and more. It will be great to get together and share great food. I suspect this is going to be another great Winter Meal…

I am not sure who will be compiling the slideshow for this year… So, if you have pictures to submit for the slideshow please post them in Facebook or somewhere else on the web and send me a link. (PLEASE DO NOT JAM UP MY EMAIL BOX WITH YOUR HI-RES, (Or low-res for that matter) PICTURES… PLEASE SEND LINKS OR PUT THEM IN THE FACEBOOK ALBUM AND WE'LL DOWNLOAD THEM.)

That all being said I would like to leave you with 2 thoughts…

1). Events like this are always more fun and run more efficiently if we have some volunteers for set-up, prep-work and clean-up. If you are able to help in some way, please contact Jill ASAP via email at jne64@optonline.net.

And:

2). A wise person once said: "Don't forget… It's just mushrooms"…

My point is that there are a lot of things going on with this event… But, if you peel back the layers, it all boils down to a club social… And the most important part of a social is having people get together… So, remember, even if you aren't able to do/make/bring/buy/give anything else, you are still welcome and encouraged to join us…

I sincerely hope to see you there!
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SECOND:
January 1st means club dues are due…

You will be pleased to know that unlike many of the expenses in life, the club dues have not gone up and remain as affordable as ever.

I have attached a copy of the application/renewal form to this email. It is also available as a download from the website at: www.midhudsonmyco.org

Please take a minute to PRINT IT OUT, fill it out and send it back in ASAP. You can also distribute the form to friends who you think may be interested in joining the club this year.
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AND FINALLY:
I am very pleased to announce the upcoming educational series the club's leadership group has been able to assemble and offer to club members.

Many of you took part in a survey designed to help us determine what type of educational experience would be the most desirable, be affordable, and afford the most members the opportunity to attend.

Well, we analyzed the results and have pulled together an educational series which I am confident will be of enormous educational benefit to club members individually and then as a result to the club as a whole.

Taking into account that there are over 125 paid members in the club and the fact that not ALL members completed the survey, we realize that there is no way we can accommodate the schedule of the educator, the facility, the leadership group, and every single member. Keeping that in mind, and in a painstakingly slow process, we worked with all the variables and have been very fortunate to compile a 4 part educational series that I am proud to say will serve to benefit the majority of the club membership.

Please understand that we know this is not the ideal schedule for EVERYONE, but we are confident that it is at least DOABLE for most.

Course description: Many times beginners are shown a handful of mushroom species and told to remember them. Learning about mushrooms in this fashion leads to a ¡§patchwork¡¨ knowledge base and leaves the student with a potentially keen sense of a few species and a very fuzzy, (if any) understanding of how/why mushrooms are related and how/why they are different. This course is designed to provide a ¡§Top Down¡¨ look into mushrooms especially for intermediate and eager beginner-level mushroom collectors or naturalists who wish to enhance their knowledge of mushrooms which fruit in our area. Illustrated lectures based upon field characteristics will improve the student's knowledge of the biology, life cycles, ecology and rich variety of forms found in the Mid-Hudson Valley's macro fungi.

This event is open to members and non-members. I have attached a FLYER/REGISTRATION FORM for your use and for distribution to any and all that you think might want to attend. If you have any connections to social calendars, or any means of circulation/distribution, please do so.

The more people that attend the better it is for the club financially. The better it is financially, the sooner we can afford to have other educational events…

This course offered to the general public elsewhere is $100 per person. To make this beneficial and affordable for club members, the club has paid for the entire course upfront.

Since there is no way everyone can attend, we have decided that it is unfair to those who cannot attend to pay entirely for those who can. Therefore, those who do attend will be asked to pay part of the expense.

In essence, the club is using club funds to provide an affordable educaional experience for as many members as possible!

If the attendance is low, then the club will lose a little money, but will benefit through the gain of some educated members. And if the attendance is high the club will gain more educated members plus will break even or possibly make a profit that can be used for other educational events… So, please make it a point to attend if at all possible, and promote the heck out of it so we can keep the ball rolling!

The tuition will be:
$100 ALL SESSIONS (Non-Member)
$50 ALL SESSIONS (MHMA Member)
$30 ANY SINGLE SESSION (Non-Member)
$15 ANY SINGLE SESSION (MHMA Member)

The location is TBA… We are waiting for confirmation on the availability of the facility of choice. But I can say it will be within 15 minutes of the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge…
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We will of course have other club events in the off-season…
But, for now let's:
-Get Dues In
-Spread The Word On The Educational Events
-AND MAKE READY FOR THE WINTER MEAL FEAST!!!

Happy New Year!!!
-Elmer, and the entire MHMA Leadership Group

"From NYC take the palisades interstate parkway north for approximately 40 miles until its end at the Bear Mountain Bridge. Take a left at the end of the bridge. Approximately .2 miles down the road is a small turn off on the side of the road with enough space for 3 cars. There is a small AT blaze on one of the trees that identifies the trail head.

From I-84, take exit 11 to 9D south. Follow 9D through Beacon and Cold Spring until you reach the Bear Mountain Bridge. Parking is available on small turnoffs on 9D .2 miles before you reach the bridge. Unless you get here early, these spots are likely to be full. In this case you can cross the bridge and park in the Zoo's parking lot. It is approximately a 2 mile hike back to the trail head."