Because the first Tuesday in July falls on the 4th, we decided not to
have a regular meeting for the month. We had hoped instead to plan a July
picnic in a mountain area, either near Albuquerque or Santa Fe. However,
because of the severe drought leading to closure of much of the Cibola and
Santa Fe National Forests, it seemed wisest to find an alternative plan
for July.
MaryLee and John have offered to host a gathering at their house.
MaryLee stated that "it would be fun to have old fashioned 'Summer
Picnic'." I suppose what this might be is open to interpretation, but I
believe it will include a nice assortment of mushroom dishes and a few
good memories from picnics past ... and Ice Cream!
I plan to bring the old reliable White Mountain along with ice
and salt and all the other pertinent ingredients. If any other members
have ice cream freezers which they'd like to bring, please send a short
message to David Wallis. I have difficulty imagining such a thing as too
much Ice Cream, but MaryLee is concerned that we might end up with more ice
cream making machinery than we need.
Back from Beaumont
The five NMMS members who attended the Annual NAMA Foray this
year had an excellent time. Those of us who went early to attend the
Trustees meeting were treated to a special field trip and engaged in
lively dining and dancing at Larry's Fish Market, which features
scrumptious Cajun cuisine. The relatively small attendance this year
worked to the advantage of those fortunate enough to attend. There seemed
a more generous ratio of professional to amateur Mycologists, which
definitely enhanced the learning experience. Enthusiasm was high for a
number of reasons, not the least of which was the energy Pat & David Lewis
and other members of the Gulf States Mycological Society poured into the
planning and execution of this exciting event. Participants were united
by the anticipation and realization of discovering new and unusual
species.
Since the Voucher process was initiated at the Copper Mountain Foray
in 1997, some participants of Forays past have commented that it has
detracted from the Foray experience, isolating both mycologists and
specimens from the amateurs. Not so this year. The Vouchering process,
though perhaps not at peak efficiency, was certainly more open than in
years past, and posed no barrier to those desiring to enhance their
mycological knowledge.
The Texas Mycological Society encourages NMMS members to join
them in Taos, August 18-20, for their Annual Foray. The Foray will be
headquartered at the
Taos Motel &
RV Park in Ranchos de Taos. Please contact
David Wallis
if you think you will be attending this foray.
Bob Chapman
invites those desiring a change of scenery and a chance to encounter
unique species to join him in the Chiricahua Mountains in SE Arizona. Bob
plans to be there from August 21-28 and suggests that people can join him
at any time during this period. This excursion has been billed as the
annual NMMS Foray, however it will be considerably less formal than
our usual event. Participants will most likely need to provide their own
food and lodging. Please contact
Bob Chapman
if you are interested in attending. For more details, please consult the
Webpage address above or contact David
Wallis for a printed copy of the latest information.