The November meeting will be at 7:30 on Thursday, the 21st, at the Natural History Museum. We will be electing new officers this month. Gary plans to show the 1st program of NAMA's Non-Gilled Fungi series. He says that if those slides are unavailable, we will see the winning slides from the '95 NAMA Photo Contest instead.
During the first minute and a half of the October meeting, a nominating committee formed, discussed at length, and finalized its recommendations of candidates for the November election of officers. Ellen Reed offered to be President for another year. MaryLee Sparks and Doris Eng agreed to work together as Vice President and program committee. To the surprise of all, Peg Hooton suggested she might try tho position of Treasurer. And David Wallis offered to perform the Secretary duties, as well as continuing as Newsletter Editor.
Dues will go up next year to $25. This, in part, reflects the increase in the dues for NAMA. Members should pay Peg Hooton no later than the January meeting.
MaryLee and John Sparks have offered to host the Holiday Potluck this year. It will begin at 6:30 pm on December 7th. This holiday gathering is held in lieu of the regular December meeting. Remember: Mushroom dishes score more points, but excessively rich chocolate desserts are also quite welcome.
Fran Rogers, Ted Stampfer, and I attended a week-long course in mycological microscopy early in September. It was held a Eagle Hill Research Station on the coast of Maine, after the NAMA foray in Vermont. Hidden in the woods, taught by an outstanding guide, Dick Homola, it was a wonderful experience, taught at just the right level for all 8 students. By Monday noon, we were at that frustrating point that most other microscope classes had at their finish, and we had four more days to work it all out under Homola's gentle encouragement.
When we ran out of specimens, we would go on a short foray in the dank dark dripply woods for more. Stampfer's excitement at seeing his first "clamp connection" was equaled by my watching a beautiful rosette of asci and witnessing the flap on the end an asci popping open and all eight spores oozing out.
On top of that, the meals were outstanding. If anyone is interested in gaining such a technique, along wit a few pounds, consider this class if it is given again. I think it was publicized in the Mycophile and/or Mushroom, the Journal.
Misplaced Secretary Vicky Cibicki sent a nice long letter from her new home in Cashmere, Washington. She says that, with the help of her new friends, she found chanterelles, but only one bolete, and is suffering from a serious Boletus deficiency. Vicky says she's willing to trade dried apples for some dried Boletus. Any takers? I hope to include in the next newsletter Vicky's correspondence in its entirety.
George Rodgers submitted this recipe a few months back. I've been saving it for this newsletter. Apparently it is intended for use with dried Porcini.
In a large skillet cook onion and celery in butter over medium low heat, stirring occasionally until softened. Add mushrooms and liquid, cook and pepper to taste, and cook for a minute or so. Transfer to large bowl, add bread, salt and pepper to taste, and mix gently. Allow to cool; then stuff bird. |