President's Message

Theresa Halula

Welcome 2022! Mushrooms are coming up everywhere; we are seeing a wonderful wide array of species. MSSF continues to move forward as the pandemic continues to throw new obstacles our way. We are all hoping public health concerns resolve sooner than later. Meanwhile here are some of the things that have been happening.

We are disappointed to report that an in-person Fungus Fair January 23 had to be pulled from the schedule. A great deal of energy and planning went into preparations. Many volunteers and guests lined up to participate. Thank you to Co-chairs KO and Gregg Miller for coordinating all the many parts and pieces needed to make the fungus fair happen. Nearly everything was in place to go live. The venue, permits, vendors, cooking plans, guest speakers, vendor market, family arts and crafts, mushroom dye bath, and more. The team is now unraveling all our commitments made to the press, the public, our speakers, and guest chefs, and to all our many volunteers. Special thanks are due to Rachel Abramson, Holly Bazeley, Lorraine Berry, J.R. Blair, Ginny Garrett, Ian and Toby Garrone, Patricia George, Elena Hsu, James McConchie, Michael McGrath, Arianna Ninh, Theresa Halula, Patty and Ray Lanier, Rebecca Lawson, Pascal Pelous, Alan Rockefeller, Naomi Wolf, who all took leadership roles in making things happen. A great deal of energy and planning went into preparations. Many volunteers and guests all lined up to participate. We hare now working to schedule a webinar, or virtual speaker event with our distinguished guests. We had been working with 30 vendors looking forward to offering their products during the all-day event.

If you have questions about winding down from the cancellation of the fair contact fungusfair@mssf.org. For those that purchased tickets, a ticket refund will be returned to you. Table fees for vendors will be refunded. To our event Sponsors and the organizations supporting the Fair we thank each of you and hope you will work with us again next year.

As many of us know this is the third year in a row that the Fungus Fair will not run. This annual event represents significant income for the Society, which helps MSSF cover costs for speakers, room rentals and operations, and scholarship awards. Should you feel moved to make a financial gift to MSSF we would welcome your contribution. MSSF is a nonprofit tax-exempt organization. A donation may be sent to MSSF Treasurer, C/O the Randall Museum, 199 Museum Way, San Francisco, CA 94144.

Some members braved the weather and attended the Holiday Dinner on December 20 in Daly City. Thank you to Maria Pham for making the reservation for us. We enjoyed a hearty meal with mushroom sauces and a white elephant gift exchange.

The Foray Committee has been taking members out to Salt Point frequently to meet other mycophiles, explore the trails there and collect fungi. Few edibles are showing up, but there are plenty of fruit bodies to identify and learn from. A Quick Start Foray went out to McClaren Park finding both edibles and deadly fungi. All these outings have been well attended with social distancing and masking. Special thanks to Theresa Halula, Curt Haney, Paul Koski, Gregg Miller-our Foray leaders, for making these walks happen. Any member may lead forays, and we welcome your interest and participation. Keep checking the MSSF Calendar to register for the next Foray date.

MSSF is planning a second Tincture Workshop for February, which is being scheduled for February 19, 2022, in Berkeley. Details and registration coming soon.


President's Message Theresa Halula Welcome 2022! Mushrooms are coming up everywhere; we are seeing a wonderful wide array of species. MSSF continues to move forward as the pandemic continues to throw new obstacles our way. We are all hoping public health concerns resolve sooner than later. Meanwhile here are some of the things that have been happening. We are disappointed to report that an in-person Fungus Fair January 23 had to be pulled from the schedule. A great deal of energy and planning went into preparations. Many volunteers and guests lined up to participate. Thank you to Co-chairs KO and Gregg Miller for coordinating all the many parts and pieces needed to make the fungus fair happen. Nearly everything was in place to go live. The venue, permits, vendors, cooking plans, guest speakers, vendor market, family arts and crafts, mushroom dye bath, and more. The team is now unraveling all our commitments made to the press, the public, our speakers, and guest chefs, and to all our many volunteers. Special thanks are due to Rachel Abramson, Holly Bazeley, Lorraine Berry, J.R. Blair, Ginny Garrett, Ian and Toby Garrone, Patricia George, Elena Hsu, James McConchie, Michael McGrath, Arianna Ninh, Theresa Halula, Patty and Ray Lanier, Rebecca Lawson, Pascal Pelous, Alan Rockefeller, Naomi Wolf, who all took leadership roles in making things happen. A great deal of energy and planning went into preparations. Many volunteers and guests all lined up to participate. We hare now working to schedule a webinar, or virtual speaker event with our distinguished guests. We had been working with 30 vendors looking forward to offering their products during the all-day event. If you have questions about winding down from the cancellation of the fair contact fungusfair@mssf.org. For those that purchased tickets, a ticket refund will be returned to you. Table fees for vendors will be refunded. To our event Sponsors and the organizations supporting the Fair we thank each of you and hope you will work with us again next year. As many of us know this is the third year in a row that the Fungus Fair will not run. This annual event represents significant income for the Society, which helps MSSF cover costs for speakers, room rentals and operations, and scholarship awards. Should you feel moved to make a financial gift to MSSF we would welcome your contribution. MSSF is a nonprofit tax-exempt organization. A donation may be sent to MSSF Treasurer, C/O the Randall Museum, 199 Museum Way, San Francisco, CA 94144. Some members braved the weather and attended the Holiday Dinner on December 20 in Daly City. Thank you to Maria Pham for making the reservation for us. We enjoyed a hearty meal with mushroom sauces and a white elephant gift exchange. The Foray Committee has been taking members out to Salt Point frequently to meet other mycophiles, explore the trails there and collect fungi. Few edibles are showing up, but there are plenty of fruit bodies to identify and learn from. A Quick Start Foray went out to McClaren Park finding both edibles and deadly fungi. All these outings have been well attended with social distancing and masking. Special thanks to Theresa Halula, Curt Haney, Paul Koski, Gregg Miller-our Foray leaders, for making these walks happen. Any member may lead forays, and we welcome your interest and participation. Keep checking the MSSF Calendar to register for the next Foray date. MSSF is planning a second Tincture Workshop for February, which is being scheduled for February 19, 2022, in Berkeley. Details and registration coming soon.
Mycena News - Happy New Year