Agnes A. Sieger, Editor
MEMBERSHIP MEETING
This month's speaker is Brandon Matheny, who will tell us about ``Mushrooms from Hazel Wolf Wetland.''
Brandon joined PSMS in 1995, developed an intense interest in mushrooms, and began a survey of the mushrooms in the Hazel Wolf Wetland near Issaquah. He is now a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Washington under Dr. Ammirati. He studies the genus Inocybe and teaches botany classes at the university.
CALENDAR
April 10 Membership meeting, 7:30 pm at CUH
April 16 Board meeting, 7:30 pm, CUH Board Room
April 17 Spore Prints deadline
April 28 Field Trip, St. Edward County Park
April 30 Intermediate Class for members who are registered
BOARD NEWS, MARCH Agnes Sieger
Lynn Phillips passed around an account of PSMS finances as of the end of calendar year 2000. The finance committee decided that the current mix of investments is still good. Taylor Lockwood has agreed to do two shows a day at the annual exhibit next fall. Cathy and Don Lennebacker have agreed to coordinate hosts for the Fall 2001 field trips. There will be no field trip over Memorial Day weekend. Colin Meyer will handle registration of PSMS members for the Forest Service mushroom survey in the Lake Wenatchee area this spring. Colin reports that the microscopy class has filled up. John Goldman reports that the Forest Service will not require mushroom collecting permits this year and probably not next year. The board agreed it needs to formulate an official policy on mushrooms permits. Mick Mueller of the U.S. Forest Service will be invited to speak to PSMS on the collecting policy of the Leavenworth/Wenatchee Forest Service district and write an article for Spore Prints.
BOARD NEWS, FEBRUARY Agnes Sieger
Bernice Velategui reports that membership renewals are keeping pace with last year's rate. Marcia Hiltzheimer and Patrice Benson will prepare 200 renewal reminders to be sent out as postcards. A microscopy workshop is scheduled at the end of March in Johnson Hall at the UW. Karin Mendell and Coleman Leuthy will co-chair the annual exhibit. Steven Curtice will co-chair field trip reservations. Karin Mendell will arrange field trip hosts this spring, but we will need a co-chair to organize hosts next fall. A discussion ensued on host responsibilities. John Goldman questioned our policy of restricting information on field trip sites to members only. It was decided to stick to the current policy. Dick Sieger reported that the Spore Prints deadline has been changed from Friday to Tuesday to allow time to send the master copy from Sequim to the printer in Seattle. Patrice Benson expressed the need for help with decorations, setup, and cleanup at the survivor's banquet. Mick Mueller of the U.S. Forest Service has a small grant to continue mushroom surveys of targeted habitats near Lake Wenatchee; he can accommodate about 20 members from PSMS. A finance committee consisting of Lynn Phillips, Joanne Young, John Goldman, and Karin Mendell was established to address the PSMS building fund and PSMS finances. John will also ask the Forest Service about possible requirements for mushroom collecting permits.
Field Trips Steve Curtice
Most field trips are planned for Saturdays and commence at 9:00 AM. Identifiers are usually available from 9 AM to 4 PM, after which time there is a potluck. Bring something to share as well as your own plate, eating utensils, and beverage. Sunday is optional for those who like to camp; there are no identifiers or hosts on Sundays.
For those intrepid and independent souls who feel like gambling on a chance to find acres of morels, Mike Lovelady found a Web site providing forest fire information and offers the following: The last fire season produced a large burn site at Summit Lake about six miles southeast of Oroville, WA. (See page 115 in DeLorme's Washington Atlas and Gazetteer .) It's a long drive, and you'll have to time it right.
April 28 Saint Edward
Park
(Northeast shore of Lake Washington)
>From I-5 take the 145th Street exit and go east on 145th to Lake City Way N.E. (Highway 522). Turn left and proceed around the north end of the lake to Kenmore and turn right onto Juanita Drive N.E. Drive just under two miles to the park entrance on the right. This is a beautiful and large park. Hosts will need to pick a place to gather and lay out some signs. Alissa Allen will host, and Colin Meyer will identify.
May 5 Bullfrog Flats
(Elev. 2000 ft., 80 miles east of Seattle)
Take I-90 over Snoqualmie Pass to exit #80. Go left at the stop sign and proceed about 500 ft. to the first right. Follow the PSMS signs. Karin Mendell and Luis Felix will be the hosts. Patrice Benson will identify.
May 12 Swauk Creek
(Elev. 2500 ft., 110 miles east of Seattle)
Take I-5 over Snoqualmie Pass to exit #85. Follow Hwy. 10 east of Cle Elum for 2½ miles. Turn left onto Hwy. 970. After 7 miles bear left onto US Hwy. 97 (north) and continue another 16 miles. The camp is on the right. Swauk Pass is 4 miles beyond the camp. Doug Ward will host.
May 19 Twenty-Nine Pines
(Elev. 2500 ft., 102 miles east of Seattle)
Take I-90 over Snoqualmie Pass to exit #85. Follow signs to Hwy. 970 east of Cle Elum for 2½ miles. Turn left on Hwy. 970 and go 4½ miles. Turn left onto Teanaway River Road. Continue about 6 miles to the Bible Rock Children's Camp. Bear right on the Teanaway North Fork Road and continue to Twenty-Nine Pines on the left, just past Jack Creek Road. There is no shelter. Russ Kurtz and Frances Ikeda will host. Brian Luther will identify
June 2- 3 Bridge Creek
(Elev. 2400 ft., 150 miles east of Seattle)
Take Hwy. 2 over Stevens Pass and proceed 34 miles to Leavenworth. (You can also take I-90 over Snoqualmie Pass to exit #85, go over Swauk Pass via Hwy. 97 to Hwy. 2, and proceed left for six miles to Leavenworth.) Take Icicle Creek Road on the northwest end of town and go 6½ miles to Bridge Creek Forest Camp. Don and Claire MacKenzie will host, and Brian Luther will identify. Brian will be setting up a field mycology lab with a generator and microscope or two and plans to provide microscopic demonstrations. This is a great opportunity for those interested in some of the finer points of identification.
Important New Field Trip Changes Karin Mendell
In an effort to make life easier for our volunteer field trip hosts, this year we have made the following adjustments:
· Fewer supplies will be required for hosting. The number of containers has been reduced from three down to one. Please call Karin Mendell and make arrangements to pick up the ``host kit'' prior to the field trip you are hosting.
· Coffee & breakfast treats will be provided. Hosts will be asked to fill the two air-pump coffee containers (in the host kit) with coffee on the way to the field trip site. A third container may supply hot water for tea or cocoa. In addition, hosts may supply two dozen donuts or other sweet rolls. PSMS will reimburse for coffee & treats, with submitted receipts.
· All members attending field trips are now requested to bring their own picnic supplies (plates, eating utensils, and any other needed picnic supplies). We'd like to suggest washable, reusable items to reduce waste. This will greatly reduce the amount of organization needed to keep these supplies replenished continually throughout the field trip season.
· Potluck Suggestion. A last suggestion for all our vegetarian members. At several potlucks (traditionally held at the close of a field trip), many of our vegetarian members were disappointed by the lack of meatless entrées. Remember: The best way to ensure that a ``meat-free'' entrée is available is to bring one to share! Any and all shared dishes are welcome, and potlucks provide a nice opportunity for members to mingle and get acquainted while viewing all the mushrooms collected and identified that day.
It is hoped that these changes will make it so much easier to host that all of our members will volunteer and host a field trip during the spring or fall season. To volunteer for the Spring 2001 season, call Karin Mendell, (425) 868-7918. To volunteer for the Fall 2001 season, please call Cathy or Don Lennebacker, (425) 742-3163.
TREASURER'S REPORT FOR 2000
INCOME
Banquet 2,050.00
Books 8,063.07
Cultivation 55.00
Donations 80.00
Dues 6,732.00
Education 1,290.00
Exhibit * 5,087.50
Field trip income 20.00
Foray 2,035.00
Scholarship fund 298.00
Misc. sales 126.50
T-shirts -20.00
DivInc 78.43
Intlnc 1,394.04
Uncategorized Income 50.50
TOTAL INCOME 27,340.04
EXPENSES
Annual exhibit 5,962.68
Bank charge 380.78
Banquet expense 2,025.00
Book sales expense 2,841.52
Cultivation expense 100.00
Education expense 1,018.77
Field trips 525.87
Flower show expense 16.00
Foray expense 1,558.79
Insurance 1,133.00
Library 239.46
Membership expense 919.28
NESC -0.50
Monthly meeting 1,540.58
Office 159.42
President's discretionary fund 200.00
Roster expense 682.05
Spore Prints postage 1,353.06
Spore Prints printing 1,989.36
Student grant 1,000.00
Tax & License 96.00
Telephone 885.91
World Wide Web (Internet) Account 620.55
Uncategorized expenses 364.59
Building Fund 3,600.00
TOTAL EXPENSES 29,212.17
TOTAL INCOME - EXPENSES -1,872.13
___________
*Exhibit income does not include book sales
PSMS ASSETS as of DECEMBER 31, 2000
ASSET BREAKDOWN
Cash and Bank Accounts
Checking 4,451.74
Savings 7,427.55
Total 11,879.29
Other Assets
Time Deposit 13,097.41
Treasury Note 10,000.00
Total 23,097.41
Investments, Building Fund
Safeco Equity Fund 14,010.32
Total 14,010.32
TOTAL ASSETS 48,987.02
MUSHROOM MISSIONARIES
Patrice Benson gave a talk and cooking demonstration at the Northwest Women's Show on Friday, March 23.
Joshua Birkebak and Doug Ward manned a mushroom booth at the Lake Forest Park science fair on Thursday, March 15.
Members' E-mail List
The following instructions apply to the ``members only'' section of the PSMS Web site (psms.org):
To subscribe:
psms-members-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
To post a message:
psms-members@yahoogroups.com
For help:
cmeyer@helvella.org or (206) 722-6687.
HOW TO CHANGE YOUR PANTS IN THE WOODS Old Farmer's Almanac , 2001, via Maggie Rogers
There are any number of respectable reasons for needing to change your pants outdoors. Maybe the weather has turned too cold for shorts. Maybe you accidentally sat in a puddle. Whatever the cause, though, there's a right way and a wrong way.
First the wrong way. Take off your shoes and remove your pants. (For the sake of clarity, we'll refer to this pair of pants as Pants A and the second pair as Pants B.) Throw Pants A to one side and put on Pants B one leg at a time, while attempting to keep your socks dry by hopping rapidly up and down on whichever foot is in contact with the damp ground. When Pants B are up around your waist, continue to hop in place while jamming a foot into one shoe. Step down on the newly shod foot and brush the leaves, grass, pebbles, and other debris from the sock on the unshod foot. Put on that shoe, remove the first, and shake out the debris. Put the first back on, tie both shoes, fasten your belt, and look up with a confident expression as if unaware that those around you have been fighting back laughter throughout the whole performance.
Here's the right way. Take off one shoe, then ¾while standing on the other, still-shod foot ¾withdraw that leg from the leg of Pants A. Insert it into the corresponding leg of Pants B, put your shoe back on, and calmly tie it. You are now wearing both shoes and have one leg in each of two different pairs of pants. This is a good time to pause for a moment, glance up at any onlookers, and savor the puzzled expressions on their faces.
Their puzzlement will turn to open admiration as you finish the sequence. Untie and remove your other shoe (that is, the shoe on the foot of the leg that's still within the leg of Pants A), slip out of the second half of Pants A, and step into the other half of Pants B. Pull Pants B up to your waist. If you've followed the procedure correctly, you'll now be standing on one shod foot with both legs fully enclosed in Pants B, having arrived at that point without ever setting a sock onto the ground. Now put on your second shoe, tie it, stand up, and take a bow.
Lake Wenatchee Fungus Survey Colin Meyer
PSMS has again been invited by Mick Mueller to participate in the ongoing Lake Wenatchee Fungus Survey. This survey is a result of the Northwest Forest Plan and the Forest Ecosystem Management Assessment Team and can be read about at http://mgd.nacse.org/fsl/survey/.
Volunteers will collect fungi from specified locations, taking careful notes about the habitat and precise location. Collections will be brought back to the lodge, where they will be identified, cataloged, and preserved for an herbarium for future reference.
This will be an excellent opportunity to learn more about mushrooms and identification while contributing to an important scientific study. There will be the opportunity to meet members of the Pacific Northwest Key Council, who will also be attending.
Participants will be staying at Tall Timbers Lodge, north of Highway 2 and west of Leavenworth. Space is limited to 20 people, and the cost will be $21 which includes meals for the weekend. Please be aware that most of the expense is being paid by the Forest Service, and that this is a working weekend, not for pot hunting.
To register, e-mail Colin Meyer at cmeyer@helvella.org or phone (206) 722-6687.
Portobella Sandwich CVMS Spore Print
Winter 2001, via NJMAnews,
March- April 2001
4 large 4½-in. Horse, Portobella, or Wine Cap mushrooms
1/3 cup olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
4 1-oz. slices mozzarella
1 cup low-fat plain yogurt
¼ cup roasted garlic, mashed
½ cup fresh basil
8 ½-in. slices Italian bread
14 oz. roasted red peppers
Clean mushrooms and remove stems. Brush caps on both sides liberally with olive oil and sprinkle gill side with salt and pepper. Grill, placing one slice of cheese on each cap for the last minute of grilling.
Puree in blender the yogurt, roasted garlic, and basil.
Grill bread slices and peppers. Spread yogurt mixture evenly on bread slices and top with peppers. Place grilled mushrooms on four of the bread slices and top with the remaining four. Serve.