Author Archives: Elan Trybuch

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Fungi do a lot for us – they delight, feed, educate and inspire us. So what can we do for fungi? Many species of fungi are under threat but don’t receive any kind of protection or conservation. Of the 1,300 species listed as endangered in the US none are fungi. Fungi are invisible to policymakers.

We need to give fungi the spotlight they deserve – and a great way of doing so is is by designating a State Mushroom.

Please use the hashtag #I????NY

The club has spent the last few years working hard to get bills into both the New York State Assembly and Senate to declare Lactarius peckii the New York State Mushroom. They are now ready to be passed!
But representatives will only pass them if they feel that constituents are passionate about the issue. We need you to let your representatives know that you want these bills passed – now!
Doing this is easy and takes less than two minutes
Step 3: click through to their pages, find their contact email and email them a copy of the following letters – there’s one letter for the Assembly and one letter for the Senate (feel free to personalize them!)
That’s all!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

FOR YOUR STATE ASSEMBLY MEMBER

Dear Assembly Member [NAME]
As a constituent and member of New York Mycological Society I urge you to support Bill A1919 Designating Lactarius peckii as the official state fungus of the state.
Though often overlooked, fungi are vital to the health of ecosystems and are beautiful and fascinating.
We have put forward Lactarius peckii because it is common in wooded areas throughout the state, including in the parks of the five boroughs of New York City.
The mushroom was first described by Gertrude Simmons Burlingham in 1908. A native New Yorker, Burlingham is a notable figure in North American mycology. She named this Lactarius for Charles Horton Peck, the New York State botanist from 1867 to 1915, who himself described over 2700 species of North America fungi.
Lactarius peckii is neither edible nor poisonous; it is noteworthy because it serves a vital role in maintaining a healthy and vibrant forest ecosystem through its symbiotic (mycorrhizal) partnership with trees. If Lactarius is present it means the forest is healthy.
I urge you to support Bill A1919, and in so doing, assert New York’s appreciation of our great forests and parks and the need for their protection.
Passage of this bill would make New York one of only six states to have a state fungus. Let’s be at the forefront of this movement!
Kind regards
YOUR NAME
__________________________________________________________________

FOR YOUR STATE SENATOR

Dear Senator [NAME]
As a constituent and member of New York Mycological Society I urge you to support Bill S1854 Designating Lactarius peckii as the official state fungus of the state.
Though often overlooked, fungi are vital to the health of ecosystems and are beautiful and fascinating.
We have put forward Lactarius peckii because it is common in wooded areas throughout the state, including in the parks of the five boroughs of New York City.
The mushroom was first described by Gertrude Simmons Burlingham in 1908. A native New Yorker, Burlingham is a notable figure in North American mycology. She named this Lactarius for Charles Horton Peck, the New York State botanist from 1867 to 1915, who himself described over 2700 species of North America fungi.
Lactarius peckii is neither edible nor poisonous; it is noteworthy because it serves a vital role in maintaining a healthy and vibrant forest ecosystem through its symbiotic (mycorrhizal) partnership with trees. If Lactarius is present it means the forest is healthy.
I urge you to support Bill S1854, and in so doing, assert New York’s appreciation of our great forests and parks and the need for their protection.
Passage of this bill would make New York one of only six states to have a state fungus. Let’s be at the forefront of this movement!
Kind regards
YOUR NAME
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
We are so close, but unless you help us give it this last push we won’t get the bill across the line.
We thank Eugenia Bone, Vicky Tartter for their tireless work over the last three years and Mical Moser for assistance during a critical period. We also want to thank Maya Han for the very cool original logo concept and Phyllis Ma for turning it into an actual logo.
Feel free to share this email with anyone who might be interested!
Thank you very much!

2023 Myco Film Festival

2023 Myco Film Festival

2023 Myco Film Festival

????  MYCO FILM FESTIVAL 2023

???? CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

Founded in 1962 by the visionary multidisciplinary artist John Cage, New York Mycological Society has had a long relationship with the arts. Over the past decade there has been an efflorescence of visual work, including film and video, on the mycological world.  We are excited to announce the first NYMS Myco Film Festival scheduled for October 2023 at an arthouse cinema in New York City and streaming online in a virtual film fest later in Oct. 2023. We will showcase the fascinating world of mycology and provide a platform for looking at and thinking of mycology in bold new ways (beyond popular culture’s limited fixation on magic mushrooms).

IN-PERSON FESTIVAL DATE: One day screening, October 2023

VIRTUAL FILM FEST (optional participation): late October 2023

SUBMISSION CRITERIA:

We welcome all submissions from members and non-members alike, even if you are a first time filmmaker, as long as the film is about mushrooms or mycology.  We accept any length from 1 minute to feature length and any genre, including fiction, documentary, animation and experimental.  Films with non-English voiceover should be titled in English.

Submission deadlines:

 * Morel deadline (Early):  May 31, 2023

 * Chanterelle deadline (Final):  July 1, 2023

Submission fee:  Free

Notification Date for Selection: by July 15, 2023 (if selected we will need a signed release form to screen your film)

Final screener deadline: must be received by August 31, 2023 (format details confirmed upon selection notification)

If you have any questions, please email the film festival organizer Maya at  filmfest@newyorkmyc.org

We are looking forward to seeing your work!  So SUBMIT YOUR FILM HERE!

illustration of mushrooms

Wanted: Community Partnership Coordinator for NYMS

We’re actively recruiting for the role of Community Partnership Coordinator.

The focus of the position is to create and nourish relationships with communities and other organizations.

Just like fungi don’t exist in a vacuum, the New York Mycological Society wants to be part of a mycelium with other organizations that are focused on nature, conservation, community and education. We want our club to reflect the beautiful diversity of New York City and introduce ourselves to more New Yorkers, especially to communities that are currently under-represented in our membership.

This role was created two years ago and has been held by Sneha Ganguly, who did a fantastic job building and nourishing relationships with other organizations and organizing a series of very popular outreach and partnership events.

Sneha will be supporting the club in a different role this year (exciting news to come) and we are now looking for a new person to step into this position.

This is the perfect opportunity for a self-starting community organizer who is passionate about promoting fungal and cultural diversity and taking on a role of great responsibility within the club.

This role is supported by a scholarship!

If this sounds interesting to you, check out the full job description.

Applications are due by March 11, 2023.

​​We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and we strongly encourage BIPOC, LGBTQ+ individuals, and differently-abled persons to apply.

We look forward to hearing from you!

-Sigrid Jakob
President, NYMS

2023 Business Meeting

2023 Business Meeting

2023 Business Meeting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New York Mycological Society 2023 business meeting

February 19, 2023 2pm

Draft Agenda

  1. Budget update 2022 numbers
  2. Membership summary: update on memberships
  3. 2023 walks: locations, including new
  4. ID sessions: commencing in-person ID sessions
  5. Gary Lincoff archive: update on final destination of Gary’s papers
  6. Auction: online-only auction partners for Gary’s books; other auctions?
  7. Fungus Fest: update
  8. Fungus Film Festival: proposal by Maya Han
  9. Community outreach: update on new community partnership coordinator, potential partners
  10. Lectures: update on Zoom and live lectures
  11. Website: hosting, history section, garylincoff.com
  12. Banquet and/or food events: 2023 planning
  13. Microscopy workshops: update on online workshop series, live workshop
  14. Nanopore sequencing: North East Mycoblitz; large-scale nanopore sequencing
  15. NEMF: update
  16. Scholarships: Cathy Cripps scholarship awardee? Gary Lincoff scholarship process
  17. State mushroom: update
  18. VCP research permit renewal/High Rock Park research permit:: update
  19. Hand lens program: update
  20. Newsletter: update
  21. Digitizing archive: plans?
  22. Oral history: plans?
  23. Learning how to become a more effective non-profit: update
  24. NYMS status report

Watch the full meeting here

Let’s get New York State its own state mushroom!

Two new bills for a State Mushroom for New York State – Lactarius peckii

The New York Mycological Society urges New York State residents to support State Senate Bill A1919 & State Assembly Bill S1854, which relate to designating Lactarius peckii (Peck’s Milk Cap) as New York State’s official mushroom. Why Lactarius peckii ? It plays an important symbiotic role in our hardwood forests, supplying plants with minerals in exchange for sugars, supporting healthy ecosystems. Mycorrhizal fungi like Lactarius peckii also, playing a vital role in mitigating climate change be sequestering greenhouse gases underground where they can do no damage.

Lactarius peckii 3Without mushrooms like Lactarius peckii  that partner with trees, our forests would fail to thrive. This species also shows up in the history of mycology in New York State. It was named for an Averill Park native, Charles Horton Peck, the State Museum’s botanist from 1866 through 1913. Peck described over 2700 new species of mushrooms, establishing New York state as a scientific hub mushroom research.

Lactarius peckii was first identified, described and named by the distinguished mycologist Gertrude Simmons Burlingham. Born in Oswego County, Burlingham earned a BSc in 1898 from Syracuse University, and in 1908 was the first woman to earn a PhD from a joint program between Columbia and the New York Botanical Gardens. Although she pioneered techniques to identify mushrooms, as a woman, she was unable to find paid mycological work. Burlingham continued her mycological research while teaching high school in Brooklyn NY, and discovered, named and described over 100 species.Lactarius peckii

By adopting Lactarius peckii as the official state mushroom we honor the critical role of fungi in ecosystems. Having a state mushroom encourages conversation about the significant role of science and research in New York State, including the importance of women in science. It celebrates the state’s forest resources, and commitment to fighting global warming through their preservation.

Six states have already designated a state mushroom; New York should too!

Lactarius peckii

 

To Support These Bills:

Write (email or snail-mail) and/or call your legislator in both houses. Information on how to find them and script blueprints for support of these billis via mail or phone are below for your convenience.

Generic Assembly Letter For State Mushroom

YOUR STATE ASSEMBLY PERSON – find via https://nyassembly.gov/mem/search/

Legislative Office Building
Room [###]
Albany, NY 12247
Dear Assembly Member [ NAME HERE ],

As a constituent and member of New York Mycological Society I am seeking your support for Bill A1919
Designating Lactarius peckii as the official state fungus of the state.

Passage of this bill would make New York one of only six states to have a state mushroom. Though often overlooked, mushroom are vital to the health of ecosystems and are beautiful and fascinating. We have put forward Lactarius peckii (Peck’s Milky Cap) because it is common in wooded areas throughout the state, including in the parks of the five boroughs of New York City.  The mushroom was first described by Gertrude Simmons Burlingham in 1908. A native New Yorker, Burlingham is a notable figure in North American mycology (the scientific study of mushrooms). She named this beautiful milky cap for Charles Horton Peck, who was the New York State botanist from 1867 to 1915, and described over 2700 species of North America mushrooms. Lactarius peckii is neither edible nor poisonous; it is noteworthy because it serves a vital role in maintaining healthy and vibrant forest ecosystems through its symbiotic (mycorrhizal) partnership with trees. If a milky cap mushroom like Lactarius peckii is present it means the forest is healthy.

I urge you to support Bill A1919 , and in so doing, assert New York’s appreciation of our healthy forests and parks.

[ SIGN YOUR NAME AND IF POSSIBLE ADD YOUR ADDRESS ]
If you would like to add a picture or link to one: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/87801000

If phone call – I am calling to register my support for Assembly bill A1919, designating Lactarius peckii as the official NY State mushroom. As a member of New York Mycological Society, I am committed to healthy forests and understand that this mushroom signifies good woodland health. I am hoping you will co-sponsor.

Generic Assembly Letter For State Mushroom

YOUR STATE SENATOR – find via https://www.nysenate.gov/find-my-senator

Legislative Office Building
Room [###]
Albany, NY 12247

Dear Senator [ NAME HERE ],

As a constituent and member of New York Mycological Society I am seeking your support for Bill S1854
Designating Lactarius peckii as the official state fungus of the state.

Passage of this bill would make New York one of only six states to have a state mushroom. Though often overlooked, mushroom are vital to the health of ecosystems and are beautiful and fascinating. We have put forward Lactarius peckii (Peck’s Milky Cap) because it is common in wooded areas throughout the state, including in the parks of the five boroughs of New York City.  The mushroom was first described by Gertrude Simmons Burlingham in 1908. A native New Yorker, Burlingham is a notable figure in North American mycology (the scientific study of mushrooms). She named this beautiful milky cap for Charles Horton Peck, who was the New York State botanist from 1867 to 1915, and described over 2700 species of North America mushrooms. Lactarius peckii is neither edible nor poisonous; it is noteworthy because it serves a vital role in maintaining healthy and vibrant forest ecosystems through its symbiotic (mycorrhizal) partnership with trees. If a milky cap mushroom like Lactarius peckii is present it means the forest is healthy.

I urge you to support Bill S1854 , and in so doing, assert New York’s appreciation of our great forests and parks.

[ SIGN YOUR NAME AND IF POSSIBLE ADD YOUR ADDRESS ]
If you would like to add a picture or link to one: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/87801000

If calling by phone – I am calling to register my support for Assembly bill S1854, designating Lactarius peckii as the official NY State mushroom. As a member of New York Mycological Society, I am committed to healthy forests and understand that this mushroom signifies good woodland health. I am hoping you will co-sponsor.

 

In full support and endorsement from the following organizations (in alphabetical order):

We solicited support for these bills from the following organizations (in alphabetical order):

Limited edition historical t-shirts are here!

The design features an intricate drawing from the first New York Mycological Club founded in 1897. On the left are scientific tools of the field; and on the right, domestic tools of the kitchen. A skull and crossbones is front and center – perhaps a 19th century version of trolling the mycophobes.

Short sleeved tees are available in White, Black or Green. $25 (shipping included)

Short sleeved tees are available in White, Black or Green. $25 (shipping included)

Our last limited edition t-shirt sold out very quickly so order yours while supplies last!

Eagle Hill Institute’s 2022 Mycology Seminar

 3 stages of amanita

Amanita

Eagle Hill is right on the coast of Eastern Maine, between Acadia National Park and Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge.

Please note that proof of full COVID-19 vaccination (including booster) is required for acceptance into our seminars.

July 24–30 — Mushroom Identification for New Mycophiles: Foraging for Edible and Medicinal Mushrooms — Greg Marley and Michaeline Mulvey

For general information, the registration form, seminar flyers, and a complete calendar:

https://eaglehill.us/programs/sems-weeklong/calendar-weeklong.shtml

If you have any questions about the content of the seminar, please reach out to the seminar instructor(s), whose contact info can be found on the seminar flyer.

If a seminar you are interested in is full, and you would like to be put on the wait list, please fill out the application form.

If you have any questions about registering for the seminar, please contact us at office@eaglehill.us.

2022 Annual Business Meeting 2/5/22


Please join us for our 2022 business meeting which will once again take place via Zoom. Normally, the business meeting is a lively social event, and we do hope to return to meeting in person in 2023.

We will review the Society’s plans for the year, discuss a variety of topics, and elect officers.

All members are welcome. I look forward to seeing you there!