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Connecticut Valley Mycological Society (CVMS)
History


Ed Bosman
 

Ed Bosman, founder of CVMS, grew up in Middlebury, CT and collected mushrooms with his father near their home. After getting married and living in Watertown from 1956 to 1967, he moved back to Middlebury and decided to take his own children into the woods to collect mushrooms as his father did. He bought his first mushroom field guide, Field Guide of Common Mushrooms by Wm. S. Thomas. Ed’s company transferred him to New Jersey in 1970 where he noticed an article in the local newspaper titled You Can Join Wild Mushroom Hunter Club. He attended the first meeting with Hiram Korn, the founder of the Lakeland Mycology Club, later renamed the New Jersey Mycological Association. Ed became the editor of the club newsletter, and soon the vice-president and then the president before his company transferred him back to Connecticut.
 
 

 

The first “field trip”/foray occurred on May 18, 1975 at Sleeping Giant State Park in Hamden. For the first few years, forays were scheduled approximately two weeks apart, May through November. Since 1984, a foray has been scheduled nearly every Sunday from early May to November, and several public educational events have been added to our calendar. In the past, CVMS has exhibited at the Hartford Flower Show and the Durham Fair, and participated in numerous Bioblitzes through the Connecticut State Museum at UCONN, four consecutive years in Stratford parks, and at the White Memorial Conservation Center. Currently, CVMS participates in a fungus-themed day at the Coventry Regional Farmer’s Market and the Wild Mushroom Festival at the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center in Mystic. The attendance of CVMS at public events has allowed the club to educate non-members in the fascinating world of fungi, answering many questions and helping to dispel common myths surrounding wild mushrooms.
Ed Bosman, Terry and Harley Stoleson at the 1996 joint NAMA-NEMF foray at Ascutney, VT

In the fall of 1975, Vic Gambino, president of NJMA, called to ask if CVMS would be interested in a weekend long joint foray with NJMA. Thus, the seed (or spore) of the future NEMF was planted. In 1977 the “Northeast Foray” included three additional clubs: New York Mycological Association, Connecticut Mycological Association, and Boston Mycological Society, plus individuals from the Long Island club and New Hampshire club. In 1990, the charter of the “Northeast Mycological Foray” was completed with a change of name to Northeast Mycology Federation to better reflect the nature of the organization. Currently, NEMF is a federation of eighteen mycological clubs which was founded to "provide a forum where both amateur and professional mycologists can share their experiences and knowledge and work together cooperatively". CVMS is an affiliated member of the North American Mycological Association (NAMA) and members are eligible to join NAMA at a reduced rate. CVMS also participates in joint forays with Connecticut-Westchester Mycological Association (COMA) yearly.The goals of CVMS continue to include education and recreation, and our activities encompass the fields of natural history, taxonomy, culinary arts, photography, toxicology, and microscopy.
Dr. Roz Lowen & Ed Bosman 
Ed Bosman 
 
 
Terry Stoleson
Walt Rode
Bill Yule
Connie Borodenko
 George Hungerford
 Joe Lenoce

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CONSEQUENCES!
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