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Connecticut Valley Mycological Society (CVMS)
History
Ed Bosman
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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.
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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. |
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Ed Bosman, Terry and Harley Stoleson at the 1996 joint NAMA-NEMF
foray at Ascutney, VT
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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. |
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Dr. Roz Lowen & Ed Bosman
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Ed Bosman
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Terry Stoleson
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Walt Rode
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Bill Yule
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Connie Borodenko
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George Hungerford
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Joe Lenoce
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_______________________________________________________________________________________________
YOU ARE PERSONALLY
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROPER IDENTIFICATION OF ANY MUSHROOMS THAT
YOU EAT! SOME MUSHROOMS
ARE DEADLY POISONOUS AND CARELESSNESS CAN HAVE SERIOUS
CONSEQUENCES!
CVMS ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY
FOR THE MISUSE OR MISIDENTIFICATION OF ANY MUSHROOMS.
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ALL THE TEXT AND IMAGES
© CVMS ALL RIGHT RESERVED
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