Our COMA Clark Rogerson Foray was a great success. Friends came from all over including Quebec, Maine, Illinois, Long Island, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico, Tennessee and New York. The first couple of days were dry, the next couple were wet. Our chief mycologist Gary Lincoff tallied close to 300 species of identifiable fungi – (and around 09 slime molds). There were 20 fungi or more that we didn’t have the time to identity. There were presentations by Elinoar Shavit on the history and lore surrounding the truffles of Israel. John Rahart gave his presentation on toxins in fungi. David Work of COMA and the Mid-Hudson Mycological club showed us several of his NAMA award-winning mushroom slides. Ed Mena came by to update us on his research methods and objectives for LifePharms. Carol Levine engaged many participants in her talk about the wild plants collected in the region. Our own Dave Rose spoke knowledgably and even dramatically on the people involved in the growth of mycology (professional and especially amateur) in the United States. Sandy Sheine led celebratory remarks commemorating the engagement of Ed Bosman and Roz Lowen, as well as the 90th birthday of our guru, Sam Ristich. We enjoyed tasty food in the dining room and outside at the picnic tables under the tutelage of JoAnn and her family staff. Our mycophagy sessions may have been the best ever due in no small part to Damon’s perfect recipes and assistance from a squad of very able sou-chefs. The last night we gathered around the fire pit and roasted marshmallows before returning to the dining hall for the live auction led by Leon Shernoff. Gary led discussions around the display tables everyday following breakfast and dinner and on Sunday morning. He has mastered ways of teaching us easy methods of getting a handle on mushrooms.

Thanks to David Work for contributing some of his shots (To see more of David's phtography log onto http://fiddlehead.smugmug.com.), as well as Anne Marie Roberts, Jerry Sheine, Carol Levine and Roz Lowen.

Please click on each photo to see a more detailed version.