About the MMS

The Minnesota Mycological Society (MMS) is an educational organization for the study of mushrooms and other fungi. Our members work with professional mycologists to improve their mushroom identification skills, build the mycological collection at the University of Minnesota, educate the public about fungi and assist the Hennepin County Poison Center in mushroom identification.

The MMS is governed by bylaws that define our structure and purpose.

Our interests include:

• collecting and identifying wild mushrooms and other fungi
• cooking with wild mushrooms
• photographing mushrooms
• arts and crafts with fungi

Meetings take place monthly during entire year, and twice a month during April, May (when it does not fall on Memorial Day), September and October. Presentations and workshops by invited professionals and members of the MMS are an important part of our educational work.

Forays (guided mushroom hunts) are held from May to October. Meetings and forays are dedicated to learning and improving mushroom identification skills.

Annual events include two mushroom certification classes for edible mushroom foraging.  One in early spring covering Morels, Chanterelles, Black Trumpet, and Sulphur Shelf, and then one in the summer covering Lobster Fungus, Hedgehog, Hericium species, Giant Puffball, and Hen of the Woods. This certification is required to sell wild mushrooms to food establishments in Minnesota (see MDA’s wild mushroom foraging page for more info).  The MMS has a booth at every Minnesota State Fair staffed by club mycology experts with displays of freshly collected local wild mushrooms.

A photo contest, a potluck dinner and a holiday celebration are the highlights at the close of the season. During winter, the MMS also hosts an annual awards banquet.

  

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The Minnesota Mycological Society is governed by a volunteer board, and depends on engaged members to remain active.

Current MMS officers and board members are:

President	Peter Martignacco
Vice President	Kathy Yerich
Treasurer	Claudette Lamprecht
Recording Secretary	David Schaaf
Corresponding Secretary	Jane Onorati
Member at Large	Jacqueline Zepeda
Member at Large	Nick Robinson
Membership Coordinator	John Lamprecht
NAMA Trustee	Peggy Laine
MMS Store Keeper/State Fair Volunteers	Delia Lam
Newsletter Editor	Tyler Pieper
Webmaster	Jane Onorati
Foray Committee Chair	Jacqueline Zepeda
Collections & Vouchers	Adele Mehta
Past President	Tim Clemens
General Counsel	Nancy Etzwiler
Scientific Advisor	Dr. Peter Kennedy, U of MN
Scientific Advisor	Dr. Tom Volk, U of WI
Scientific Advisor	Daniel Stanton, U of MN
Minnesota Funga Group	Troy Howard
Photo Contest Coordinator	Howard Goltz
ID Committee Chair	Ron Spinosa
Program Committee Chair	Kathy Yerich
State Fair/Events Chair	Heather Erickson