Business Meeting of November 10, 2003

Election of Officers and At-Large Board Members for 2004 – Our New Team.

The business meeting was for purpose of selecting the club's officers for 2004, voting for the Golden Chanterelle Award winner and viewing the photo contest entries. I decided that I needed a break form being MMS President and fortunately was able to persuade Ron Spinosa to be a candidate for that office and take over the presidency for at least the next year. Ron preceded me as president so I was confident that he would do a great job. Also nominated for officer positions were Peggy Laine for Treasurer, Glen Creuziger for Recording Secretary and Steve Netzman for Corresponding Secretary. This year the board and membership approved the creation of the officer position of Past President, in which I will initially serve. This office is designed to insure the smooth transition and continuity of the club management and to lighten somewhat the burdens of the president with respect to his/her many duties and responsibilities. All the officer nominees were elected to the above referenced positions by the unanimous vote of the membership. There were no nominations for the position of Vice President, but it is hoped that during the upcoming year the board will be able to identify and appoint a qualified member volunteer to fill that position. It is intended that the person appointed will be willing to succeed Ron Spinosa when the time comes. Maxine Bethke and Elaine DuFresne were nominated and elected to serve as the At-Large Board Members.

2004 Minnesota Mycological Society Officers

President - Ron Spinosa
Past President - Robert Fulgency
Treasurer - Peggy Laine
Recording Secretary - Glen Creuziger
Corresponding Secretary - Steve Netzman

2004 At-Large Board Members

Maxine Bethke
Elaine DuFresne

I want to express my sincere appreciation to Janette Almli for her fine work as Recording Secretary for the last three years, to Maxine Bethke for her contributions as Vice President during 2003 and to Patty Bellino for her service as Corresponding Secretary during 2003. Maxine will continue to serve on the board as one of the at-large members. We welcome Steve and Glen to their new officers positions and Elaine as an at-large board member. I know they will each make important contributions to the continued success of the board and the club.

Committee heads, who are not elected to their positions, serve on the board at the pleasure of the President for one year terms beginning the first day of January. I do not anticipate any changes in these positions and now leave such matters to Ron Spinosa. I might note that it is not mandatory that committee heads serve on the board.

Photo Contest

The Photo contest this year was canceled due to the small number of entrants. I suspect this was the direct result of the very dry weather we experienced in Minnesota last summer and early fall. I want to thank those of you who submitted slides and hope that you are not too disappointed and understand the reason for the decision to cancel. On a positive note, those who did submit slides will be recognized at the annual banquet.

The Golden Chanterelle Award - A Clarification

The Golden Chanterelle Award is made to the member of the club who has made the most noteworthy contribution to the club during the year. The candidates are nominated from the floor and then voted on by the membership. During the course of the nomination process, a suggestion was made that officers of the club should be disqualified from receiving the award because they have already been amply awarded by simply being officers. To set the record straight, MMS officers devote many hours of their free time to club matters, and this directly benefits not only the club, but its members. On behalf of past and present officers, I want to make it clear that being an officer of the club is not now, and never has been, considered an award. Club officers are among our most dedicated and diligent members and, when fitting, their work on behalf of the club should be duly recognized. Although not a requirement, it is a time honored tradition that previous award winners graciously withdraw their names from consideration. The winner of the Golden Chanterelle Award will be announced at the Annual Awards Banquet next February, which I encourage all members to attend since it is a grand party and represents the culmination of the club's 2003 activities.

Holiday Meeting and Celebration of December 8, 2003

On this very mild winter evening, for Minnesota, we met for the final time this year to celebrate the passing of another fine mushroom gathering season. Club members were entertained and treated to holiday gifts, foods and drinks in appreciation of their participation in the club's numerous endeavors during 2003. Everyone enjoyed viewing Taylor Lockwood's wonderful program, “Treasures from the Kingdom of Fungi”, and our own Rolf Engel's equally fine program, “Ode to Minnesota Mushrooms”.

Club members took advantage of the opportunity to buy club emblem hats, bags, clothing, coffee mugs and other paraphernalia, as well as some of the club's older mycology books, at very reasonable prices, including some items at extraordinarily deep discounts. The club thanks Erma Lechko for her recent donation from her personal library of many of the books and posters that were sold. This event was an exceptional occasion to pick up some Christmas gifts and also items for the annual gift exchange at the Awards Banquet in February.

Monday Evening Meeting Schedule for January through June 2004

Please mark your calendar for the club's Monday evening meetings as follows: January 12, February 9, March 8, April 12, May 10 and 24, and June 14 and 28.

Monday Evening Meeting, January 12

Anna Gerenday will be the lecturer for our program on this day. The title of her presentation is: Major Groups of Fungi: The Non-Gilled. The topics for the other winter programs will be announced soon.