
I am first and foremost an educator. I have been teaching in higher education for 30 plus years. I also have a deep passion for learning about mycology.
While my background is in design and art, as a child I grew up with parents who were avid bowhunters and mushroom hunters in every sense of the word. As I grew older I had always wished they would have passed their knowledge down to me.
So when I was asked (out of the blue) to help WMS with their technology, I gladly joined the cause.
The Wisconsin Mycological Society has been around for a long time (records go back 40 years but there are stories of it being around much much longer) and throughout its existence its aim has been to educate people about mycology and I thought, “this is a perfect fit for me.”
Since joining WMS in 2015 I have rebuilt its website, edited and published its newsletter, produced and organized the Fungi Fair, headed up its social media effort and even directed the design of its T-shirts, When the Hiles foray lost its leadership and appeared like it would be no more I worked diligently to rebuild that foray.
And when the Covid-19 pandemic hit, I worked to bring our members back together safely online with lectures and Virtual Forays through the help of WMS members Leah and Mariah Rogers on iNaturalist. I have worked closely with many of our board members to accomplish a great deal in the last few years and have seen our foray participation and membership more than double.
My vision for WMS is to create more events statewide and to work with state agencies with educational opportunities for Wisconsin citizens and WMS members.
I have completed a series of oil paintings entitled "The Forest Floor"
This is a traveling exhibition and has been at NAMA in Colorado. The paintings are not for sale, but you can purchase prints as well as a bevy of other things Here. I hope you enjoy the collection.
If You Suspect a Poisoning
If you suspect you have consumed a poisonous mushroom, contact a physician, the closest hospital ER, poison control center, or dial 911, depending on the severity of the reaction. US Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222 The North American Mycological Association (NAMA) has information that may also be of help. Click here. We do not ID mushrooms through this website.
If you are in need of an ID consider uploading quality photos with multiple views of your specimen and descriptions of your find to Mushroom Observer or iNaturalist including our projects or post in Wild Food Wisconsin or Mushroom Identification Group. If you contact us and provide a way to get back to you, we may be able to provide suggestions for more identification resources you can use. You are always responsible for your own decisions taken on the basis of identification resources. |
Wisconsin Mycological Society (WMS) is dedicated to the study and enjoyment of mushrooms and other fungi throughout the state of Wisconsin. Education, safety, sustainability, community, and connecting with nature are our goals.
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