Connie Borodenko

GREETINGS from CVMS: The Connecticut Valley Mycological Society takes pleasure in inviting all mycophiles to join us at the 32nd ANNUAL NORTHEAST MYCOLOGICAL FORAY - the Samuel Ristich Foray - at Connecticut College in New London, CT, from July 31 to August 3, 2008.

This is a very attractive, private liberal arts college founded in 1911. It sits on a hill overlooking Long Island Sound and the Thames River. All 750 acres of College property, with its wonderful plant collections from around the world, and the natural areas, are managed as the CT College Arboretum. It’s a great place for the mushroom hunter, as well as the plant lover because its flora and habitats are so diverse.

It’s interesting to note that in 1984 the Arboretum published its own 50 page bulletin "Common Mushrooms of New England" by John C. Cooke which is still available at the college bookstore.

We view this site as a most natural match for the NEMF Foray.

The college is located two miles north of downtown New London, a city of 28,000 on our southeast coast, on Route 32, directly opposite the US Coast Guard Academy. The drive from Boston is about 2.5 hours, from New York 3 hours. In addition to being on Amtrak’s northeast corridor, New London is also served by bus and airlines. To learn more about the campus=arboretum and travel go to the http://www.connecticutcollege.edu

We are dedicating this foray to the memory of two dear friends and great champions of the Northeast Mycological Federation who passed away recently: Sam Ristich in February and Ed Bosman last November. The NEMF foray was named for our "guru" Sam thirteen years ago, and Ed Bosman was a NEMF co-founder as well as the founder of CVMS.  Both men were devoted to teaching us all they could about fungi. But they also enjoyed a little fun.  Therefore, this foray will reflect their joy of learning and their wonderful sense of humor.

Our Program Chairman, Bill Yule, is busy recruiting a talented faculty which will address all levels of interest.

And our Registrars, Dinah Wells and Janet Blanchard, did their best to have the registration form ready for posting on this web site by mid-February -- see below. The planning is ongoing so stay tuned for further developments.

Please circle the above dates on your calendar now. You may want to give thought to extending your stay and making New London and environs your Summer vacation. Within about 15 minutes drive, you can visit the Historic Ship Nautilus & Submarine Force Museum, Carousel Museum of New England, the Mashantucket Pequot Museum, the Mystic Aquarium, Mystic Seaport, Children’s Museum of SE CT., and Parasail USA, to name just a few interesting sites. There are so many more. Being close to the seashore may inspire you to try sailing on one of the many day cruises. Try the "Mystic Whaler" - or an Oceanographic cruise on the research vessel "Envirolab" - or charter a fishing boat like "Fly Guy". There are accommodations of all kinds including many quaint B & Bs, even one called Kittiwake Boat and Breakfast aboard a 57 foot yacht! Camping? Of course! And we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the wineries, bison farm and the largest casino in the world, Foxwoods. So get your free CT vacation guide by visiting http://www.tourism.state.ct.us or call 1.888.CTvisit.

We look forward to meeting you here in Connecticut this summer. If you have any questions, please e-mail me at fungaloony@earthlink.net or phone 203.268.3023.