During the spring of 2013, Michael Ostrowski of South Hadley and Dianna Smith of Leeds founded the Pioneer Valley Mycological Association (PVMA) to meet the wish of individual and families in Western MA for a local mushroom club that provides education on fungi, information on identification of edible and poisonous mushrooms, free guided mushroom walks to members, lectures and other opportunities to enhance knowledge and appreciation of the fungal kingdom. 

Annual membership in the PVMA is only $15 per individual or family. Income is used to cover the costs of inviting regional guest mycologists to visit us and to pay for the club's annual membership with the North American Mycological Association (NAMA) (www.namyco.org/clubs/index.html). 

To join, download, print and fill out the PVMA membership form on the next page and mail with your check made out to the "PVMA" for $15 to the club president:  

Michael Ostrowski

27 East St.

South Hadley, MA 01075. 

We will be in touch with you by e-mail and on Facebook to let you know about upcoming weekend and weekday guided walks, illustrated mushroom talks and other events, as well as exciting and fun multi-day forays hosted by sister clubs in NY, CT and MA, which you will be eligible as a member of the PVMA to attend.

Incidentally, as a member of the PVMA, you are also eligible to become a member of NAMA at a reduced annual rate. NAMA members receive a bi-monthly 24 page newsletter featuring articles on mushrooms, cultivation, medicinal mushrooms, dyeing with fungi, toxicology reports, prize-winning photos, national forays and a host of other fascinating topics. (You can also join NAMA through PayPal at www.namyco.org/join/index.html).