SVIMS AGM 2019

The next SVIMS meeting, besides being a regular meeting with a speaker (see poster below), is also the AGM, the annual general meeting.

Place: PACIFIC FORESTRY CENTRE (PFC)
506 West Burnside Road,
Saanich,BC  V8Z 4N9

Time:  December 5, 2019, 7:00-9:00 PM

(A big thanks to Richard Winder and Tony Trofymow for continuing to supervise our use of the meeting facilities at the Pacific Forestry Centre, as also to the Centre itself for the use of their facilities for the past year.)

Please try to attend about 10-15 minutes prior to the meeting in order to check in and update memberships. Only members in good standing are able to vote.  Also, do not forget to return all library material.

BUSINESS

Action: for approval of minutes of last AGM.

Reports:

  • President (Andy MacKinnon)
  • Treasurer (Kurt Raeder). The treasurer’s report from Kurt is to be accompanied by documentation of the 2018 year end financials and an interim report till November 30th 2019. These will be available for review and circulation at the meeting.
  • Membership Coordinator (Gillian Phillips).

Action: for approval of the Treasurer’s report without an audit.

Updates:

  • October Cowichan foray( Kurt Raeder)
  • the Mushroom show (Andrew Anderson)
  • the upcoming Survivor’s Banquet and Auction (Mel Hess)
  • the library (Jeff Wright),
  • Fungifama and the movie event of Fantastic Fungi (Mel Hess)
  • the Calendar status ( Mabel Jean Rawlins)
  • the Chinese dinner (Adolf Ceska)
  • the Facebook page( Kevin Trim).
  • upcoming 2020 speakers (Kem Luther)
  • status of new website (Ian Gibson and Kem Luther)
  • foray policy (David Walde). The Foray Policy and associated documents were revised and implemented earlier this year at the Cowichan foray. This will need adjustments yearly as necessary to meet our insurance coverage requirements.

Thank you to Isabelle Grenon and François Duruisseau (Hospitality Committee) and Tabitha Jones (billeting) for their untiring service to SVIMS.

Special motion:  

  • “To include a special category of membership recognition: A Lifetime Membership in recognition of outstanding service and distinction to the South Vancouver Island Mycological Society (SVIMS). This will entitle the awarded members to all the same privileges of membership but without payments of dues. The board will have the responsibility for approval of any such membership. 

Action: for approval, special motion

ELECTION OF A NEW BOARD

The present board: 

  • President – Andy MacKinnon
  • Vice President – Melanie Hess
  • Secretary — David Walde
  • Treasurer—Kurt Raeder
  • Membership secretary and coordinator —Gillian Phillips
  • Directors at large: Lise Gagnon, Rolf Mayrhofer, Andrew Anderson

The board would like to see the number of directors at large increase to 5 positions.

The Board strongly encourages nominations from the membership for all of the above positions. (You can even nominate yourself.)

Information pertaining to any of the above positions can be requested from David Walde at davidwalde@icloud.com.

All nominations must be seconded at the meeting before being put to a vote by a show of hands by the members in good standing. The floor can request that the vote for any position be cast by ballot. Nominations will be accepted up to the time of the vote for each position.

Once the new officers are elected, all the present board members will resign their present positions, followed by a signing in of the newly elected board.

That will conclude the business part of the meeting.

SHORT REFRESHMENT BREAK

RAFFLE DRAW

Raffle people will continue to sell tickets up to this point.

SPEAKER

Our speaker of the month is our one and only Shannon Berch. See poster below.

Fantastic Screening

A capacity crowd of almost three hundred people turned up at the University of Victoria’s Cinecenta at 10 am on Sunday, November 17, 2019, for the Victoria debut screening of the Fantastic Fungi documentary.

President Andy introduced the film and fielded questions afterward.

A big thanks to V-president Mel and her team for putting together this successful fundraiser.

 

 

Two of the team, Sandie and grandaughter, sell raffle tickets for the upcoming December AGM draw.

Screening of Fantastic Fungi

SVIMS is hosting the documentary “Fantastic Fungi.” 

In this film, Gary Lincoff, Paul Stamets and many other mycologists and professionals share their wealth of knowledge and perspectives relating to fungi and our Mother Earth and everything on it.

The film trailer can be viewed at:

https://youtu.be/bxABOiay6oA

When?  

November 17th

Where?

Cinecenta, University of Victoria, Student Union Building.

Time?

10:00 AM

Tickets? 

Online until November 16th, at:

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/fantastic-fungi-tickets-79375555423

If not sold out, then 45 minutes prior to showing tickets will be sold at door of theatre. If you are planning to buy tickets at the door, contact Melanie Hess the morning of Nov 17 to see if tickets are available.

Price?

22$ + fees/tax.

“Fantastic Fungi takes us on an immersive journey into the magical earth beneath our feet: an underground network with the potential to heal and save our planet. Through the eyes of renowned scientists and mycologists like Paul Stamets, best-selling authors Michael Pollan, Eugenia Bone, Andrew Weil and others, we become aware of the beauty, intelligence and solutions the fungi kingdom offers us in response to some of our most pressing medical, therapeutic, and environmental challenges.When so many are struggling for connection, inspiration and hope, Fantastic Fungi brings us together as interconnected creators of our world. * Imagine an organism that feeds you, heals you, reveals secrets of the universe and could help save the planet. ‘Fantastic Fungi’ is a revelatory time-lapse journey, from 2019 Maui Film Festival Visionary Award honoree and director Louie Schwartzberg, about the magical, mysterious and medicinal world of fungi and their power to heal, sustain and contribute to the regeneration of life on Earth that began 3.5 billion years ago. Better yet, you’ll see it through the eyes of mycologists, like renowned Paul Stamets talking about the unlimited potential of fungi in the fields of food, medicine, expanding consciousness, bioremediation, neurogenesis and treating end-of-life anxiety. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.”

SVIMS Mushroom Show 2019

The SVIMS mushroom show took place on Sunday, November 3, at the Cordova Bay 55 Plus Centre. Another rolicking good time for visitors and SVIMS members. (Click on pictures to enlarge)

Over 600 visitors came by during the 6 hours of the show. You can see a short video report on CHEK news at this location (starts at 5:54). CHEK also has a written report with pictures.

 

Ringmaster Andrew directs the three ring extravaganza
Hundreds of mushrooms laid out, labeled, and awaiting hundreds of visitors
Calendar woman Mary Jane and Secretary Gillian woman offer guests two bargains: SVIMS membership and the SVIMS calendar
David shows a showstopper: Sandie's King Bolete
Oluna and her friendly smile work the table where guests bring in their mushrooms for identification.
A table of crafts for the younger guests
Vice president Mel and President of Vice Sinclair field questions about edible and toxic mushrooms
President Andy responds to questions from one of the hundreds of guests
Duane Sept sells and signs his books, including the popular Common Mushrooms of the Northwest
Among the vendors and display, a wonderful sampling of mushroom-dyed fibres
John and Renata explain about non-gilled mushrooms
Richard answers deep and complex mycological queries, such as "Can I eat it?"
Four crowded talks at the show; people are lined up 5 deep outside the hall to hear Andy's talk on the Death Cap mushroom
A visitor shows off the best mushroom t-shirt of the day

Some of the mushrooms on display.

The main display room: a noisy, crowded, joyful, educational place.