NAMA Foray 2004: Ashville, NC
This is a first!
NAMA will hold its 2004 annual foray in conjunction with the Mycological Society of America in Asheville, NC on Thursday, July 15th - Sunday, July 18th. The foray will be at the University of North Carolina at Asheville campus, in the heart of the city. In addition to all of the programs, forays and workshops which NAMA is offering, NAMA members will have the opportunity to remain for the full MSA conference at their own expense. Several joint activities are being planned with MSA. A keynote symposium on southern Appalachian biodiversity will be jointly hosted by NAMA, MSA and the Discovering Life in America program operating in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Numerous book sellers, vendors and displays will also be present.
Some of the NAMA speakers scheduled to date for the foray include Orson Miller, Gary Lincoff, Walt Sundberg, Walt Sturgeon, Bill Roody, Coleman McClenaghan, Glenn Freeman, John Plischke III, Tom Volk, Greg Mueller and Andy Methven. We are very fortunate to have Bart Buyck from Paris who will be in the country studying Russulas of the southeastern US and will enlighten us all on this extremely variable genus. Workshops will include cooking, dying & papermaking, photography, toxicology, microscopy, a beginners workshop and foray and many others. We will as usual be treated to the Mycophagy committee's wonderful mushroom dishes on Saturday. Some of the presentations will address the history of NAMA, Southern Habitats, Diversity of Southern Appalachian Fungi, an ATBI symposium and a Common Names symposium as well as others not yet confirmed.
The North Carolina forays have consistently garnered large numbers of diverse fungi. At least twice the number has exceeded 500 different species collected. With the city of Asheville surrounded by the Pisgah National Forest and the Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains National Park close at hand, there are ample opportunities for good hunting.
The University of North Carolina - Asheville campus is located about 2 miles from downtown Asheville. Public transportation is available through the Asheville Transit Authority. There is also a local bus service run by the city of Asheville that services the campus. All activities will be on campus within buildings encircling the campus square providing level ground and easy walking between venues. Lodging will be in the university dormitories which are double occupancy rooms. All meals will be catered and special dietary concerns can be accomodated.
In addition to on-campus housing, there are numerous motels and campgrounds within a short drive from campus. It should be pointed out that Asheville is a major tourist destination and those wishing to commute to the site should attempt to confirm off-campus reservations early. Numerous tourist and historical attractions are within a short drive from the campus including the Biltmore Estate (the largest private home ever built in America), the famous Grove Park Inn, the Cradle of Forestry and the North Carolina Arboretum just to name a few. While here you should plan to enjoy these wonderful side trips. Information on these and other sites will be provided.
The Asheville airport (AVL) is serviced by several airlines, including USAir, Delta, and Continental. Other airports within driving distance are Knoxville, TN (TYS, 2.5 hrs), Charlotte, NC (CLT, 2 hrs), Greensboro, NC (GSO, 3 hrs) and Raleigh-Durham, NC (RDU, 4 hrs).
On Monday, July 12 - Thursday, July 15 MSA will be hosting a Bioblitz on both the NC and TN sides of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in conjunction with the Discovery Life Program and the All Taxon Biological Inventory (ATBI). MSA will have an "all-day foray" on Saturday, July 17th. A limited number of NAMA members may sign up for this foray in lieu of participating in the forays, workshops and programs which NAMA will be offering on Saturday (see registration form). MSA is also offering workshops on Cordyceps, Polypores, Russulaceae and Slime Molds, just to name a few, which NAMA members may participate in. NAMA members may stay on, at their own expense (tenatively on campus), for the remainder of the MSA programs through Wednesday, July 21st. Any NAMA members interested in the Bioblitz or attending the MSA programs after the NAMA foray may contact the MSA. A joint Saturday evening barbeque with NAMA and MSA is being planned on campus. Where else will you have the opportunity to gather with nearly 500 mycologists?
Additional information will be forthcoming in the Mycophile. Lodging at the UNC-Asheville campus will be limited so be sure to register early for this very special occasion.
Registration
To register for the foray:
- Registration Form (PDF)
Directions