About Us

At SWMS, we are passionate about educating our members on the wonders of mushrooms in the Pacific Northwest. Our focus is on teaching proper mushroom identification, which is critical for anyone interested in consuming wild mushrooms due to the potential danger of poisonous look-alikes. Our mission is to support our members in all aspects of mushroom education, including cultivation, hunting, identification, and cooking. We offer a variety of educational opportunities, including monthly meetings, mushroom forays, and other related events and activities.

Our annual election took place on February 3, 2026 during the monthly Society meeting.

This year, 2 Directors were elected for a 2-year term and next year, 3 Directors will be elected for 2-year terms. The Directors elect the Society's officers.

• President: Noel Beckford
• Vice President: George Jensen
• Secretary: open
• Treasurer: Lynn Anderson

Directors: 

• Duane McCalden
• Tom Irwin

We are a volunteer-driven organization, and we rely on the participation of our members to keep the Society running smoothly. We encourage our members to get involved in the organization and management of the Society by joining our committees, contributing their expertise, and volunteering at events. Whether you have experience in event planning, website design, fundraising, or other areas, we welcome your participation and ideas. Please contact us if you are interested in getting involved!

The SW WA Mycological Society encourages responsible and ethical mushroom foraging practices. Please refer to the Puget Sound Mycological Society's website for guidelines on personal harvesting rules.

We organize regular forays throughout the year in private, state, and national forest lands. Members will be notified of upcoming forays via email, and all participants must obtain a personal use permit and follow posted harvesting guidelines. Please note that attendance is limited to 2025 paid members of SWMS.

Do you have a suggestion for a foray location or topic? We welcome input from our members and the community. If you have an idea or recommendation, please reach out to a member of the committee.

Together, we can explore new and exciting adventures in the world of mushrooms. Contact us with your ideas or suggestions.

We're always looking for ideas for our monthly programs and welcome input from our members. Do you have a topic you would like us to cover, a question you want answered, or some expertise you would like to share? Perhaps you know someone who would be a great speaker or have information to share yourself. We encourage you to get involved and share your thoughts with our Program Committee. You can contact us with your suggestions through our Contact Us page. Together, we can make our monthly meetings informative, engaging, and fun.