In response to the dramatic increase in COVID-19 (coronavirus) cases in Ontario in recent days, the MST's Board of Directors has made the difficult decision to cancel the remainder of the fall foray season in order to help ensure the safety of our members and volunteers.
We know that this is deeply disappointing for all our members, especially new members who have not yet had the chance to participate in a foray.
But the MST isn't going anywhere; at nearly 900 members, we're stronger than ever. We're training a new corps of foray leader volunteers, and we'll be in an excellent position to offer a very strong foray season as soon as it's safe. And we're lining up a great slate of online meetings and courses for the fall and winter.
There's still lots of value in your MST membership, but if you'd prefer to cancel your membership and join again at a better time, we understand. If you joined in August or September, the MST is happy to refund your membership fees without a penalty. Please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you would like to cancel your membership.
What can I do?
Want to make the most of your MST membership until the next foray season? Want to help the MST? Here are some ideas:
Watch your email for announcements about meetings and courses.
Sign up for training as a foray leader volunteer, and help make the next season a success. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for details.
The mushrooms are still out there! Venture out to our foray locations in small safe groups.
Get one of the MST's recommended guidebooks and try to identify the specimens you bring home.
Still not sure what you've got? Post the photo in our identification forum and ask the experts.
Thank you for your continued support of the MST. Great members are what keep us a strong organization. We look forward to seeing you online!
Please feel free to contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. at any time if you have any questions or concerns.
The 2020 fall foray season is upon us, and the foray schedule has been finalized. This year’s schedule will be a bit different from previous years, but with everyone’s cooperation we expect to have a great season.
The season is starting later than normal as we have been developing COVID-19 protocols, and training a fantastic group of new foray volunteers. We have had a great response from members wishing to help and volunteer at forays, and this has helped make the fall season possible. The Board and our foray volunteers have developed a plan that will allow everyone to participate safely and with confidence.
This year’s forays are different
Due to COVID-19, we have made some changes to forays to make sure our members and volunteers stay safe and healthy:
We’ve scheduled forays only for September so far. If all goes well at the September forays, we’ll add more in October
Forays will be limited to 30 people, and all participants will need to register ahead of time on the MST website
Participants will need to check in on their phones when they arrive at forays
Foray registration
Registration for each foray will open 1 week before the foray date at 12pm, except for the first two forays on September 12th and 13th. Since these are quite soon, registration for them will open on September 8th at 12pm.
We hope that this will allow members to be sure of their ability to attend, and give everyone a fair chance to register. If you are unable to attend after you have registered, please remember to cancel your registration so the space becomes available for other members.
We have also developed a new online check-in procedure for attendees when they arrive at the foray site. Foray volunteers will be on site to assist you with this process if any help is required. The online check in process has been developed to limit contact of shared pens, paper sign-in form, etc. This will also help us with contact tracing if that becomes necessary, and emergency contacting if anyone becomes injured or lost.
The success of this year’s forays will depend on everyone’s cooperation and ability to follow mask and social distancing guidelines. A mask will be required for all group activities at the foray. You will not be able to participate in the orientation or mushroom identification portions of the foray unless you are wearing a mask. This year a mask will need to be a part of your foray kit along with your basket and whistle.
If you have any questions about forays please visit our foray help page at at https://myctor.org/u9m or direct your inquiries to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
The foray location map and driving directions to the forays are available to members after signing in. All MST members have an account to access the members-only sections of the website. If you don't remember your password, request a password reset at https://www.myctor.org/forgotPassword - or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
We wish everyone a safe and successful Fall foray season.
The Annual General Meeting of the Mycological Society of Toronto will be held this year on Wednesday, September 9th at 7:30pm.
At the Annual Meeting the financial statements from the previous year are reviewed, resolutions for the upcoming year are decided, and MST members elect the incoming Board of Directors.
Under normal circumstances the MST's Annual Meeting is held in April. However, we have been granted an extension by Corporations Canada under the Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (decision no. D-158/20) to delay this year's AGM to find a safe way to bring everyone together while minimizing the chances of exposing anyone to Covid-19.
We have a fantastic AGM planned for you!
Easy to access with lots of tech support from a company that we have hired to produce our meeting
No shirt or shoes required
Fabulous prizes and games (trivia, mushroom photo ID contest and a door prize of one (1) fifty dollar ($50) Amazon gift card
Participate in the board election
Efficient – we are going to keep the meeting around 45 minutes, so have your whole evening free afterwards!
Remember, this is *your* MST. All members have a voice and a vote - so if you have an interest in shaping the activities and the future direction of the MST, please attend! We're looking forward to seeing as many members, old and new, as possible at this year's Annual Meeting.
Important: You can just call in to listen to the meeting, but you would not be able to vote, which will be done by poll. Please remember that there is 1 vote per family membership. Feel free to have the other members of your family join the meeting if they don’t want to gather around one device, but please designate 1 person to participate in the vote.
Canadian Webinar Solutions will be our tech support for this meeting. If you are having trouble joining, please contact them directly at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. • 1 (844) 992-2297
Agenda
President’s Address
Trivia Question 1
Financial statement & audit committee report, membership fees for 2020 – 2021. To review this information before the meeting, please visit https://www.myctor.org/financials-2020
Trivia Question 2
Election
Preamble & Procedure - Polls
Review of election slate
Open nominations from the floor
Election
Mushroom ID E-mail Contest Winners with Kathy Vatcher
Door Prize
Q & A
Games & Prizes
Trivia - Be the first to call 1 (416) 649-8918 with the correct answer to win a prize!
Mushroom ID Contest - e-mail your best original mushroom/fungi picture to Kathy Vatcher at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by September 5th 2020 at midnight (12:00am) Eastern
Door prize – a $50 Amazon Gift Card will be given to a random participant at the end of the session; you must be online in the meeting to win
The Annual General Meeting of the Mycological Society of Toronto will be held this year on Wednesday, September 9th.
At the Annual Meeting the financial statements from the previous year are reviewed, resolutions for the upcoming year are decided, and MST members elect the incoming Board of Directors.
Under normal circumstances the MST's Annual Meeting is held in April. However, we have been granted an extension by Corporations Canada under the Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (decision no. D-158/20) to delay this year's AGM.
The results from our member survey in July were strongly in favour of holding virtual meetings online due to the ongoing Covid-19 situation, and so the September 9th Annual Meeting will be held online. Further details, the meeting agenda, and connection instructions will be sent to members via email in August.
