At its January 2, 2025 meeting, the MSSF Council (by unanimous vote) conferred the title of “Honorary Member” (see MSSF Bylaws, Art. II, sec. 2) on the Society’s Treasurer, Pascal Pelous, and also on Ian, Kyle, Loren, and Sean Garrone, children of longtime Honorary Members John and Toby Garrone of the Garrone family, who are the owners/operators of our Society’s great benefactor and friend (and legendary mushroom growers/vendors) Far West Fungi.
 
Pascal Pelous
A familiar face among Bay Area mycologists, longtime member Pascal Pelous has given many years of service, and made substantial positive contributions, to the Mycological Society of San Francisco (and to its Council and Committees) — including by organizing and leading numerous group forays (many at far-flung locations, like Salt Point State Park), facilitating the Society's online and technical viability, and in numerous other ways generally advancing the Society’s educational mission.  In recent years most prominently, Pascal has faithfully discharged the sometimes rigorous duties of MSSF Treasurer (and related administrative duties of considerable importance in the maintenance and operation of our nonprofit educational organization).  In that capacity, Pascal spent over a year reestablishing our non-profit status after the IRS revoked it in consequence of certain administrative problems arising over the period prior to Pascal’s service.  Critically, Pascal as Treasurer maintains several financial accounts for the Society (checking, savings, CD’s, etc.) and shepherds and supports the Council annually through a detailed financial budgeting process.  Moreover, in his capacity as Treasurer Pascal has fully and faithfully supported every individual Council committee, providing financial recommendations and assistance as necessary.  And on top of all that, he’s a fabulous forager and mushroom chef who shares his insights and experience unstintingly with fellow MSSF members, mentoring newbies and enriching the hobby for all of us.  We applaud Pascal’s dedication and service and are pleased to recognize him as an Honorary Member.
 
The Garrone Family (of Far West Fungi) - Ian, Kyle, Loren and Sean Garrone
The entire Garrone family at Far West Fungi have been steadfast supporters of the Mycological Society of San Francisco for many years — aiding MSSF in its educational endeavors in numerous ways large and small:  e.g., by providing copious quantities of high-quality mushrooms (cultivated, wild, fresh and preserved) for our Fungus Fairs and other Society events at wholesale or no cost, paying the honorariums and travel fees of several local and international speakers at our past Fungus Fairs and general meetings, making available the use of their commercial kitchen to make mushroom soup (and sometimes candy cap cookies!) for the Fungus Fairs, opening up their Moss Landing farm to MSSF members for tours and group potlucks, facilitating access to their excess mushroom grow blocks for MSSF members to cultivate, and (for nearly 20 years now) providing the mushrooms to feed over the more than 150 members who attend our annual Mendocino Woodlands Camp.  The MSSF Council awarded honorary membership to the founders of Far West Fungi, John and Toby Garrone, many years ago.  In view of the family’s and their company’s generous and ongoing record of participation and support, the Council recently approved Honorary Membership in the Society for the next Garrone generation: accordingly, now Ian Garrone, Kyle Garrone, Loren Garrone, and Sean Garrone are also all Honorary Members of our Society.  We sincerely thank the Garrone family for their steadfast support over the years and look forward to a long and fruitful future of fungal collaboration.