Why should I join NATS? All NATS activities are free and open to the public. NATS members receive a periodic newsletter, postcard or email notification of upcoming events, and the peace of mind that comes with supporting the NATS mission. We have members in 27 states and 7 countries.
How do I join NATS? Annual dues are $15 for individuals (plus $10 for each additional family member), and $20 for international memberships (in US$, please). Click here for a membership form, or send a check payable to NATS, P.O. Box 296, Corvallis, OR 97339. Please include your phone number, street address, and email address. NATS membership dues (and contributions to the Henry Pavelek Sr. Scholarship Fund) are fully tax-deductable (your cancelled check is your receipt).
Hot off the press: NATS has developed an "Ethical, Sustainable and Common Sense Guide to Harvesting Truffles". By following these guidelines to protect the truffle environment and minimize harvest of immature truffles, we can help to ensure the sustainability of Oregon truffling.
A plea for truffles: Dr. Peter Kennedy of Lewis & Clark College seeks fresh specimens of Rhizopogons for his competition research. If you happen across any Rhizopogons that could be used for this research, please e-mail him at pkennedy@lclark.edu. He will arrange their pick-up or shipment and cover shipping costs. He would prefer fresh specimens, but dried specimens would also work. If you have spare time, he would also appreciate any assistance during his collecting trips during the fall.
NATS Secretary needed: NATS is seeking a volunteer to serve as Club Secretary. The Secretary is a member of the Board of Directors and is responsible for documenting meeting proceedings. Interested persons should contact Marilyn Hinds.
Upcoming Events:
January 27-29: The 7th annual Oregon Truffle Festival will be held in and around Eugene,
Oregon over three brisk winter days. Created to celebrate the magnificent Oregon truffles as they reach the peak of ripeness in their native soil,
it is the first festival of its kind in North America, dedicated to sharing the experience of the chefs, foragers and fans of Oregon's wild
truffles, from their hidden source in the forest to their glory on the table. Festival events include educational
seminars, truffle dog training, field trips, a truffle marketplace, and of course a variety of gourmet food events, culminating in the Grand Truffle Dinner.
February Foray: Saturday, February 4. To Rod Nastrom's Tree Farm, Warren, OR. From Hwy. 30 at Warren (about halfway between
Scappoose and St. Helens), head west about 2 miles on Church road, past the stopsign to a left on Turley road, then left on Woods Drive to the end,
at Milky Way. The tree farm is at 56081 Milky Way. The landowner is asking a $5 fee per adult to
cover a port-a-potty and other expenses. Meet at the site at 10am.
February Meeting: Tuesday, February 8. Speaker TBA. The meeting will be held at the
Corvallis Multicutural Literacy Center at 128 SW 9th street in Corvallis
(the big yellow house between Monroe and Madison avenues; click here for a map).
There is parking on 9th street and in the lot at the SW corner of 9th and Monroe.
General Foray Information: Forays are held the first Saturday of each month from October
through June, usually within a 60-80 mile radius of Corvallis. Forays are open to the public and everyone is welcome, whether or not they are a NATS member.
We typically meet at 10:00am and are out in the field until to mid-afternoon. Many folks bring their own cars so they can
leave when they want to, though we certainly encourage carpooling when possible.
What to Bring to Forays: Bring a lunch and dress for the weather. Bring a garden rake ("cultivator") with 4-5 widely spaced tines if you have one; if you don't there are usually extras.
General Meeting Information: Meetings are held at 7:30pm on the Tuesday following the first Saturday of the month (the first Saturday of the month is the normal foray date). Meetings are held at the Corvallis Multicutural Literacy Center at 128 SW 9th street in Corvallis (the big yellow house between Monroe and Madison avenues; click here for a map). There is parking on 9th street and in the dirt lot at the SW corner of 9th and Monroe.
For more information, additions, or corrections, please e-mail the trufflemaster.
