The first lady president of the Mushroom Club

The lively Hünenberger Iréne Peyer has clear visions for the future and wants to bring a breath of fresh air to the club.

“Alois Weingand informed the attendees what was required from various parties: that a club for mushroom science (Verein für Pilzkunde)  should be founded here in Cham. The way to Zug is too far for many people. Those present were asked for their view, and everyone was in favour of the foundation of an association for mushroom science," states the founding protocol of the Mushroom Association Cham (Pilzverein Cham), dated 1945. The association was founded by six gentlemen from Ennetsee, who finally elected Alois Weingand as president at the founding meeting. Although the number of male members still surpasses that of the female members, the president of the association is now a woman, after eleven male presidents. Iréne Peyer from Hünenberg is the first president in the 75 years of the club's history.

Irene Peyer used to go "mushrooming" with her mother as a little girl. "I went on a mushroom hunt with a colleague three years ago by chance and I felt the attraction once again, so to speak," recalls Peyer. Some time later she found out about the Mushroom Club Cham through a Zug mushroom inspector(Pilzkontrolleur). And two years later, she was proposed for the presidency, which she finally accepted, after initially turning it down. "I was a bit sceptical at first, because my mycological knowledge is rather small in contrast to other members. But they encouraged me to take it on. Everyone also thought having a woman president was cool," says the 58-year-old, who, together with her partner, has been running a small farm with two horses in Hünenberg for 13 years. The closeness to nature and the love of the forest was anchored through her profession as a florist. The President is also constantly working on her expertise in mushrooms. Learning to distinguish the various species took her through half of Europe.

Irene Peyer, Mushroom Club Cham president, with a Hexen-Röhrling (lurid bolete/ suillellus luridus).

A virus you can't get rid of
The club were not only be concerned about the expertise, but also with the conviviality, the joy of the topic and, above all, the representation of this specific association. "I have revised our club portrait: we want to be more present at future occasions and exhibitions, and to also to be more active on social media," says Irene Peyer, revealing her "visions for the future". This means that new and young members should find their way to the Cham Mushroom Club: "Our youngest member is in his early 30s and the oldest is over 80 years old. Perhaps there’s a certain age from which people discover the joy of mushroom picking.”

The fascination for the fungus is like a virus that can no longer be rid of: "There are fungal species that change colour in seconds after being cut or when scratched." You also get a lot of exercise while collecting, for example on the Zugerberg or in the Hürital in Unterägeri, and training in balance also comes into play. Irene Peyer sometimes goes collecting up to three times a week, preferably after rainy days. It may also happen that you come home with an empty basket. "And if I'm not sure about a variety, I go to the mushroom control (Pilzkontrolle) in Zug and have my find checked."