@jason for identification purposes, you should get a forum that covers your area + a book. For California, these Facebook groups are great:
- The California Mushroom Identification Forum https://www.facebook.com/groups/773465569365150: identification only
- Mushroom Hunters of California https://www.facebook.com/groups/641409629313635: anything else about wild mushrooms

Then there are groups devoted to specific activities around mushrooms (eating, growing, ...) or specific mushrooms. Amanita Muscaria Science and Magic https://www.facebook.com/groups/amanitascienceandmagic is an interesting one.