Bonnie Goldman
Mah Jongg is a very popular game at SaddleBrooke Ranch (SBR). We have many players who are new to the game and people who have played for years. Prior to COVID, there were weekly games played (and sometimes lessons given) on Thursdays in La Hacienda Club, coordinated by Gail Latimer and Bonnie Goldman. Multiple private groups have weekly games played in their homes.
All of us play with an annual card, published by the National Mah Jongg League (NMJL). The card contains all of the official hands that can be played that year. This will be the sixth year that I will place an SBR group order to the NMJL. For every card in the order, they donate $5 plus bonuses to our charity, the SaddleBrooke Community Outreach organization.
Last year, more than 250 people participated and ordered their cards through me. This order was submitted under the name “SaddleBrooke Ranch Mah Jongg Players.” I received a check for $1,350 (a new record!) from the NMJL, which we donated to Saddlebrooke Community Outreach in a check presented to President Denise Anthony in October.
Because this project has been so successful, I will again coordinate ordering the 2024 cards for SBR residents and others who wish to participate.
I will start collecting money for the cards a little later than last year. This is not a problem. They will not process payments and requests for cards any earlier than last year, and my collection dates are perfectly in tune with NMJL’s requests for order deadlines. Those of us who are “collectors” get priority over individual card purchases. No one gets their cards sent out until the end of March or even the first week in April. So, there is no rush to get the orders into the system any earlier than my last collection date.
The price for a large print card is $15 and the price for a standard print card is $14.
Starting on Jan. 18 until Jan. 31, there will be a box inside my front security screen at 61387 E. Arbor Basin Dr. where you can drop off your cash or check payment. Please make out the check to me, and I will send one big check to the NMJL. Please just enter, no need to ring the doorbell, unless the security gate is locked. I will be locking it after dark each day and opening it in the mornings. Please call me if we somehow don’t coordinate this at 520-818-3759 or email me at [email protected]. I must receive your order and payment before Jan. 31. If you are not in the SBR HOA online directory and did not order from me last year, please include your mailing address. If you did order from me last year and have changed your address, please let me know. The NMJL uses last year’s order as a reference. The cards will be directly mailed to you from the NMJL in the last few days of March. If you are putting in an order for a group of people, please provide the names and addresses of the members so that I can enter them individually on the order and they will receive their cards and the catalog for next year.
Please let me know if you have any questions. Happy holidays! Thanks!