Mah jongg tourney raising money for Upper Highland Lakes Nature Center
Woodturner Erik Peterson (left) prepares to create another bowl or vessel for the mah jongg tournament benefitting the Upper Highland Lakes Nature Center on Oct. 15. Diane Danner (center) and Jerry Schappe hold up two that Peterson has already crafted. Peterson is donating the new bowl to the tournament's silent auction. Individuals and businesses interested in donating items to the auction may call Linda Vitas at (512) 755-5122 or Susan Stacy at (830) 798-8464. Courtesy photo by Kay Herring
DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE EDITOR
MEADOWLAKES — An ancient Chinese game that arrived in the United States in the 1920s is coming to the aid of the Upper Highland Lakes Nature Center.
The second annual mah jongg tournament is Oct. 15 at the Hidden Falls Golf Club restaurant, 220 Meadowlakes Drive. Last year, the competition drew about 45 players.
“We raised around $3,000 for the center,” said Carol Parker, a tournament organizer and mah jongg player. “We also have a silent auction along with the tournament to help out the nature center.”
The Upper Highland Lakes Nature Center at Reveille Peak Ranch, located west of Burnet off FM 2341 at 105 CR 114, was created to help people gain an understanding and appreciation of the outdoors and natural resources. The center provides educational and outreach opportunities for people of all ages. The plan includes for the center to have teaching collections and classrooms as well as interpretive trails that wind through the 1,300-acre ranch.
Parker said the idea for the fundraiser came about when Bill Hutson, one of the visionaries behind the nature center, decided to learn how to play mah jongg.
As Hutson began to learn the game, somebody suggested a mah jongg tournament as a benefit for the nature center, Parker said.
Mah jonng dates to the Confucius era of China. It’s a game played with tiles but has the feel of a card game.
“We play an American version, which is a lot different than the Chinese game,” Parker said. “It came to the States in the 1920s, and, in 1937, the National Mah Jongg League formed.”
Under the American version, the league annually sends out a “card” that outlines the hands competitors can use for the year. The game is played with tiles instead of playing cards, but it has been described as “rummy like.”
“We can only make those hands that appear on the ‘card,'” Parker said.
While the game might be generally unknown, mah jongg has a big following. The national league started with only 32 members, but that number has increased to more than 350,000.
“There are tournaments that happen all the time,” Parker said. “I’m amazed at the number of people in the area who play mah jongg. You can go out every week and find people playing it.”
People interested in competing in the upcoming tournament benefitting the nature center may email Parker at carolparker@sbcglobal.net or call her at (830) 598-6762. Registration is $45, which due by Oct. 6. The check (made out to the Upper Highland Lakes Nature Center) may be sent to Parker at 102 Kimble Court, Horseshoe Bay, TX 78657.
Tournament organizers also are looking for more silent auction items. People or businesses interested in donating items may call Linda Vitas at (512) 755-5122 or Susan Stacy at (830) 798-8464.
daniel@thepicayune.com