Topic: MahJong Organizations

Hello, everyone. My name is Rodney. I moved from Florida to Portland, OR several years ago. I've always been an avid player of MahJong (in all its forms), Shogi, Go, etc. etc. and, searching for MahJong players in my new city proved to be a challenge. Actually, Portland has quite a large Asian community and, several "private" MahJong parlors. The problem was, they aren't very publicized and, if you don't know someone already involved with them, don't have a great history of being very welcoming to the non-Asian player.

I eventually came across the social networking website meetup.com. If you're not familiar with them, it's basically a place for finding local, like-minded people, with the intention of meeting face-to-face. I saw that there were 40+ people in the area that had signed up on the site to be contacted if and when, a MahJong group was started. So, on August 1 2008, I laid down the fees to start a group and sat back to see if anyone else wanted to play some MahJong. Around eight people showed up for that first meeting. Six of them, had never played before so, I introduced them to the basics. How to chow, pung, kong, and MahJong. I figured scoring would come later. Now, rapidly approaching our second year anniversary, we have over 260 members, scheduled games twice a week. As well as, a network of players that will often set up their own, non-scheduled games at a moment's notice.

Over the past 20 months, the majority of the Portland MahJong Society will usually end up playing the World Series of MahJong's tournament rules. I think they tend to find the scoring system easy to understand and, for many of the casual players, they work just fine. However, we have regular players in just about every Asian style as well as, several "American" MahJong players. I play "American" but, not regularly and, usually only when the "American" players that have attended a meeting need a fourth. I feel the rigid score card system doesn't allow for the excitement and rush I get when playing other versions. My MahJong of choice has always been Riichi (originally learned because, all of your imported Japanese mahjong video games play it) and, I have my usual weekly group that comes over to play. However, at the request of several PMJS members, I'm starting to teach more Riichi. I own Jenn Barr's book and, usually recommend it to people that I'm teaching to. I tracked down her website the other day and, found information about USPML. Needless to say, I'm very excited. I look forward to following the USPML's development, becoming an active member of this website and, using their rules and guidelines for all of our PMJS tournaments.

With that in mind, are there any plans in the works for ways that MahJong clubs and organizations can become "Official Members" of the USPML or, for individuals to become certified by the USPML for hosting Riichi tournaments and such? I know you're based out of the NY area but, the love for MahJong knows no bounds. You'll eventually need to spread out to the West Coast and, when you do… The Portland MahJong Society wants to not only be involved.. but, certified, too. You may have answers to some of this in the rest of the forums but, I'm pretty much posting this after joining the site. If this is the case, you can expect another post from me shortly entitled, "D'oh!"

Personally, I've played MahJong for over 20 years and have a lust and passion for this game that, many of my friends find borderline scary. I am an artist with backgrounds in advertising, graphic arts, and illustration. I have interests in all of your basic nerd-like topics such as, computers, video games, Star Wars, Star Trek, board games, D&D, etc. etc. I have hemophilia, am disabled, and have been in an electric mobility device for years. This leaves me plenty of time for MahJong and, if not setting up a face-to-face game with some friends, I can be found playing at MahJong Club, MahJongTime, or (my personal favorite) on an imported copy of Janline-R on my Playstation 3. I am proud to call myself a geek. Geeks are creative, intelligent, calculating problem solvers and, that sounds like the perfect MahJong player to me.

- Rodney -

Portland MahJong Society

Hi Rodney,

It's great to hear from another MahJong group and I'm definitely interested in discussing working together!  I'll send you an email directly to discuss.

Of, course, any of the USPML members that would like to, are welcomed to sign up for the Portland MahJong Soceity. We may not be neighbors but, we're all in the brotherhood of MahJong. Keep an eye on what we're doing on the West Coast then, once the USPML and PMJS grow large enough to connect, (somewhere around South Dakota, is my guess) we'll already be BFF's.


Just hit the link below our logo there and, check us out.