FUN AND FUNDRAISER
MENDOCINOMah Jongg
Combat trafficking of young Vietnamese girls by supporting
their education – a tax-deductible Rotary District 5170 project
SECURING YOUR SPOT IS EASY AS 1, 2, 3!
1) Decide if you want to play in the Tournament or if you’d rather engage in Social Play.
2) Click below to pay online. The fee for Tournament play is $250 or Social play fee is $125. Please enter the proper amount on the Paypal screen.
3) Complete our Registration form for the option you chose and paid for.
Each registration includes a $75 tax-deductible charitable contribution. The Rotary District 5170 Foundation Federal Identification Number is 94-3016176. Registration fees are not refundable. If you decide not to attend, for any reason, you are welcome to find a replacement player to take your place; please advise us of the name and contact information for your substitute player.
For additional information about registration, contact us at MendocinoMahJongg@gmail.com
HISTORY
We held the first Mendocino Mah Jongg Fundraiser in March 2020 at Little River Inn’s Abalone Hall right before things turned upside down. Players kicked off 3 days of play, some from as far away as Boston. We learned about the Rotary D5170 Vietnam Project that we were there to support with our favorite game. In February 2023, we came together again to play over a rainy three days, snug by a well-tended fire within the full view of the beautiful Pacific Ocean. Attendees participated in a mini-tournament, silent auction, raffles, vendors and programs by Rotary and Toby Salk. We so enjoyed ourselves playing together in person again!
In 2024 we returned to Little River Inn and spent three spectacular days of blue bird skies and warm weather. The fun returned with special programs, mini-Mah Jongg Tournaments, open play sessions, vendors and games, all to support our project of fundraising for the Rotary D5170 Vietnam Project to combat sex trafficking of Vietnamese girls by providing support to maintain their education.
STAYING AT THE LITTLE RIVER INN
For a Special accommodation rate at Little River Inn 7901 CA – 1, Little River Inn, CA, reserve your room directly online at Little River Inn or call 1 – 888 – INN – LOVE (1-888-466-5683).
If booking online use the Access Code Lovemahj or if calling mention the Mah Jongg fundraiser to get your special rate.
A charge of $7.00/day/attendee is added to cover coffee/tea service each day. To avoid daily beverage fee for non-playing partner, do not enter them in the number of persons in room reservation.
If your partner is not a player, they can enjoy golf, the Spa, the Botanical Gardens, Redwood Forest hiking and beach walks along the picturesque northern California coast.
2025 SCHEDULE
Sunday, February 23, 2025
2 pm -10:00 pm Social Play (All day, every day)
4:00 pm Little River Inn check-in
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm Welcome Wine and Cheese
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm Dinner on your own. If you plan to dine at Little River Inn (LRI), please make a reservation.
7:30 pm – 8:30 pm Alice Shelton presents “How to Play in a Tournament & How I Won!”
8:30 pm – 9:30 pm Mini-tournament is optional, please bring $10 cash to pay onsite. (Theme: Let’s warm-up!)
Monday, February 24, 2025
Breakfast – On your own. A full breakfast is available at Little River Inn. The dining room is open from 8:00 am to 9:30 am weekdays and room service is offered between 8:00 am – 9:30 am.
8:00 am – 10:00 pm Social Play (All day, every day)
10:00 am – 12:30 pm Tournament (rounds 1 & 2)
12:30 pm – 1:45 pm Box Lunch option at Abalone Room- $15.00 cash or Lunch on your own.
2:00 pm – 4:15 pm Tournament (rounds 3 & 4)
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm Toby Salk presentation: “Mah Jongg in Pop Culture”
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm Dinner on your own. If you plan to dine at Little River Inn, please make a reservation.
7:30 pm – 9:45 pm Tournament (rounds 5 & 6)
Approximately 9:50 pm Movie Night (for the night owls!)
Tuesday, February 25, 2025
Breakfast – On Your Own. A Full Breakfast is available at Little River Inn. The dining room is open from 8:00 am to 9:30 am weekdays and room service is offered between 8:00 am – 9:30 am.
8:00 am – 10:00 pm Social Play (All day, every day)
10:00 am – 12:15 pm Tournament (rounds 7 & 8)
12:30 pm – 1:45 pm Box Lunch option at Abalone Room $15.00 cash or Lunch on your own.
2:00 pm – 5:20 pm Tournament (rounds 9, 10 & 11)
5:30 pm – 6:00 pm Mini Sets and Dice Museum of Mah Jongg Presentation by Toby Salk
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm Dinner on your own. If you plan to dine at Little River Inn please make a reservation.
7:30 pm – 8:30 pm Tournament (round 12)
8:45 pm – 9:45 pm Mini-tournament is optional, please bring $10 cash to pay onsite. (Theme: Pajama Night!)
Wednesday, February 26, 2025
Breakfast – On Your Own. A Full Breakfast is available at Little River Inn. The dining room is open from 8:00 am to 9:30 am weekdays and room service is offered between 8:00 am – 9:30 am.
8:00 am – 2 pm Social Play
10 am Little River Inn checkout time
10:15 am – 11:15 am Mini-tournament is optional, please bring $10 cash to pay onsite. (Theme: Fashionable Mah Jongg!)
12 noon Announcement of Winners and Awarding of Prizes!
2025 PROGRAMS
Social Play – Available all day, every day!
Sunday 5:00 pm Wine & Cheese Welcome Reception
We will meet and greet each other over wine, snacks and beverages. Rotarian Sue McKinney and volunteer Chloe Liekhus will tell us how our project protects vulnerable girls from traffickers and guides them to a safe and productive future. Matching funds double the impact of your donation. Click here to hear directly from Ms. Nga Nguyen, a stellar example of
our project’s success.
Sunday 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm “How to Play in a Mah Jongg Tournament & How I Won!”
Tournament Director Alice Shelton will present a mini lesson on how to play in a tournament (without feeling intimidated). Having directed dozens of Mah Jongg tournaments over the years and as first-place winner of the 2024 Sacramento tournament, Alice will answer your questions about tournament rules, scoring, etiquette and strategy. This will serve as an orientation session for new tournament players, especially for those who may be curious about trying out a mini tournament for the first time. Experienced tournament players are encouraged to attend to help us welcome the new players and to brush up on Alice’s tournament rules.
Sunday 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm Mini-Tournament (Theme: Let’s warm-up!)
This first mini-tournament will be a nice opportunity to practice new skills. This is a chance to warm up for the cumulative tournament starting the next day! To play, please bring $10 cash. Half of the registration fees will be donated to the Rotary District 5170 Vietnam Project and half will be awarded as prizes. Tournament players and social players are welcome to participate in the mini-tournament.
Bonus: Players who attend the 7:30 pm orientation session will earn an extra joker for the first game! Have fun warming up!
Monday 10 am through Tuesday 8:30 pm Mah Jongg Tournament (12 rounds)
Please register in advance for our 12-round cumulative tournament, directed by Alice Shelton. Alice had served as tournament director at our first Mendocino Mah Jongg event in 2020. After a hiatus during the pandemic, Alice is happy to return to Mendocino in 2025 to help us raise funds for Rotary’s Vietnam Project. With a $600 grand prize, cash prizes for the top ten players, and cash prizes for each of the 12 one hour rounds, the 60 tournament spots will likely sell out quickly.
Monday Night 5 pm to 6 pm “Mah Jongg in Pop Culture”
Come hear Toby Salk’s lively presentation about where Mah Jongg can be seen, heard and felt in Pop Culture.
Monday Night is Movie Night!
After the tournament ends (approximately 9:50 pm) night owls can join us for a movie. We’ll bring the popcorn and candy! Players are welcome to quietly play a social game during the film, if they like.
Tuesday Night 5:30 pm to 6 pm Toby’s Curation of exquisite Mah Jongg mini sets and dice
Toby’s grandmother, mother and aunts all played Mah Jongg when she was kicking in her mother’s womb. She currently teaches and lectures in private homes, ladies’ clubs and at Rancho La Puerta, Mexico. A long-time collector, she restores and sells vintage sets. Don’t miss Toby’s wonderful and wacky presentation.
Tuesday 8:45 pm to 9:45 pm Mini Tournament (Theme: Pajama Night!)
To play, please bring $10 cash. Half of the registration fees will be donated to the Rotary District 5170 Vietnam Project – and half will be awarded as prizes. Tournament players and social players are all welcome to participate in the mini-tournament.
Bonus: Players who participate in our theme by wearing sleep attire will earn an extra joker for the first game! This includes: pajamas, nightgowns, nightshirts, robes, sweats, slippers, hair curlers, etc. Be comfy and have fun!
Wednesday 10:15 am to 11:15 am Mini-Tournament (Theme: Fashionable Mah Jongg!)
To play, please bring $10 cash. Half of the registration fees will be donated to the Rotary District 5170 Vietnam Project – and half will be awarded as prizes. Tournament players and social players are all welcome to participate in the mini-tournament.
Bonus: Players who wear anything Mah Jongg related will earn an extra joker for the first game! This includes: any Mah Jongg jewelry or any clothing items with a Mah Jongg print, or a flower print, or a dragon print, or Chinese characters, or polka dots, or any items that are red or green or white (the color of our favorite dragons). Have fun being a Mah Jongg fashionista!
QUESTIONS? Please drop us a line at MendocinoMahJongg@gmail.com