Mah Jongg Lessons

Thursday Oct 5, 12 & 19 from 10:00 - 12:00

There will be a series of 3 classes to learn how to play Mah Jongg

Maximum 12 Spaces - CLASS is FULL

Regular Activity Fees Apply

Mark your calendars for the

Pop-Ups TBA

(These Pop-Up items are for our outreach programs, so there will be no user fee)

Game Card Holders – No maximum participants

These holders were very popular last Christmas so we will be making more for this Christmas’ sale by donation, the total funds received will again be distributed to the Okotoks Food Bank and the Okotoks Resource Centre.

Bring cotton fabric pieces to share – you will need pieces approximately 8” square for the main part of the holder, and approximately 4” to 4-1/2” for the outside circle – and if you have large buttons (about 3/4” to 1” round, with holes to pull thread through) to use/share. All other parts of this project are supplied, although Sharon will be bringing extra fabric you can choose from, too.

 Please join us for our October Dinner

Hansel & Gretel’s Catering

Menu

Salads

Shepards Pie

Desserts

Coffee & Tea

$ 10 each (members only)

Doors open at 5 pm

Dinner at 6 pm

Bar Service and 50/50

Cash or Check only.

Desserts to be brought by those whose ticket number ends with a 2 or 7

Please have the desserts ready to serve (cut in portions)

 No $50 or $100 bills will be accepted.

Tickets will be available until Friday, September 29th 2:30pm

Please refrain from scented products (perfume, cologne, lotions, laundry, etc.) at all events at the club. 

Tech Sessions Fall 2023

Wednesday mornings from 10:15 to 11:!5 to help with your questions

There will be a maximum of 4 people per day

Instructor: Colin Wilson

The dates are as follows: September 20th, October 4, 11, 18 and 25

Please register by email with Jackie and include the date you would like and a brief description of your concern / help you are looking for. 

Your date and time will be confirmed by email

Links to iPhone Basics

iPhone information check the Catalog tab at Senior Tech Club. 

124 Texting

203 Safari Basics

450 iPhone Photo Basics 

 204 iPhone iPad Email

Android Phones and Tablets

Check out this book.

Setting up Email - Check out page 189 in the book link to use Gmail app

Blocking Caller on Android

Ongoing opportunity to volunteer utilizing your sewing skills.

Mission Thrift store supports the Samaritans Purse by adding teddy bears to the shoe box campaign every year but they also support many other causes with these cute little bears around the world all year long.

Be a part of the bigger picture of the teddy bear factory in sewing this simple bears out of the recycled fabric.

If you are interested please contact Bonita at 403-563-8670 call or text if interested.

A picture of the bear is below.

Drop off/pick up of teddy bear pattern will be at the senior club, Tuesday to Friday when club is open. (10am - 4 pm)

Thank you!!!

Bonita

WANTED

VOLUNTEERS

TO DELIVER FOR

OKOTOKS MEALS ON WHEELS

APPLY TO okotoksmealsonwheels@gmail.com

 WITH YOUR NAME AND PHONE NUMBER

VOLUNTEER COMMITMENT:

1.5 HOURS, 2 – 4 TIMES PER MONTH

AND YOUR OWN VEHICLE

Gift Bags for Seniors Outreach Program

Christmas 2023

Updated May 19, 2023

With the help and donations from our members and the community we were able to give out 96 bags this last Christmas, and have had very positive responses back from those who received them.

This year we are expecting we will need 150 bags so we will be collecting donations all year for the items needed to fill these bags, which will be distributed by the Okotoks Meals on Wheels, Sandstone Lodge and Tudor Manor, and other seniors living alone in our community usually visited by the United Church members.  Many of these items can be purchased at a Dollar Store, and you may purchase the number of units of any of these items that you are comfortable with.  These items can be dropped off to Jackie throughout the year, and we will fill the bags again at the end of November.  Before purchasing any items on this list, please check out the sample basket at the Club.  If you have suggestions for other items please email Jackie at the Club before purchasing to confirm they are appropriate (no food items, please).  Any other items you are considering need to be passed by Jackie before purchasing.

We are getting close to 150 of several items and will be updating this list again at the end of May to show the items that have reached the goal.

Other items we are working on for Christmas outreach programs:

• If you knit or crochet, the knitting group is making jar lid openers, bath/shower soap holders, dish cloths and hanging towels, and Christmas ornaments.
• If you sew, we will be holding pop-ups to make walker totes and bowl cozies.

Items needed:           

• Puzzle/activity books – small; various types (i.e. Sudoku, crosswords, logic, word find, or one susch as PlayPad that contains various types of activities)

• Deck of Cards
• Adult colouring books – smaller than 8-1/2”x11”

• Jigsaw puzzles – 100 piece box as the piece size is larger

• Small notebooks

• Sticky notepads

• Colouring pencils - FILLED

• Pencil sharpeners – can have 1 or 2 holes (larger hole is for crayons)

• Pears, Neutrogena or Ivory soap bars (hypo-allergenic, scent free) 1 per box/individually wrapped

• Body wash – not scented

• Bath sponge or glove, or cotton knitted facecloths/dishcloths

• Shampoo and conditioner – not scented

• Hand lotion - hypo-allergenic, not scented

• Emory boards for nails

• Toothpaste – not small sample/travel sizes but next size up

• Toothbrushes (soft) - FILLED and toothbrush holders

• Dental floss

• Hand sanitizers – small

• Bandaids – small boxes of about 26 fabric

• Lypsol, Chapstick, Blistex or Burt’s Bees type lip balm

• Kleenex packages, purse/pocket size - FILLED

• Antibacterial wet wipes – small packages

• Comb and brush

• Magnet for fridge that has a hook on it

• Plastic spiral expandable wrist bands with key hoop

• Cute label holders that can be placed on the handle or bar of a walker (such as suitcase tags)

Level 1

This level is for those who have very little to no line dancing experience, or those wanting to move at a slower pace with simple dances. This class will be reviewing dances previously taught as well as learning new material.

Level 2

This level is for those who have had previous line dance instruction and who know basic footwork.  This class will be reviewing dances previously taught as well as learning new material. This class is for those wanting more of a challenge. Dances at this level will include tags and restarts. 

Step Sheets and Demo/Teach Videos for our Line Dances

Dance	Class	Song	Artist	Demo / Teach Video
3 Tequila Floor EZ		3 Tequila Floor	Josiah Siska	Teach & Demo
A Little Love Worth Waiting 4		A Little Love Worth Waiting	Bouke	Various on Step Sheet Link
Anything Goes		Why Don't We Just Dance	Josh Turner	Teach & Demo
Beautiful Day		Beautiful Day	Dave Sheriff	Teach & Demo
Black Coffee		Black Coffee	Lacy J Dalton	N/A
Boot Scootin Boogie		Boot Scootin Boogie	Brooks & Dunn	Teach & Demo
Broken Stones	Beginner	Broken Stones	Paul Weller	Demo & Teach
Bullfrog	Beginner	Got a Feeling	Tim Hicks	Teach
Ceecee		Oh Cecilia (Breaking My Heart)	The Vamps	Various on Step Sheet Link
Charleston Cowboy	Beginner	Sold Get Rhythm	John Michael Montgomery Sweethearts of the Rodeo	Teach
Come Dance with Me		Come Dance with Me	Nancy Hays	Teach
Confusion		Stuck On You	Elvis	N/A
Cowboy Boogie**	Beginner	Ladies Love Country Boys	Trace Adkins	Teach
Cowboy Sweetness		Cowboys are my Weakness	Trisha Yearwood	Demo and Teach
Crash and Burn**	Beginner	Crash and Burn	Thomas Rhett	Teach
Cut A Rug	Beginner	Sugar, Sugar	The Archies	Teach & Demo
Darlin	Beginner	Darlin	Johnny Reid	N/A
Don't Step on My Soul		40 Days and 40 Nights	Tim McGraw	N/A
Electric Slide	Beginner	The Wanderer	Dion	Demo & Teach
Eye Candy		Runaround Sue	Dion	Various on Step Sheet Link
Fandango	Beginner	If That's the Way You Want It	Brooks & Dunn	N/A
Fun for All	Beginner	Ob-la-di Ob-la-da I Slipped and Fell in Love	The Beatles Alan Jackson	Teach & Demo
Gin and Tonic		Love Drunk	Locash Cowboys	Various on Step Sheet Link
Gives Me Shivers		Shivers	Ed Sheeran	Various on Step Sheet Link
Good Time		Good Time	Alan Jackson	Teach & Demo
I Cry		I Cry	Bouke	Teach & Demo
Let's Chill**	Beginner	Ice Cream Freeze	Mylie Cyrus	Demo & Teach
Little Dean Waltz		Famous Last Words of a Fool	George Strait	Various on Step Sheet Link
Little Red Book		He Drinks Tequila	Sam Kershaw	Demo & Teach
Little Rhumba	Beginner	Like She's Not Yours	The Bellamy Brothers	Teach
Lonely Drum		Lonely Drum	Aaron Goodvin	Demo & Teach
Lucky Lips		Lucky Lips 3 Tequila Floor	The Conquerors Josiah Siska	Demo & Teach
My Gypsy Queen		Gypsy Queen	Chris Norman	N/A
New York, New York	Beginner	Theme from New York, New York	Roger Williams	N/A
Old Time Rock and Roll		Old Time Rock and Roll	Bob Seger	N/A
One Night at a Time**		One Night at a Time	George Strait	Teach & Demo
Peaches & Cream		You're Sixteen	Ringo Starr	Various on Step Sheet Link
Rita's Waltz	Beginner	Rock and Roll Waltz	Kay Starr	Teach & Demo
Rocket to the Sun		What You've Done to Me	Samantha Jade	Various on Website
Rockin the Wagon Wheel		Wagon Wheel	Darius Rucker	Various on Step Sheet Link
Shy Waltz**		The Last Waltz	Englebert Humperdink	Demo and Teach
Stealing the Best	Beginner	Dance Above the Rainbow	Ronan Hardiman	Various on Step Sheet Link
Stroll Along Cha Cha	Beginner	I Just Wanna Dance With You	George Strait	Demo and Teach
Susie Q	Beginner	Ready to Roll	Blake Shelton	N/A
TC Slide		Bubba Hyde	Diamond Rio	N/A
Texas Stomp**		I'm From the Country	Tracy Bird	Demo
The Last Cheater's Waltz		The Last Cheater's Waltz	TG Sheppard	Teach & Demo
Triple Mix		From a Jack to a King	Johnny Hansen	Demo & Teach
Two Steps Forward		Two Steps Forward	The Castaways	N/A
Whiskey Bridges		Whiskey under the Bridge	Brooks and Dunn	Demo & Teach
Zatchu		Blue Finger Lou Zat You Santa Claus	Anne Murray Bruce Poindexter	Demo & Teach
** Dance has been modified

Line Dance - Dance Steps

Line Dance Teaching Links

Line Dancing with Patti - Basic Steps (12 mins)

LD w Patti - Jazz Box, Kick Ball Change, Rocking Chair, Kick and Point
Line Dancing with Patti - Turns
Dance with Cathie - Scissor Step
LD Steps with Gail Eaton (1 hr)

Check comments under video for time link for each step taught

0:3:44 Grapevines

0:5:40 Side Together Side Touch/Brush

Euchre is a fun, fast-paced, trick-taking card game.

The goal is to be the first team to get 10 points.

Summary of Our Euchre Rules for 4 Players

• One player deals out one card at a time face up to each player until the first Jack appears.  This player deals first.

• The game uses a partial deck of 24 cards.  From the 9 to the Ace.

• 5 Cards are dealt one at a time to each player.

• The remaining 4 cards are the kitty, and the dealer turns over the top card to be possibly called as trump.

• The team that declares trump must win three of the five tricks to score a point.

• If your partner is the dealer and you tell him to pick it up, you must play alone.

• The dealer cannot pick up a jack if they have no cards in that suit.

• If all players pass in round 2, the dealer must choose a trump (this is called Screwing the Dealer).

• If your hand has no face card and no ace, toss in your hand and the next player deals.
• A winning trick must be turned over and can only be viewed if there is a renege alleged.
  

• Scoring is done with two 5’s. Each suit symbol represents 1 point.

• The Player to the left of the dealer starts by leading a card for the first trick.

• The first team to get 10 points wins the game.

• Winners from each game move to the next table and take a new partner.

We occasionally play Euchre with 3 players. Here are the Rules for 3 Players.

• One player deals out one card at a time face up to each player until the first Jack appears.  This player deals first.
• The game uses a partial deck of 24 cards.  From the 9 to the Ace.
• 5 Cards are dealt one at a time to each player and the empty seat (optional hand).
• The remaining 4 cards are the kitty, and the dealer turns over the top card to be possibly called as trump.
• Each player is playing on their own.
• The player that declares trump must win three of the five tricks to score a point. The other two players play together to euchre the maker.
• The dealer cannot pick up a jack if they have no cards in that suit.
• If all players pass in round 1, the dealer may exchange their hand with the optional hand before declaring the possible trump or passing.
• If all players pass in round 2, the dealer must choose a trump (this is called Screwing the Dealer).
• If your hand has no face card and no ace, toss in your hand and the next player deals.
• A winning trick must be turned over and can only be viewed if there is a renege alleged.
  
• Scoring is done with two 5’s. Each suit symbol represents 1 point.
• The Player to the left of the dealer starts by leading a card for the first trick.
• The first player to get 10 points wins the game.
• The two players with the highest points for the game move to the next table.

Scoring for 3 Player Euchre

Calling player makes 3 or 4 tricks                                                 1 point

Calling player makes 5 tricks                                                        4 points

Opponents make 3 tricks (Euchred, Each Opponent)                   2 points

It is not necessary for a player to declare that they will play alone.

But it is a nice gesture and lets the opponents know you have a good hand.

Euchre: How to Play with 4 Players

The Deal

• Players divide into two teams and sit across from each other.

• Determining the first dealer: One player deals out one card at a time face up to each player until the first Jack appears.  This player deals first.

• The game uses a partial deck of 24 cards.  From the 9 to the Ace.

• 5 Cards are dealt one at a time to each player.

• The remaining 4 cards are the kitty, and the dealer turns over the top card to be possibly called as trump.

• The team that declares trump must win three of the five tricks to score a point.

Bidding Round 1

• The player to the left of the dealer starts first by deciding if they want the suit as trump.  If they don’t, they say ‘Pass’. If they think they can make 3 tricks with their partner, they tell the dealer to ‘Pick it up’.

• If the suit is declared trump by any player (not your partner) during the first round of bidding, the dealer must pick up the card and discard one face down (the dealer gets the card no matter which player orders it up).

• If your partner is the dealer and you tell him to pick it up, you must play alone.

• If all players pass, the dealer may pick up the card to declare trump.  The dealer then discards one card.

• The dealer can also pass the trump by turning over the card.

• The dealer cannot pick up a jack if they have no cards in that suit.

 Mah Jongg Summary

Objective of the Game

Mah Jongg is a game where you group 14 tiles into sets of singles, pairs, 3, 4, or 5 of a kind based on a set list of hands (on the NMJL card) for a Mah Jongg.

Equipment

Tiles, Racks with Pusher, Dice and Mah Jong Card.

Mah Jongg Card

A Mah Jongg card is required to play the game.  The card is available for purchase from the National Mah Jongg League website. 

A new card comes out annually for April 1.

At Our Club

We play American Mah Jongg.  If you would like to know more about the game drop by on a Thursday prior to game time.

Mah Jongg Links

National Mah Jongg League

Ordering a Mah Jongg Card at NMJL                                               

Michele Frizzell YouTube Channel  Watch Michele play and discuss her strategy or watch one of many videos about how to play.     

Mah Jongg Lessons with Michele Frizzell

Mock Card for Michele Frizzell Lessons

Mah Jongg Manual in PDF Format

Mah Jongg Tiles

There are 3 suits with tiles numbered 1-9. Dots, Bamboos (Bams) and Characters (Cracks)

There are 4 Winds (North, South East and West) and 3 Dragons (White, Green and Red)

There are 8 Flowers and 8 Jokers

Sample Hand 222 444 6666 8888 (any 2 suits)

Pungs of 2's and 4's in Bams and Kongs of 6's and 8's in Dots

Each numbered suit has an associated colour and the matching Dragon.

Dots - White

Bamboos - Green

Characters - Red

If a hand is in 1 colour and has dragons. the dragons used must be the same colour as the suit.

EG - 3333 6666 9999 DD (Any 1 suit)

Computer Games - A National Mah Jongg Card is required to play.

2 Week Trial

Real Mah Jongg                                             

I Love Mah                                                       

Free Game

Mah Jongg for Fun  (Still only 2022 Card)

Mah Jongg Lite  (Not as friendly)

Game Process

Phase 1 - Set Up

• Tiles are turned upside down and mixed.

• Each player makes a wall with 2 rows of 19 tiles in front of their rack.

• Player in position East starts by rolling dice to cut their wall, the dice indicates stacks of tiles left behind.  The remaining tiles are pushed right side to the centre and the last 2 tiles are turned to make a tail.

• Each player starting with East takes 4 tiles until everyone has 12 tiles (counter clock wise).

• A new wall is moved to the centre when the previous wall has no more tiles (clock wise).

• Each player then takes 1 more tile.  East also takes their first pick and takes tiles 1 and 3 from the top row.

• East has 14 tiles all other players have 13 tiles.

• Players sort their tiles looking for a category to play and move tiles they don’t want to the right. 

Phase 2 - The Charleston

• Unwanted tiles are now passed to other players to try and improve hands.  This is the Charleston.

• The Charleston has 2 rounds, where each player passes tiles to the other players. This is followed by an optional Curtesy Pass to the player across from you.

• Round 1 is mandatory – 3 tiles are passed Right, Across and then Left. (RALph)

• Round 2 is optional (can be stopped on a player’s request) – 3 tiles are passed Left, Across and then Right. (LAuRen)

• Pass defensively - try not to pass flowers, pairs, like numbers, or 2 winds.
• Any time you get a new multiple, you need to re-assess your hand.
• The last pass in each round can be a Blind Pass. You can take 1-3 of the tiles you would receive and pass them on.

• 0-3 tiles can be passed in the Curtesy Pass, players need to agree on number of tiles.

• Jokers cannot be passed.

Phase 3 - The Play, Pick and Discard

• Play starts with East discarding a tile.

• The tile is named when discarded EG. 5 Crack, West, Red.

• A discarded tile can be called by anyone if they can make a Pung, Kong or Quint for an exposed hand.

• The called tile must be displayed with the required tiles to make a Pung, Kong or Quint.

• North is next (counter clock wise) who can call the tile or pick a new tile.

• North picks a tile and taps it on the rack or puts the tile on their rack to decide if the tile is needed for their hand.

• Once a tile is tapped/racked, the discarded tile can no longer be claimed.
• If you are unsure if you want the tile, ask for a moment to think.

• If the tile is kept, it will be placed on the rack (racked).

• North must then discard tile. They can discard the tile picked or another tile.

• Play continues in this manner with players trying to build their hands.

• It is best to continue to collect tiles for a category, slowly narrowing down the hand you are trying to make.

• If you started with 2 option for hands and now need to decide which to continue with, it's best to count the tiles in each hand and pick the hand with the most tiles.  You should also check the gaps in you hand, Are you still waiting for a pair or single tile?

• A new wall is moved to the centre when the previous wall has no more tiles (clock wise order)
• The last wall to come out is the short wall in front of East.

• If one of your tiles is discarded before you are ready for it and you can no longer make you hand, you then play defensively. You try not to discard a tile an opponent may need.

• If all tiles have been picked and no one has declared Mah Jongg you have a Wall game.

Mah Jongg

Jokers and Exchanging for a Joker

• A joker may be used as a wildcard for a Pung, Kong or Quint.
• A Pung, Kong or Quint may be made entirely of jokers
• If someone has called a tile and exposed a Pung, Kong or Quint with a joker, the joker can be exchanged for the tile the joker represents
• Pick your tile or call for a discard first, before exchanging for a joker.
• A discarded joker cannot be called