FOR 77 YEARS, THE NATIONAL MAH JONGG LEAGUE produces new cards for the game each year. Do you know the old joke about Mah Jongg? It is a game the Chinese have played for 4,000 years with four rules and the Jews have played for 77 years with 77,000 rules. I have always thought of Mah Jongg as simply fun and games. Someone out there (was it you?) gave me a membership in the league and with it came an eight-page bulletin, which listed the names of hundreds of contributors along with the charitable causes they have designated as the recipients of their generosity.

“This year, the league gave charitable donations to extraordinary organizations across the U.S.,” said Ruth Unger, president of the league. “Our membership should be quite proud of its support for the causes and know that these dollars make a difference in their own communities.” Membership, which includes a card and the bulletin, costs $8.  Imagine having so much fun for just eight bucks. And if any of you feel guilty playing the game all afternoon, just think of all the good you are doing while discarding bams and dots and those beautiful flowers. To purchase your membership (no restrictions – you don’t even have to be Jewish) send your check to National Mah Jongg League, Inc. 250 West 57^th. Street, New York, N.Y. 10107 or log on to www.nationalmahjonggleague.org.

EVERY BID COUNTS in Hadassah’s Heart Health Auction. This is an online auction, which takes place during the month of February, American Heart Month, and benefits Hadassah’s Heart Health Program and Cardiology at Hadassah Medical Organization. New items will be announced every Sunday throughout the month and include works by Yaakov Agam and Jovan Obican as well as an Italian gold and silver rope bracelet, a diamond pendant and a men’s Italian leather jacket. Hadassah suggests that if you are new to the online auction world, eBay has a great tutorial that you can find at http://pages.ebay.com/education/ 

THE FIFTH SEASON BEGINS  for Dramatic License Productions’ professional theater, cabaret and educational experiences in its 85-seat black box theater in Chesterfield Mall. For starters, its annual Valentine Cabaret: “Love Songs of Broadway,” runs Feb. 14-16 for three performances only.  The show takes the audience through the various stages of romance via the best love songs from Broadway performed by local professional vocalists and musicians. Opening Friday, Feb. 27 will be the light-hearted comedy, “Shirley Valentine” about a bored housewife who gets a new lease on life. Starring Kevin Kline award-winner Teresa Doggett, the show plays weekends through March 16. DLP has an active schedule of productions through November and I suggest that you contact Kim Furlow, executive producer, at 636-821-1746 for more information or go to dramaticlicenseproductions. org. 

THE BEAUTY BUZZ, co-chaired by KSDK News Channel 5 anchor and investigative reporter Leisa Zigman and her daughter Micaila Edlin, is a spring beauty party to raise fun and funds for media scholarships awarded by the Press Club of Metropolitan St. Louis. The Beauty Buzz will be held at Neiman Marcus during the store’s annual “Beauty Event” and will include light bites and exciting giveaways. There will be six beauty bars to help grandmothers, mothers, daughters and friends create a flawless face. The Beauty Buzz lineup includes an eyelash bar, lip bar, concealer bar, botanical bar, bronze and glow bar and wrinkle-free bar.  Since I am a member of the Press Club I think I would like to apply for the scholarship devoted to all the bars. If that scholarship is awarded according to need I should capture it easily.

The event takes place Saturday, Feb. 22 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Neiman Marcus’ first level. Tax deductible contributions are $30 for students, $50 for adults, $80 mother-daughter and $100 for three generations. For reservations call 314-449-8029 or [email protected].  Or send your check made out to Press Club of Metropolitan St. Louis, PO Box 410522, St. Louis Mo. 63141.