ARA Meeting Minutes
Board Members In Attendance
Steve Augusten
Jenn Barr
Dave Bresnick
Harrison Corp
Laura King
Nathanael Kozinski
Luke Morgan
Claire Pozniak
Jai Srivastav
Bichen Wang
Working Group Updates
2028 WRC Qualification Cycle
Survey is out for suggestions on what to do in the event we are given more than 32 seats to the 2028 WRC, form can be found here: https://forms.gle/3t95wPVVgq29jPQW7
Invitational is designed for 32 or fewer seats, and we will not know until ~Nov 2027 how many seats are given
With the invitational Jan 2028, we would need to settle what to do about additional seats no later than Feb 2028
Tech
Adjustments to the 2028 Qualifying Points results coming very soon!
Upgrading to a bigger server to address sight slowdown soon
If you have any questions direct them to Tech Working Group!
Communications
Making a one page printout clubs can use at events to direct people to the ARA Database map to find their local club
Update to Tournament Policies after Assembly vote
If you notice communication problems or points of friction, please put them in the communications working group channel in discord, or reach out to Claire/Harrison!
US Rankings
No current updates
Education
Complaints about Manzu and hard to read/different tiles at tables
Working on potential solutions to address this/what TO’s can do to help players
Professional Organizations
World Riichi Pros
Next World Riichi Pro test will be Oct 4-5th. Registration deadline is Sep 20th
Saikouisen
USA Pro Leagues B and C started last month and were streamed
ARML
ARML is the biggest it has ever been!
Registration deadline for next season is September 8th
Rules and judging
Strike System will be used at GLRO 2025
Steve going to work with Harrison to refine and get additional data at GLRO
Community engagement
First office hours were last Monday! Super great time meeting everyone and talking about mahjong, many good topics discussed and ideas exchanged
Charity
No current updates
IORMC
No current updates, announcement soon!
Assembly Updates
Two new clubs added to the Assembly!
Kansas City Riichi Mahjong Club, represented by Justin Nguyen
North Star Riichi Mahjong, represented by Calvin Chang
Event Announcements and Updates
North Texas Riichi Open just finished this past weekend!
Seattle Riichi Open September 13th! Currently at 38/80, signups until September ~8th!
Chicago Area Riichi Tournament (September 20th) has a few extra spots due to drops!
Contact Takahiro Sakurai if interested
Vegas Dragons Open is August 30th! Currently at 23/32, signups until day of!
Great Lakes Riichi Open is October 25th! Currently at 32/64
Berkeley Open is November 1st! Sign up now!
Philly Riichi Open is November 8th! Join the waitlist now!
Intercollegiate Riichi Mahjong Open will be held this Fall Semester! If you are an enrolled student by October 2025 you are eligible to play! Sign up now!
Closed Session
Discussion on player drops from tournaments
GLRO and Philly Certified, Berkeley needs to resubmit with additional information
Discussion on tournament certification process and how to improve going forward
Discussion on swiss pairing system and certification ability when chance of duplicates is present (mainly at smaller events)