{"title":"About Us","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0929\/3073\/6425\/files\/book_image_MAC_73b7980c-ceb0-4495-afb6-88b41a4ecc95_240x240.png?v=1750628290\" alt=\"\" style=\"margin-bottom: 16px; float: left;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDara Collins\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI grew up in New York listening to the sounds of my mom, Phyllis, and friends mixing Mah Jongg tiles. Eventually, I fell in love with the game. While taking a break from law to raise our two daughters, I co-created a thriving Mah Jongg business with Donna Miller Kassman. We have an online retail business, ModernMahjong.com, as well as host in-person events and Modern Mahjong Zoom Talks with well-known authors, speakers, teachers, players and collectors including Michele Frizzell, Gregg Swain, and Annelise Heinz. Replays of our informative and entertaining talks can be viewed on YouTube.com\/ModernMahjong.\u003cspan class=\"apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eAs the co-creator of Facebook.com\/groups\/MahjongCommunity, an interactive Facebook group with over 90,000 active members, we share rule and strategy posts and I moderate lively discussions about all things mahjong. You can contact Dara at ModernMahjong@gmail.com.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhen my mom offered to teach Canasta to me, my husband and my Dad, we all jumped at the chance. After learning to play, I really loved finding out more about strategy. Through our Modern Mahjong Zoom Talks, I connected with fellow Mah Jongg and Canasta player, Donna Miller-Small (another Donna.) We discussed the need for a comprehensive guide to learn to play and improve strategy. Once we understood the urgent need for a thorough, dependable book, we decided to write it, knowing we had the credentials and motivation to do it.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDonna Miller-Small \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDonna Miller-Small has taught thousands of students Mah Jongg and Canasta for fifteen years, garnering rave reviews from libraries, Adult Eds, and Community Centers. In 2020, she began teaching virtually, which extended her range across the US. She got the “card” gene from her parents, both Life Master Bridge Players, and fondly remembers endless hours of card-playing, including Canasta, with her family.\u003cspan class=\"apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDuring the pandemic, Donna took her teaching virtual and has been reaching players all across the US and beyond. Donna resides on Long Island with her husband Frank and loves being a mother and grandmother. You can find her at mahjonggandcanastalongisland.com.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Modern American Canasta, The Complete Guide is\u003cspan class=\"apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eavailable for purchase on Amazon.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe teach both in-person locally and nationally, as well as virtually. Our Learn to Play Series and Strategy Classes are always informative and entertaining. As Dara has done for Mah Jongg, we are looking to create an active Modern American Canasta Community.We will be the Canasta Hotline for players of all levels. Players can connect with us on Facebook.com\/groups\/ModernAmericanCanasta and subscribe to our YouTube channel, YouTube.com\/@ModernAmericanCanasta.\u003cspan class=\"apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDonna Miller-Small\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0929\/3073\/6425\/files\/Screenshot_2025-06-22_at_12.08.44_PM_bb457582-1890-4b13-8096-cf6cd2082a93.png?v=1751974688\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[],"url":"https:\/\/modernamericancanasta.com\/collections\/about-us.oembed","provider":"ModernAmericanCanasta","version":"1.0","type":"link"}