Dear Sayas and Colleagues,

When we met for the first time at the Embassy Suites, we had to decide there and then to give down payment for the meeting rooms. As you probably know, it is very difficult if not possible to book large meeting rooms on Saturday nights. As Saya Allen Htay wrote, there was a risk that everyone attending the historic meeting may have to chip in $500 each.

A few members however gave the analogy of people rushing to catch a moving train or a ship [at the sound of "Toot - toot"]; they were confident that all the available tickets will be sold as we approach the cut-off date. Today, I got several phone calls asking if it's too late to buy tickets. One alumnus said that he'd like to be the 300th attendee at the RIT Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe.

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Sports (revisited)
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For many years, Saya Mao Toon Siong (Mech 62) was Burma's single and doubles champion in Table Tennis (aka "Ping Pong"). Saya also led and coached RIT Table Tennis teams. The selected include Ko Win Myint (Chem), Ko Nyunt Tin (Mech 70), Ko Tin Myint (a) John Lee (Mech 69), ...

Daw Kyu Kyu Lin (Tex 75), RIT women's volleyball selected, will be bringing her mother and her son to the Reunion. They would like to be seated [if possible] at the same table as Saya U Min Wun (Civil) and his spouse.

Ko Tha Din, Burma selected for volleyball, lives somewhere in the Bay Area. Hope he can attend the Reunion.

I do not know the whereabouts of Sai Kham Pan (EP 69), Burma Selected in Badminton. He used to give his friends up to 13 points to play a 15-point game with him.

Ko Htaik San (a) Henry Kao (Mech 81) was also an RUBC Captain. He has e-mailed me an Excel spreadsheet detailing his successes as an RUBC Gold. His rowing partner, Ko Pyu Lin, who is in Australia, could not make it to the Reunion. Ko L. Than Myint (Mech 63) and Ko Wunna Sithu (EC 71), also RUBC Golds, are currently in Thailand.

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Rectors (revisited)
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Saya U Maung Maung Than (Tex) and Saya U Kyin Soe (Mech) also served as Rectors. The pro-Rectors include Saya U Aung Than (Mining), Saya Dr. Lwin Aung (Arch) and Saya U Ba Myint (Elec). Benny Tan brought back some brochures from YIT/YTU which showed the photos of the Rectors.

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Name Tags
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Ko Sweenam Lee wrote:

At a reunion at another University, everyone wore name-tags with some other identifications on them. e.g. Pat Crone's tag was "Pat Crone-93", his spouse - "Shirley Crone S-93", or parent "Jim Crone P-93" or "Mary Crone P-93". As for guest - "Linda Oberly (G)".

Because of the 40-50 years spread of grads and sayas, spouses, relatives, guests, children, MCs, etc., some other identifications (maybe different color tags), would be helpful for those of us that are probable candidates for Alzheimer's.

Thanks for the excellent work you folks have done. Best wishes

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Response to "An apology ..."
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An alumnus asked me to forward this e-mail to the author of "An apology to Sayagyi U Ba Toke":

I am very touched by your article "An apology to Sayagyi U Ba Toke". I am also guilty of similar offense to almost all my Sayas and Sayagyis in Burma. I did had a great time in RIT because I hardly attend the classes. I studied twice a year only just before the exam. I borrowed my friends class notes to study and I also owe a lot to them.

I went back to Burma recently to look for one friend Ko xxxx xxxx who is kind enough to lend me his class notes. Unfortunately I only met his daughter because he passed away the year before. I purposely visited his daughter because I want to give respect to the man that helped me. May he rest in peace.

Thank you for the beautiful article and sharing your thoughts with us.

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In lighter vein
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The following is a parody of "Outstanding Student":

       Yauk kyar ta gun
        "Lu ye chun" ga
       Dat taing ta mut
       Phun Thee sut le
       Ma lut sa dan
       Pa laik phan

"ta mut" is an archaic Burmese word meaning "on or above"

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Entertainment
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We wish that "Lu shwin daws" such as Chi hte Nu Nu Kyaw (Tex 69), La Min (EP 70), ... could be at the entertainment program[me] for the Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe.

Some one threw the idea that "he can invite Mar Mar Aye to the Reunion [if someone is willing to provide a round-trip ticket for her]".

Daniel Tint Lwin suggested devoting a session for the attendees to get up the stage and sing [group] songs.

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Amendment
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I forgot to mention that Ko Win Tint (a) Patrick and Ko Win Thein were the top of EP 70 [graduating class].

That's all for now.
With metta,
Hla Min