Dear Sayas and Colleagues,

Thanks to the early birds who bought their tickets as soon as they learned about the forthcoming RIT Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe.

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One kind of worry:
Will enough people come?
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As Saya Allen Htay mentioned in his article, "Brother, can you spare $500?", the organizing committee members would have to chip in the costs if there were not enough attendees.

We probably won't have to chip in that much for the following reasons:

Another member suggests that we should not sell any more tickets.

1. The initial guarenteed minimum of 200 was filled before the cutoff date. As of this time of writing, there are 270+ PAID confirmed attendees.

2. There were a couple of golden sponsors. Steeve Kay (a) Ko Thaung Sein (EC 70) donated $1000 to the general Saya Pu Zaw Pwe fund. See the "News" section of Reunion pages on our web site http://www.ex-rit.org for a letter from Steeve. From the very start, Ko Maung Maung Than (Mech 79) pledged a round-trip ticket for a Sayagyi from Myanmar. The offer was open to any Sayagyi. Recently, he reaffirmed his offer. Saya Allen Htay (Civil 58), leader, Bay Area Alumni Group, [who along with Saya U Tin Htut (Mech 60), Ko Zaw Min Nawaday (EP 70) and Ko Philip Mya Thwin (EP 76), have invited Saya U Ba Toke (Maths) from Myanmar] contacted Ko Maung Maung Than to pool the resources. Ko Maung Maung Than agreed and sent a check to "support the RIT Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe". Thadu, thadu, thadu.

3. There are numerous donors to the general Saya Pu Zaw Pwe fund. Even the Sayagyis donated to the Saya Pu Zaw Pwe fund. At the BAPS picnic held some time back, the members of the organizing committee agreed to donate $100 [or more] to the Saya Pu Zaw Pwe fund.

4. KMZ, our web master, not only has donated $200 to the Saya Pu Zaw Pwe fund, but will be bringing M$ (Microsoft) goodies to be handed out as presents to the Sayas. Grapevine says that there will be others who will bring presents/memorabilia to be handed to Sayas and the lucky attendees. There may be real good door prizes.

5. The efforts put in by the volunteers in general and KMZ [our beloved web master] in general can not and should not be measured in any currency. We have received offers from volunteers to show the Sayas around [if needed], to cook rice [and even delicious Burmese gourmet dishes] for the Sunday picnic, to take photos and/or videos of the events, ... They simply are trying to repay a part of the immense metta and cetana of the Sayas.

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Another kind of worry:
What if too many people come?
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Just as the cutoff date was approaching, alumni from all over the world scrambled to register for the Reunion. For a moment, there was a cocern on how to have contingency plan(s) for the "overflow". If the physical capacity of the main room is exceeded, what should we do?

Ko Benny Tan and Ko Maurice Chee, our co-chairs, promptly contacted Meecho (or Ma Cho, catering manager) to reserve another room. For a guaranteed minimum of 300 for both rooms [the main room and the auxiliary room], we will get both rooms free [of charge] and pay only for the dinner. There are several possibilities. One room can be set up for entertainment and photo sessions. Except for dinner time, where the attendees should be seated at their tables, all the attendees will be able to take part in the events: Saya Ga Daw Pwe [optional], Saya Pu Zaw Pwe [honoring all Sayas young and old], key note speech by Saya Dr. Aung Gyi, ...

Several people reminded us that the "Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe" should not be [academic] lectures only. It should be fun for the spouses, guests and children [to an extent]. Mar Mar Aye, I believe, would be honored and happy to part of the Gala of the Millenium. Sponsors, any one, for Mar Mar Aye?

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In lighter vein
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For those who have not seen this before, the following is a translation of the core piece of a song called "Hna yauk hte nay gin de" by the late Sayagyi U Ba Kyi [Institute of Education]:

Darling
Only two we will live dear
On the high crest
Of the Mount Everest
And the Sahara Desert
Driest without water
To the North Pole
May be freezing cold
Where the sun will never never grow
With all my heart and soul
Only two darling
We will go

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That's all for now. See you at the Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe.
With metta,
Hla Min