Dear Sayas and Colleagues,

Two special tickets have been issued by Maurice Chee.

KMZ, our webmaster, [joking] asked for ticket number Zero. Maurice prompty sent him ticket number 00000. When Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak founded Apple Computers, someone suggested both to be employees co-number 1 [as founders]. Steve Jobs gave Steve Wozniak number 1, and chose "employer number 0" for himself.

Ko Ba Thein, author of "An Apology to Sayagyi U Ba Toke ..." and "[Reverberating] Echoes from RIT", told Maurice that he'd like to be Attendee Number 300. Maurice also promptly assigned him No. 300. Ko Ba Thein just sent me another article about his experiences at RUBC.

Ko Ba Thein wrote:

I realize that at this time all of you will be busy with the tasks for the upcoming Reunion and SPZP. I am still trying to come to the SPZP and RIT Reunion. Still working out. I have already sent a check to Maripusa Ave on Sept. 21 for the ticket. Ko Maurice said that he will let Saya U Thein Aung keep it for me.

If the number of attendees exceed the capacity of the room, I will be the President of The Standing Committee if you have not selected yet (i.e., Attend the party in standing posture at the rear part of the hall, because to attend the party is the primary goal).

Again, thanks for your invaluable time, expertise, and efforts.

=========================
RUBC Golden Jubilee, 1972
by Ba Thein
=========================

On the Ex-RIT Website often I read about RUBC [Rangoon University Boat Club]. I was not a GOLD. But I had a Silver. It was 1972. I think it was Golden Jubilee of RUBC because it was not very far behind RASU Golden Jubilee. I am not sure. [REQUEST: Readers, please correct me and fill in the missing details. My memory is elusive on recalls. It is similar to that of Bill Clinton.]

In 1972, Professor Dr. William Paw (Institute of Economics) and Saya U Tin Htut (Mechanical) were the President and the general secretary of RUBC. Saya Dr. U Tin Win (Mechanical) was the head of our RIT Rowing Club. I was a member of the EC responsible for Publicity [Public Relations].

In 1971, there were only 2 female members (colors: Full Green and/or Half Green) in our club: Kyi Kyi Aye (Textile, from Loikaw, Kayar State) and Zar Nee Aung (Rangoon). On those days, we could not rely on the No. 8 (Linsdown - Insein) bus to go to RUBC. Fortunately, we had a kind permission from Rector Dr. Aung Gyi and Registrar U Thet Lwin to use the school's B-2000 Mazda pickup truck. Due to the transportation, we successfully recruited about 20 female and 30 male new members to our RIT Rowing Club. The truck ferried the crew in afternoons (three times a week) to RUBC at Inya Lake from RIT campus and Tha Zin Hall at Thamaing dormitories. At the 1972 RUBC Golden Jubilee Grand Regatta, our RIT Rowing Club competed in full battalion including two Women's Eights and four Women's Fours, for the first time in the club's history.

The Rectors and diplomatic corps of foreign embassies and consulates also attended the regatta. It was an unprecedented event at RUBC. Thousands of students cheered the race.

The GOLD Crew: The captain was Ko Myo Lwin (Mechanical). Some of the Golds whom I could remember (please fill in or correct me) were Ko Nyi Nyi (timing-stroke, from Meikhtila), Ko Win Zaw (Mechanical), Ko Myint Swe (Mechanical), Ko Yey Paw (Textile), Ko San Shwe Aung (Mechanical, from Kyauk Phyu, Arakan State), Ko Win Myint (Mechanical, from Pa Khoke Ku), - - - - - - - - - - . I think there were 14 or 16 Golds of RUBC in 1972. Some of them are now in the U.S. At the Grand Regatta, our RUBC Golds Men's Eight beat the Defense Ministry's crew by one length.

On the other hand, the RIT Men's [coxed] Eights in which I participated at the bow position lost (as you guess) to Institute of Ecnomics' Eights by more than a length in the 2000-meter race. It was a great humiliation for us. Our motto 'Engineers Never Fail to Win' which we shouted just before the race at Duban Island near Inya Lake Hotel had gone with the wind. (To save the face) slicing-off our faces would have been the only available remedy for us then.

At the regatta, I did not win any tangible prize. I was mad. Really mad. I got mad at Sayas for not selecting me as a Gold. To be fair and square, let us review my second-to-none qualifications existed then. Let me hear your unbiased and unequivocal judgment.

My GRIEVANCE:

My height and weight then were just 5'-6" and 125 lbs, respectively. Moreover, my biceps, triceps, and thighs were merely bigger than bicycle spokes. They will be unacceptable by today's Kentucky Fried Chicken's standards. My muscles could barely cover my tiny bones. My chest and breast were lean and flat like a mat. How about my calves? My friends called them 'Gandhi Calves' in honor of India's late Independence Leader Mahatama Gandhi. Even though, both of my RIT Sayas at RUBC easily overlooked me in the selection process of Golds. I felt I was treated unfairly.

My REMORSE:

For my midget size: Should I blame my parents for not being or having mighty physical structures? No. Not at all. My parents were of average size of typical Burman. They fed and raised me very well. I did not take it. Nevertheless, while I was in my first year B. E., I should have bowed to the recruitment of Saya U Thein Aung (Metallurgy) to join his RIT Body-Building club. I should have become a disciple of Saya U Thein Aung. If I had exactly followed his practices and styles (i.e., self-torturing practices), I would become a well-built macho in 1972, be selected as a GOLD for RUBC Golden Jubilee Regatta, and NOW I will be able to attend the SPZP and RIT Reunion at San Francisco 2000 wearing a "Gold Jacket". How nice it will be? Everybody will welcome me. Anyway, NOW, I am desperately looking for a 'Gold Jacket' at the men's wear-houses to attend the Once-In-A-Life-Time gathering at San Francisco.

My BRAG:

Anyway, believe it or not, in 1974 National Regatta held at Inya Lake, I won the silver medal in Coxless Pair 1000-meter race. My partner was Htin Kyaw (Mechanical) who is now in U.A.E. Our success to the final was NOT because of our muscles but due to our opponents' sinusoidal or zigzag courses in the preceding races. (NOTE: Nobody played or attempted / agitated to play the national anthem at the ceremony while we were standing still on the pontoon with joy wearing the silver medals on our necks. Also, no TV or media coverage was there. It didn't matter. I got something to brag.

Editor's note: RUBC was founded in 1923 [out of his own pockets] by Sir Arthur Eggar, law professor. He had great admiration for the Burmese "laung" rowers. In one of my newsletters, I mentioned some stanzas from the "RUBC Rowing Song". Here again it is.

            Pull long and steady boys
            Strange though it may seem
            The hardest stroke won't send the boat
            The swiftest down the stream

            If we wish to keep your boat afloat
            And brave life's stormy weather
            You must not pull your oars too deep
            But always "PULL TOGETHER".

Thanks to all the organizing committee members and volunteers who have pulled together to make the forthcoming RIT Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe a resounding success.

After the Big Event, we'll shout

            "Give her a TEN.
             ONE, TWO, ..., TEN.
             Easy Oars."

Until then, I'll continue compiling the Count down series, for as all Old Crocs know "ROW TILL YOU ARE DEAD".

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