Dear Sayas and Colleagues,

The series of e-mails are random jottings. Hence, there can and will be omissions, typos and errors. Feel free to add/revise.

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Saya U Aung Khin
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Saya U Aung Khin's visits to the Bay Area had tremendous impact. One visit resulted in the formation of BAPS (Burmese American Professional Society) -- a merger of BEA (Burmese Engineers Association) and BASTS (Burmese American Science and Technology Society). Another visit resulted in a dinner meeting where the Bay Area Alumni Group led by Saya Allen Htay decided unanimously to hold the First Ever Grand Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe on October 28-29 week end. For details, see the articles by Saya Allen Htay, Saya U Nyo Win and U Myat Htoo, Ko Benny Tan and Ko Maurice, Ko Thein Aung, ...

Saya U Aung Khin enrolled in the Faculty of Engineering, University of Rangoon in 1950. [At that time, one must pass the I.Sc. (Intermediate of Science) with good grades to pursue engineering courses.) Saya left the Third Year B.Sc.(Engg) class in 1952 upon being selected as a State's Scholar to continue the undergraduate studies at Lehigh University.

Saya received the B.S.M.E. and M.S.M.E. degrees and returned in 1956 to join the staff at the Faculty of Engineering as an Assistant Lecturer. Saya was awarded the Colombo Scholarship in 1962 to pursue post-graduate studies at Toronto University. Saya received the M.A.Sc. degree and returned in 1967 to continue teaching at Rangoon Institute of Technology.

Saya served as Professor and Head of Mechanical Engineering. In 1976, Saya resigned from the Institute in 1976 and emigrated to Canada. Saya retired in 1998 after working for twenty one years in Canada. His post-retirement sojourns can be found in his excellent article [written specially for the Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe (Special Issue)].

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Gone But Not Forgotten (GBNF)
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The GBNF forgotten pages on our web site, http://www.ex-rit.org, needs to be updated with brief bios and photos [if available].

U Aw Taik Moh (Civil 54) lauds the late Sayagyi U Ba Hli's decision to have "MIT Assistance" at the B.O.C. College of Engineering. See U Aw Taik Moh's article on the early days at B.O.C. College and his recent e-mail/letter.

In the Burmese Reader, we had to recite "Hsa: Sayagyi Khaung Laung Tee". Those were the days when the Principal (Sayagyi) would ring the bell (khoung loung) to signal the start and end of classes. Later, some schools would use electric bells and PA (Public Announcement) systems to ease the task of the Sayagyi.

At RIT, some people use the term "Sayagyi" to refer to the Rector. The late Sayagyi U Yone Moe (formerly Chief Engineer, Burma Railways) served as the first Rector of RIT.

RIT is known for its Annual Dinner and "Gi ta see sar" (Musical Evening). In my days, the late Ko Win Thein (Mech 67) was the prime mover of the RIT Mechanical Association, Chief Editor of the "Set Hmu Sar Saung" [newsletter], and organizer of RIT-wide events. Wish he were here to help us with the Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe. RIT is also known for its share of classical and pop artistes. The late Ko Kyaw Oo (Mech 67) regularly played the piano at the "Gi ta see sar".

Among my classmates, Jimmy Kyin (Tex), Win Htain (Mech), Min Thaw (a) Gilbert (EP) and Ko Kyaw Than (Tex) [who along with Ko Win Lwin organized the '69 Grads Reunion in '99] are gone but not forgotten.

The following is an adaptation of a common entry seen in autographs in my college days.

    Seasons may come
    Seasons may go
    Flowers will wither
    In due course you know

    But there is one thing
    That's as fresh as dew
    That is the love and respect
    We all have for you

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Rectors (Past and Present)
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Among the attendees, Saya Dr. Aung Gyi (Civil) and Saya U Khin Aung Kyi (ChE) served as Rectors.

U Thein Tan (Civil) is the present Rector of Mandalay Institute of Technology. U Nyi Hla Nge (Civil 69) was the Rector of YTU (Yangon Technological University, formerly YIT and RIT); he is now a Deputy Minister.

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Never too late
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"Is it too late to invite Sayas from abroad?" asked several alumni. The Organizing Committee feels that after the cutoff date, the priority should be in the order:

       - alumni from abroad
       - alumni from out of state
       - alumni from out of the Bay Area
       - alumni from the Bay Area

Saya U Tin Win (Mech 62) and Ma Khin Hta Yee (a) Lily (Tex 72) [who served for several years as the Secretary of BEA] plan to invite Saya U Sein Maung (Elec) and spouse from Myanmar.

Ko Thein Aung (Met 72) just got the e-mail address of Saya U Thit [former Head of Metallurgy Department] and has invited Saya to join the Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe. Saya U Thit is a cousin of Saya Allen Htay. In my 2nd B.E. class, Saya U Thit taught "Materials and Processes". He is now a retiree in Australia. See "Photo Gallery" for a picture of Saya U Thit and Saya U Aung Khin.

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