SF Bay Area Alumni Group

by Hla Min

Updated : June 2025

• It later founded “RIT Alumni International”.

Founders

Saya Allen Htay (C58, GBNF)

• Leader of the group.
• Past President, RIT Photography Association
• President, RIT Alumni International
• Wrote “Brother, Can you spare $500 and more?” to raise awareness of SPZP-2000.
• Five Golden Sponsors — Steeve Kay (U Thaung Sein, EC70, California, GBNF), Benny Tan (Tan Eu Beng, M70, California, David Ko (U Tin Myint, M67, California, GBNF), Ivan Lee (U Khin Maung Oo, M69, New Jersey) & Ko Maung Maung Than (M79, Texas) — and many other donors helped for the success of SPZP-2000.

Benny Tan (M70)

• Ko Cho Lin at RIT
• Eu Beng (Yu Beng) at home
• Past President, BAPS
• Hosted several meetings for the sayas and alumni in the San Francisco Bay Area.
• Co-chair, Working Committee for SPZP-2000
• Multiple Golden Sponsor of SPZPs
• Designed the SPZP-2000 Banner, Commemorative T-shirt, Mug & Calendar/Clock.

Maurice Chee (M75)

• Ko Hla Myint Thein at RIT
• Past President, BAPS
• Co-chair, Working Committee for SPZP-2000
• Financial Controller
• Publisher of commemorative RIT Alumni International Newsletter.
• Handled Logistics, Printing of Tickets & Badges, and Picnic

Saya U Nyo Win (M65)

• K H Chen in High School
• Worked for High Tech companies in the USA and Taiwan.
• Past President, BAPS
• Steering Committee member for SPZP-2000
• Founding member of NorCal RITAA and served for a term as Board of Director.

Saya K C Chiu (ChE63)

• Ko Tin Aung at RIT
• Past President, BEA
• Steering Committee member for SPZP-2000

• He and his older brothers Saya Dr. Aung Soe (C) and U Soe Thein (EE) attended SPZP-2000.
• After retirement, he moved to Southern California.

Saya George Chan (ChE66)

• Ko Maung Maung at RIT
• Steering Committee member for SPZP-2000
• Founding member of NorCal RITAA and served as the first President.
• Organized fund raising for the Training part of YTU Library Modernization project. Donated $500 as seed money.

Saya U Myat Htoo (C68)

• Emcee for SPZP-2000
• Past President of BADA and TBSA
• Founding member of NorCal RITAA.
• Chair of BOD (Board of Directors) since second term
• Played “Lost Neikban (RIT version)” on the Ukelele at the Gatherings for 2015 RIT Alumni Reunion in Los Angeles & NorCal Annual Dinner.

Saya U Thein Aung (Met72)

• James Wu at work
• Co-Emcee for SPZP-2000
• Mr. RIT စက်မှုမောင် in 1968
• Associate Editor for the Commemorative Issue of RIT Alumni Newsletter. Complied brief bio of Sayas & Sayamas invited for SPZP-2000)

Gordon Kaung (M83)

• Kaung Kaung Oo at RIT
• Youngest member of the Group.
• Offered Transportation Service for SPZP-2000
• Founding member of NorCal RITAA. President for two terms.
• He and his spouse Lillian Kaung (EC83) hosted several RIT events at iNapa Winery.

U Khin Maung Zaw (EC76)

• Hiding behind the camera
• Sole member outside of California
• Designed, implemented and hosted the first ex-RIT website
• Webmaster
• Promised at SPZP-2000 to develop a better version of the website
• Joined Microsoft. Married a young doctor. Had a son. Valid reasons for breaking his promise.

U Hla Min (EC69)

• Started the RIT Alumni International Newsletter in April / May 1999.
• Content Provider for the RIT web site.
• Wrote 64 “Countdown to the Union” and 36 “Post Reunion” news and articles.
• Composed “SAYA PU ZAW PWE” poem.
• Member of the Working Committee & Chief Editor of the Commemorative Issue of the Newsletter.

Meeting / Gathering at Ko Benny’s House

Meeting in 2002

Some alumni attended the meetings hosted by Benny Tan.

Dr. Myint Thein (M73)

• Wrote several articles for RIT Alumni International.
  e.g. An Apology to Sayagyi U Ba Toke
• Pen name : Ba Thein (Atlanta)
• Doctorate from Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia

Anthony Ng (M76)

• Ko Aye Tun at RIT
• Fund raiser for several organizations (including BAPS and RIT Alumni International).
  He also had to buy tickets from other organizations.

Posts

• 1999 – 2025
• RIT Alumni International
• RIT Alumni Newsletter
• SPZP-2000