by Hla Min

Updated : May 2026

Maurice Chee (M75) organized the party

Dear Alumni (far and near)

We are organizing a milestone birthday (soonkway) and appreciation celebration for our alumni icon U Hla Min at Theravada Buddhist Society of America (TBSA), Half Moon Bay on August 20, 2016 from 9:00AM to 3:00 PM.

I will be sponsoring my signature Indian (Chicken) and Chinese (baby back spare rib ) Dan Pauk, Benny (Mohingar), Saya Maung Maung (samosa), Daw San San Swe (Chin-Paung-Kyaw), Ko Hla Kyi (Bannana Dessert), Ko Gordon Kaung and Lillian Kaung (a tray of desserts).

You are welcome to sponsor, contribute and volunteer to help with the event.

To provide adequate foods, please send in your RSVP to mcmauchee@gmail.com by August 7, 2016.

Please come and join us to celebrate this special day with a mindful and cheerful party and we look forward to seeing you all to show our appreciation to U Hla Min for taking care of RIT newsletter as Chief Editor for the past seventeen years.

Saya U Tin Htut will be flying in from Los Angeles to attend the RIT mini-gathering. Saya was a member of the Organizing Committee for SPZP-2000. He is a co-founder and Past President of BASES.

Event address

Theravada Buddhist Society of America (TBSA)
17450 S. Cabrillo Highway, CA 94019
Half Moon Bay
CA 94019
U.S.A
Phone: 650-712-9165

I have been asked whether they can bring friends and family members to Ko Hla Min’s birthday celebration at TBSA, Half Moon bay, on August 20, 2016. The answer is Yes, per the Myanmar tradition any ah hlu ah tan is open to all well beings (alumni, non-alumni, friends and dhamma friends of Ko Hla Min).

With metta,
Maurice Chee, M75

Appreciation

From Saya U San Tun (Sain Fone Wong, M59)

Dear U Hla Min,

We regret that we will not be able to join the celebration of your birthday at the Theravada Buddhist Society of America on August 20, 2016.

There is no doubt that the attendance will be large and all the Burmese foods will be mouth-watering and delicious. We are sure all the attendees will have a good time and leave the celebration venue with a fond memory.

We admire you for all the good deeds and sacrifices you have been doing over the past decade for the benefits to oversea Burmese immigrants not only in the bay area, Southern California, the United States and over various parts of the world. Keep up the good work!

We expect to meet you at the annual Nor Cal RITAA dinner on September 17,2016. We wish you a happy birthday and our best regards to your beloved Daw Sein Yee.

Sain Fone & Sylvia

From Salim Mayet (M67)

Dear U Hla Min,

Wish you a very happy birthday. I admire you for all the hard work you have been doing for more than a decade to keep us informed about RIT sayagyis, sayamas and other members. Thank you.

Salim Mayet (M 67)

From Daw Mai Khin Nyunt (Rosie, ChE71)

Dear Ko Hla Min,

(a) May I wish to your beloved grand daughter “Grace”.

HAPPY 2nd BIRTHDAY AND MANY MORE TO COME

No doubt that she will become a smart little adorable girl. My grandson will be two years in coming Sept. He gives us hope and happiness. Each and every movement is interesting and adorable for us. I’m sure you and Ma Sein feel the same.

(b) Many Happy Returns of the Day. Wish you could spend your life per your wish with Dhamma, family and friends.

Have a nice and memorable gathering.

With Metta,

Rosie

From Saya U Khin (Lucien Chen, RIT English, Taipei)

Dear Hla Min,

I have been an ardent “fan” of your RIT Newsletter updates ever since you included me in your mailing list at the suggestion of Des Rodgers many many years ago.

You have made a great contribution to the RIT community by bringing the RIT alumni, sayas and sayamas together through your reports, messages, photos, etc. in the RIT Newsletter and also through your persistent efforts in carrying on the good work against all odds. Who is going to fill your shoes after you retire?

I spent the best years of my life (1964 ~ 1968) at the RIT and I cherish the good old days I had at the RIT with my former colleagues at the English Department such as Saya Desmond Rodgers, Saya U Win Mra, Saya U Joe Ba Maung, Saya Sao Kangyi (deceased), Saya U Kyaw Lwin Hla, Sayama Daw Yin Yin Mya (Terry), Sayama Daw Charity Sein U, Sayama Daw Khin May Lwin (Muriel), Sayama Daw Tin Tin Oo (Toni), Sayama Daw Khin Saw Tint (Anne), among others; my former colleagues at other engineering departments and non-engineering departments such as Saya U Tin Maung (Civil), Saya U Christopher Maung (Civil), Saya Allen Htay (civil), Saya Dr K.C. Khoo (Chemical), among others; and my former students Tin Tin Myint (Emma), Khin Phyu Latt (Christine), Tin Tin Hla (Su Tin), Sai Kham Sang, Pamela Myo Min, George Lim, among others.

I hope you will have a great time at the birthday party that will be hosted in your honor on August 20th at Half Moon Bay, California, by your former classmates, colleagues, sayas and sayamas.

I shall also be wishing you a happy birthday in absentia from this part of the world, and hope you will have many happy and healthy returns of the day in the years to come.

Sincerely yours,
Lucian Chen (Saya U Khin)

From Saya U Tin Htut (M60, Los Angeles)

Yes, I will be glad to join you all in the celebration.

Tin Htut

From Saya U Maung Maung (George, ChE66) and spouse

Dear Ko Hla Min,

See you at the Half Moon Bay Monastery this Saturday.

Thanks for your dedication and untiring effort in keeping us all in touch with alumni all around the world.

Also wishing you the very best on your Birthday and many more to come.

Best regards,
George & Eng Eng Chan

From Benny Tan (Yu Beng, M70) and Angelina

Dear Ko Hla Min,

You’ve spent years sharing your amazing memories and wonderful writing ability with all of us from RIT, YIT, etc.

I like to thank you for sharing your wonderful RIT spirit and making a positive difference for so many people. Time is the most precious thing and you have generously shared your time and talents with all of us year after amazing year.

Congratulations and all the best to you on your milestone birthday. May you live long, happy and healthy and may all your dreams and wishes come true.

All the best,
Benny and Angelina Tan

From Gordon Kaung (M83) and Lillian Kaung (EC83)

Hello Saya Hla Min:

We wish you the happiest of B-days, and many many more to come!

We will bring a bottle of premium iNapaWine for you and ama to enjoy at your B-day (we know ama will definitely enjoy our premium wine to stay healthy, and take good care of you).

With lots of metta,
Gordon and Lillian Kaung
Wine Maker

From Saya Dr. Chris Lee (L Tin Htun, EE59)

Dear Ko Hla Min:

From reading the recent emails in your “Update”, tomorrow will be a great “Happy Birthday Bonanza Party” for you. It will surely be a fun, exciting and memorable event for all attendees.

We wish you a wonderful Happy Birthday and many many more returns.

Best regards,
Chris and Pam Lee

U Myint Soe (M79)

He emailed me three photos.

U Soe Thu (C98)

He e-mailed me the Group Photo taken in front of U Silananda Hall at Dhammananda Vihara, Half Moon Bay.

U Chan Min, who rowed for the Institute of Economics, became a monk at Dhammananda Vihara after his retirement. His crew members include U Htin Kyaw (Peter) and U Soe Thinn. He also attended the computer classes at UCC in Rangoon.

From U Tha Aung (M79) & Daw Kinsa Maw-Naing (ChE79)

Dear Ko Hla Min,

Happy Birthday and to say thank you for all your efforts in keeping RIT alumni connected globally. Even though we don’t have much to say, we always follow your updates.

May you have a happy healthy long life and lots of ku-tho.

With metta from Tha Aung & Kinsa

Editor’s notes :

Appreciate your work hosting mini reunions in Canada and for volunteering as SPZP2016 representatives. Sayamagyi Daw Tinsa Maw-Naing was my English teacher in I Sc(A).

From Saya U Htun Aung Kyaw (ChE67)

Happy Birthday Ko Hla Min and cutie pie!

I appreciate all you hard work and dedication to RIT Alumni newsletter.

Sorry I cannot attend the event.

Thanks for your appreciation

Dear Sayas and Colleagues,

It is truly amazing to be appreciated by sayas and alumni. The following are examples.

Sayagyi Dr. Aung Gyi & Daw Emma called from Canada to wish my Cutie Pie and me. They also sponsored “Tohu Thoke တို့ဟူးသုတ်” for the attendees. Sayagyi sent Maurice his congratulatory message for me to be read at the soon kyway gathering. See the following section for details.

Saya U Tin Htut flew in from Southern California.

Ko San Lin (M 87, “Maung Lu Pay”) took time off from work to attend the soon kyway.

Ko Kyaw Myint (M 83) delegated his “Flower shop” to his assistant to attend the soon kyway.

Ko Myint Soe (M79), who recently had knee surgery, requested Ko Aung Myint Oo (EC 84) to give him and his spouse a ride to the soon kyway.

Due to tight multiple schedules, Angelina & Benny Tan (M 70) came in separate cars so that Benny can have more time with his sayas and colleagues.

Saya U Tin Maung Nyunt (M 60) will celebrate his 80th birthday in December. Saya only drive local short distance, so he asked Ko Thein Naing (Patrick) to give him a ride.

Daw Mu Mu Kin, spouse of Saya Allen Htay, had tears in her eyes. She said that Saya would wish to be at the RIT mini-gatherings. She gave me silk neck ties that were bought (but never worn) by Saya. She shares the birthday on August 18 with my Cutie Pie.

Maurice ordered a genericcake to celebrate Daw Mu Mu Kin, Ko Myint Swe (EP 74) and other August born.

Maurice hand crafted a custom “birthday greetings” card with extracts from the birthday greetings from the RIT updates. The messages from Saya Dr. San Hla Aung, Ko Tha Aung & Ma Kinsa Maw-Naing came in too late to be incorporated into the gigantic card.

Maurice spent countless days organizing the event. Following the tradition of his late father Uncle U Wah Kyu, he also prepared custom birayani (dan bauk ဒန်ပေါက်).

Charlie Tseng (EC70) and Diana Tseng (ChE71) ordered two large birthday cakes.

The full list of food donors and sponsors is maintained by Maurice.

Johnson Lim (cousin of Robert San Lin) needs a human walking “cane” (his beloved spouse). They are regular food donors at most events.

Daw Kyu Kyu Lin (T75) rarely attends gatherings. She made an exception this time. She brought “Kyee Oh See Kyet ကြေးအိုးဆီချက်”. She also gave a ride to two Textile grads: Ko Than Htay (T75) and Ma Bibsu (T76).

Sayama Daw Khin Khin Chit Maung rarely attends gatherings. She made an exception this time. She and Saya U Myo Min fetched Saya U Tin Htut (her elder brother) at the air port and also brought him to the Half Moon Bay monastery.

Gordon Kaung (M 83) and Lillian Kaung (EC 83) drove close to 3 hours from Napa. They also brought a bottle of iNapa Premium wine and desserts.

Saya U Myat Htoo (C68) spent a decade or so as President of TBSA (Theravada Buddhist Society of America) at Half Moon Bay monastery. Today was a sort of “welcome back” for him and Ma Ku (Daw Hnin Maung Maung).

Saya U Maung Maung (George, ChE 66) is a Past President of NorCal RIT Alumni Association and a founding member of RIT Alumni International. He and Daw Eng Eng (sister of Saya U Myat Thwin, ChE 66) brought samoosa.

There were a few young and not so young alumni at the event. They include Ko Soe Thu (C98) and Ma Thandar.

Saya U Nyo Win (M65) and spouse were caught in the traffic.

Saya U Thein Aung (Met72) and Sandra (M76) brought their daughter.

Dr. Myint Thein (M73) talked about his “Htaik Htar ထိပ်ထား” Daw Nyo Nyo Win (T73) and provide examples of “Applied English” (e.g. “air cut” for stroke).

Award

Received appreciation award for helping the sayas and alumni to get connected via the RIT Alumni International Newsletter and Updates since 1999.

It was the second award from the RIT Community.

I received the first award at SPZP-2000 along with Maurice and KMZ.

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