Meeting Minutes
Executive Committee meeting
September 28, 2008
At La Puente Monastery
Attendees:
1. Dr. Tin Win President
2. Dr. Kyaw Win Vice President
3. Utin Nwe Secretary
4. Ko Thura Thant Zin Joint Secretary
5. Dr. Christopher Lee Joint Treasurer
6. U Soe Aung EC member
7. Dr. Kyaw Min Hlaing EC member
8. U Tin Htut EC member
9. Ko Khin Maung Lay EC member
10. Ko Lucas Lee EC member
11. Dr. Zaw Win Lwin EC member
12. Ko Tin Oo Myint EC member
13. Ma Wai Wai Ohn EC member
14. Ma Zin Mar Oo EC member
15. Ko James Shwe EC member
16. U Kyaw Tha EC member
17. Dr. Khin Maung Tint EC member
18. Ko Charles Yang EC member
19. Ma Thiri May Zin EC member
Absentees:
1. U Tin Htet Sein Vice President
2. Ko Myat Ko Joint Secretary
3. U Tin Htway Treasurer
4. Ko Tun Lin Aung EC member
5. Ko Win Naing EC member
6. U Tun Tin EC member
BASES Meeting Minutes
12:45 p.m. – Opening Statement from President - Dr. Tin Win
Dr. Tin Win expressed appreciation to every one who participated in the last Election Dinner. He welcomed every EC member to provide opinions on the good and bad aspects of the past Election Dinner and suggestions for improvement at the coming Annual Dinner.
Ko Khin Maung Lay appologized to all EC members who might have been copied the e-mail from his son to Dr. Christopher Lee. He said his son’s email, in responding to an email that his son considered as a criticism of his religion, included some comments that Ko Khin Maung Lay thought might have been interpreted by some as an insult to those who had visited and enjoyed his hospitality at their home. He said that his son had intended the email as a joke, and not to take it seriously. He said all his guests are very welcome as usual in their home.
The Burmese Student Association (BSA) at UCLA requested to make a presentation at the beginning of the meeting. Jenessa Oo, Entertainment Coordinator, Myo Kyaw Thant, President, and Keith Hlaing, Vice President talked about a fund raising concert called “Helping Hands” which will be held on Nov 16th at UCLA, for the benefit of the victims of Cyclone Nargis. It is the first ever Burmese event at UCLA in history. Myo Kyaw Thant requested BASES to sponsor BSA. Four sponsor packages, namely Presenting ($5000), Platinum ($1000), Gold ($700) and Silver ($500) are available. He stated that all the funds received would be donated through Thitague Saya Daw for helping the victims of Cyclone Nargis.
U Tin Htut said helping and organizing students was one of BASES goals.
Ko Lucas asked whether BSA was involved in politics. Janessa Oo answered that BSA was non political.
BASES account record (01/08 to 12/08) was presented by Dr. Tin Win to EC for review.
- BASES currently has $ 13,148 in the account.
- EC has no comments for the BASES account records.
- Dr. Christopher Lee mentioned that the last EC added about $3000 to the BASES funds by selling sugarcane juice, selling raffle tickets and getting donations at dinners. He emphasized his opinion that each EC should try to raise funds as much as possible during their term.
Dr. Tin Win reported following summary of responses received for survey questionnaire sent out on 08/26/2008
Most popular choices are the following:
- Annual Dinner date 11/15;
- Want picnic; Picnic date 3/21;
- Picnic location Whittier Park;
- Picnic. Food Pot Luck;
- EC meetings at restaurant, each attendee paying for own food.
Ko James Shwe kindly offered his conference room for EC meetings in future.
Address: 1106 B Magnolia Blvd,
Burbank , CA 91506.
Tel: No. (818) 840-0280.
Many members provided opinions on the good and bad aspects of past dinners, as well as suggestions for the future dinners. Some of the noteworthy opinions include:
- Need improvement of check-in or registration procedure
- Difficulty in finding and acquiring a suitable location
- Selection of food difficult and most restaurants offer same/common taste.
- Too much restriction on time available for the event.
- Guests do not enjoy entertainment, only want to stay for raffle.
- Need to provide opportunity to facilitate mingling among guests.
- Need improvement of sound effects.
- People traffic to get food at buffets creates distractions to what is happening
on stage.
- Good and bad experience to be recorded for future reference.
- Life members should be charged to attend dinners to raise funds. (To be discussed at a future meeting)
- Should take opportunity to try to update member information at dinners.
- Should try to supervise table arrangements.
- Should have group photographs taken.
- Scholarships should be offered to deserving students. (To be discussed at a future meeting.)
- Should consider having people self introduce at dinners
Following consensus decisions were made for the Annual Dinner:
- Dinner date 11/22/08;
- Location at Torrance Civic Center - Toyota Meeting Hall;
- Food that would suit Burmese taste to be catered.
- Henry to arrange for food in consultation with Tin Win and some other EC’s as he deems needed.
Agreed on following guidelines for selling tickets, invitees, etc.:
Dinner tickets will be sold at $25.00 each, both for members and guests.
- 2 guests will be invited from each of following Societies:
Ex RIT, BAPS, Dental, Physicians, Myanmar, Chinese, BSA(UCLA), Muslims.
- Henry will be granted up to $750 to invite entertainment performers and to use for appreciation awards to same.
Following decisions for entertainment program voted with indicated results:
Dance floor to be provided – 12 Yes/0 No
Hire professionsl singer - 3 Yes/6 No
Model Show - 1 Yes/ 9 No
Use Amateur Comedians - 6Yes/1 No
Amateur Dancers - 12 Yes/0 No
Entertainment Sub Committee was formed consisting of Ko Khin Maung Lay, Ko CharlesYang and Ma Zin Mar Oo.
In consideration of Webmaster’s advice, Ko Thura was nominated as Web Content Author.
It was decided that all identified employment opportunities and employment seekers are to be advised to Dr. Tin Win.
It was confirmed that BASES will contribute at deaths of members, their spouses, their children and parents (including spouse’s parents).
Decision was made for BASES to sponsor BSA (UCLA) at the gold level. A check payable to BSA (UCLA) for $700.00 was handed to Jenessa Oo.
Ko Lucas kindly offered to produce a map showing how members’ residential locations are distributed over LA County. Ko Thura suggested showing dots scattered in accordance with Zip Codes. Addresses are not to be shown on the map.
It was decided that a meeting will be called as needed prior to the Annual Dinner to review status of plans and to implement any needed decisions.
Notes taken at the meeting were not read and confirmed at the end of the meeting because there were only a few attendees (9) left at the end of the meeting.
On behalf of BASES Executive Committee, Dr. Tin Win expressed his appreciation to U Soe Aung and his family for having made it possible, a productive meeting at their soon kyway at La Puente Monastery. He expressed that all of the EC members enjoyed the very tasty monhinga and accompanying goodies and thanked him for his generosity.
Adjourned meeting at 3:40 p.m.
Regards,
U Tin Nwe
BASES Secretary