TGIF@ALMA.House with YM Raja Petra Kamaruddin

ALMA is pleased to announced its Monthly Members Gathering or TGIF@ALMA.House this Friday nite, November 23rd, 2007 at the ALMA Clubhouse at 8:00 p.m..

In conjunction, there will be a talk by YM Raja Petra Kamaruddin, Editor and Webmaster of the popular socio-political portal Malaysia Today. In June this year, he was accorded the second most progressive Asian by World Business magazine in association with INSEAD. For more info on Raja Petra, read Wikipedia here.

He will be speaking on the topic of "Emerging Issues in Contemporary Malaysia".

There will be nasi lemak and refreshments served. The talk is expected to commence at 9:00 p.m. Members are most welcome.

Thank You.

On behalf of ALMA

Salahuddin bin Hisham
Program Coordinator

ALMA Clubhouse

ALMA has a Club House. Its one of those old Government Bungalow at the Ampang Hilir area. The address is 67, Jalan U Thant, Kuala Lumpur.

Thanks to our resourceful President, hopefully-future-YB Roslan Mohd Latif. He managed to secure the house from Government at an affordable rent. Definite thanks to the respective Government Department and officers who has looked at ALMA in a good light to allow use of their property.

So, it is congruent on us to meet up to their's and our own expectation to play our stated role as stipulated in our Constitution. Selamat berpersatuan dan berkhidmat!

With a Club House, ALMA could house its meeting, secretariat, and other activities. The last Annual General Meeting was held here. Hopefully many more activities could be organised there.

The Club has been extensively renovated and it comes with meeting rooms, office space, fairly spacious hall and quite few rooms.

The direction is fairly straight forward. Get on Jalan U Thant. If you are coming from the direction of Jalan Tun Razak, you will come across a "State of Palestine Embassy" blue sign (see the right picture below). The clubhouse in on the left of the State of Palestine Embassy.

For those unfamiliar with the area, Jalan U Thant can be entered from Jalan Tun Abdul Razak, by taking a left turn after the US Embassy. As you enter, the US Embassy is on your left and the rights side is Cycle & Carriage Bintang car showroom.

Should you be coming from the other direction along Jalan Ampang, find your way to Jalan U Thant. Look for that "State of Palestine Embassy" signage and enter the lane.

ALMA share its office with Yayasan Rangkaian Sahabat, who has shared some aspect of the renovation. There should be someone there. Knock on the door, if it is locked from inside.

Worth mentioning is a special thanks to Nazam who designed and assist the renovation. He is a member of the Committee and a professional Architect.

TGIF@ALMA.House

Remember how Americans look forward for Friday to end the working or schooling week. Not that Malaysian do not look forward to weekend. To reflect their anxiousness, they even had a catchphrase "Thank God It's Friday!". That eventually was abbreviated as TGIF.

Today, there is a chain of restaurants called TGIF and thats exactly where we "borrow" the logo for our event from. To negotiate the eventuality of a lawsuit from them, do visit their restaurants here in Malaysia. After all, by using the logo, we are advertising them. Hmmm ... how about sponsoring us?

is an event mooted in the last October AJK Meeting for the purpose of having a regular monthly event for to allow members to interact more frequently. More frequent interaction means more awareness of ALMA, more exchanges of knowledge, experiance, and information amongst individual members, and promote networking amongst members.

God knows, where it will lead to. Insya Allah, it leads to something beneficial for ALMA, its individual members, and lets not forget, society. And, it keeps our Club House alive with activities. Yes ... we have a Club House. For info and direction to the Club House, stay tune for a posting on it.

will be a monthly event and is scheduled for every third Friday of the month. That is off course, unless there are changes, in which members will be notified via e-Mail or SMS. It should start around 8:00 p.m. and if you wish to come earlier, you are most welcome. You can also perform Maghrib prayers at the Club.

It will be complimented with talks, presentations, films, cultural performances, and many other possible activities. They are invited from amongst our members or distinguish personalities from outside ALMA.

Dinner or at least a light meal with refreshments will be provided.

Rather than being caught in the Friday evening traffic jam and cursing at other vehicles, drop over to the Club to wait out the traffic. You will get to meet other fellow North American graduates.

would, last but not least, appreciate sponsorships and contributions from members or corporations to finance these regular monthly do. There would be a special fund created from the donations to keep this program sustainable in the long term. Do spare a couple of bucks when we pass the hat around. Seikhlas yang boleh.

As they say down in Texas, "See yawl!"

Berkenaan ALMA

Ahli-Ahli Jawatankuasa ALMA sesi 2006-2008,

bersama Penasihat-Penasihat ALMA, YB Dato Zin dan YB Dato Dr Awang Adek

Pertubuhan ini dikenali dengan nama, PERTUBUHAN ALUMNI MELAYU UNIVERSITI-UNIVERSITI AMERIKA UTARA, MALAYSIA atau dalam bahasa Inggeris, ASSOCIATION OF MALAY ALUMNI OF NORTH AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES, MALAYSIA atau nama singkatan, ALMA.

Asas dan Tujuan ALMA sebagaimana terkandung dalam Perlembagaannya, yang telah diluluskan Pendaftar Pertubuhan pada September 29, 2005 adalah seperti berikut:

1. Mewujud jaringan dan kerjasama di antara Alumni dalam satu Pertubuhan yang sah di Malaysia.

2. Menjadi satu landasan untuk menggembeling kepakaran dan pengetahuan Ahli-ahli dengan tujuan melibatkan diri dengan menyumbang kearah pembinaan bangsa dan negara yang maju dan berwibawa berteraskan ilmu, sains dan teknoloji.

3. Menggalakkan pertukaran idea dan fikiran sesama Alumni serta menjadi saluran rasmi untuk Alumni menyumbang dan memberi maklum balas.

4. Mendukung cita-cita Kebangsaan dan Agenda Melayu dengan menyumbang kepada kemajuan sosio-ekonomi masyarakat Melayu dan memartabatkan bangsa Melayu, negara Malaysia dan agama Islam.

5. Menjalinkan hubungan dan kerjasama dengan orang perseorangan atau pertubuhan-pertubuhan lain, samada di dalam atau luar negara.

6. Menerima sumbangan, bantuan dan tajaan melalui orang-orang awam dan pertubuhan lain. Sebarang kutipan wang daripada orang awam hendaklah mendapat kebenaran Pendaftar pertubuhan dan pihak berkuasa berkenaan.

7. Menjana sumber wang untuk mengumpul harta dan aset Pertubuhan.

Keahlian ALMA adalah terbuka kepada graduan-graduan Melayu yang berwarganegara Malaysia dan belajar di Universiti-Universiti Amerika Utara.

ALMA terbuka sebagai Ahli Bersekutu kepada penuntut Melayu yang sedang belajar di Universiti Amerika Utara, suami atau isteri-isteri Ahli Biasa, graduan Melayu Universiti Amerika Utara yang bukan rakyat Malaysia, dan orang perseorangan berbangsa Melayu dan merupakan rakyat Malaysia. Pertubohan memberi penghormatan kepada orang tertentu sebagai Ahli Kehormat.

Permohonan keadlian perlu mengikuti prosedur-prosedur yang ditetapkan Perlembagaan Pertubohan.

Ahli ALMA boleh melibatkan diri dalam kegiatan Pertubuhan, melainkan penglibatan terhad di dalam Mesyaurat Agong untuk ahli Kehormat dan Bersekutu.

Yuran keahlian bagi pendaftaran ada sebanyak RM10 untuk pendaftaran dan RM100 yuran keahlian seumor hidup. Ahli Bersekutu hanya dikenakan yuran pendaftaran, manakala ahli kehormat tidak kenakan sebarang yuran.

Setikar Seketiduran

Bakti berzaman lali keraguan
hilang meriah angkara perebutan
alpa budaya emas buruan
nikmat menghasut lupa daratan
kilauan kemewahan cupak kepandaian
kabur hemat tebusan direlakan

bistari bangsa peninggalan ayahanda
pengkal diidam pucuk diteroka
tiada sudut tiada disua
ilmu meluap punca kluasa
tidak dihamba di bumi ibunda
biar patah kandar bekal jangan dibuka

disini bermula azam permuafakatan
disemak ditapis erti kemuliaan
bangsa ku tegap atas kebenaran
usaha suci kifayah diutamakan
bentangkan mengkuang sudi-sudikan
akrabkan bangsa bak ...... setikar seketiduran

Nukilan Rahmat Yahya

Sedutan dari Buku Cendramata Malam ALMA 2005

ALMA: Hasrat dan Harapan

Sejarah "Columbus" Melayu berkelana ke Benua Amerika mencari ilmu dikatakan bermula seawal tahun-tahun 50an. Ada yang mengesahkan seorang anak Melayu telah menuntut di Colorado School of Mines seawal tahun 1955. Manakala, kisah yang masyhur ia-lah pengembaraan Dato Senu Abdul Rahman sebagai kelasi kapal yang berlabuh dan menyambung pelajaran di Los Angeles sebelum Malaya Merdeka.

Namun, sejak kumpulan pelajar pertama yang dihantar kerajaan pada tahun 1968, ribuan anak Melayu telah berduyun-duyun ke barat Lautan Atlantik melanjutkan pelajaran dengan biasiswa kerajaan, khususnya pada pertengahan tahun 70an ke akhir 80an.

Dunia Baru ini berlainan sekali dari tradisi British di Tanah Air. Nilai budaya mereka yang berteras kebebasan individu dan demokrasi terjemah di dalam falsafah pendidikan sepanjang hayat yang fleksibel dan "accessible". Rakyat Bumi Si Bebas dan Tanahair Si Gagah (Land of Free and Home of the Brave) mempunyai keyakinan diri, sifat berdikari dan semangat jatidiri yang kental lagi dikagumi.



Namun, anak-anak muda Melayu tidak terikut-ikut mengejar Impian Amerika (American Dream) tetapi menterjemahkanya menjadi Impian Malaysia. Pengalaman merantau telah membina jiwa dan semangat untuk memajukan negara dan memartabatkan bangsa. Kini mereka telah pulang ke tanahair dengan ijazah dan ramai yang telah menempa pencapaian masing-masing.

"Kuat burung kerana sayap, kuat ketam kerana sepit".

Berpegang kepada pepatah Melayu tersebut, ALMA berhasrat menyatupadukan kepakaran dan pengetahuan setiap ahli ke arah membina satu Jalinan Iktisad Melayu yang padu dan berkesan.

ALMA bervisi untuk menjalankan peranan yang perlu dan berkesan dalam kesinambungan usaha memartabatkan bangsa. Antaranya, ALMA akan menjadi salah satu platform bagi cendikiawan dan professional Melayu mengkaji, membina maklumat dan bertukar fikiran untuk menyumbang timbal balas dan menjana ide yang boleh dilaksanakan untuk kepentingan Melayu.

ALMA berhasrat untuk melanjutkan jaringan ahli-ahlinya ke arah membina kerjasama iktisad sesama ahli dan bangsa Melayu, amnya. Seharusnya, ALMA berperanan meningkatkan kecemerlangan akademik anak-anak Melayu program-program lanjutan pengajian ke Universiti-Universiti di Amerika Utara.

Kalau Tidak Dipecahkan Ruyung, Manakan Dapat Sagunya.

Sedutan dari Buku Cenderamata

Malam ALMA 2005,

20 Februari, 2005