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Class Representative FAQs
1.0 Class Representatives: An Overview
1.1 What is a Class Representative?
A Class Representative is the contact person for his or her 9th grade graduating class.
1.2 What does a Class Representative do?
As a Class Representative, your main objectives is to keep your class connected to one another. A Class Representative is responsible for finding missing members of their class and maintaining contact with those members who are found, including keeping mailing and email addresses current. The Class Rep should distribute the class list with contact information to all class members. Also important is the distribution of information about upcoming reunions. Class Reps can use any medium they like, such as email, newsletters, or websites, to keep classmates connected.
Class Reps attending an ABI reunion plan and host the Class Party, which is usually held the Saturday evening of the reunion. If the Class Rep is not planning to attend the reunion, then the Rep can find someone to take over these duties.
1.3 How can I become a Class Representative?
If your class does not have a class rep, you can contact
Robin Payne-White DH'59 (robin@aramco-brats.com), ABI Class Representative Coordinator about filling the position. If your class has a rep already, you should contact the current class rep to discuss forming a class rep team and/or taking over duties from the current rep.
1.4 What information does a Class Representative need to maintain?
- Class Reps need to maintain a current Class Address List, with contact information for all classmates. Any changes to mailing addresses, phone numbers, or email addresses should be periodically forwarded to the Class Rep Coordinator (robin@aramco-brats.com) OR directly to the Database Director
(penny@aramco-brats.com.
- Class Reps should create a Master Class List (if we do not already have one for your class) with all the names of all members of your class. You can compile your list by looking through your yearbooks. Most people have classmates listed from 7th-9th grades, but you can feel free to include classmates as far back as Kindergarten, if you have yearbooks for those years. Once you have compiled this list, please send it to the CRC (robin@aramco-brats.com) so that it can be added to our Master List. After the list has been sent to the CRC, you can use this list to assemble your Class Address List.
- All Reps should maintain a Missing Classmate List. These missing classmate names should be published, either in a newsletter, in an email sent to classmates, or on a website. Many times other classmates have contact information for these missing classmates, but do not realize that it is needed unless they see that the classmate is "missing" according to your records.
2.0 Class Reps and the ABI
2.1 How do Class Reps relate to ABI?
It is important for ABI to understand the issues concerning each class. Suggestions, complaints, and/or compliments can enhance and improve the structure and communication ability of this large group. If you have any questions or comments, please contact the Class Representative Coordinator (robin@aramco-brats.com).
2.2 Who do I contact if I find a new address (email OR mailing) for a classmate?
New or updated mailing addresses can be sent to Class Representative Coordinator
(robin@aramco-brats.com), or directly to Penny Dougherty-Maher (penny@aramco-brats.com), ABI Database Director.
2.3 What should I tell classmates about the Aramco Brats reunions?
It is important to let all classmates know the dates and locations of the Biennial Aramco Brats reunions. Classmates can be directed to the Reunion page on the ABI website. Class Reps should encourage attendance at the ABI Reunions.
3.0 Class Representative Mailing List
3.1 How does the Class Representative email distribution list work?
The Class Rep email distribution list (classreps@aramco-brats.com) is a simple way to distribute an email to all class reps, without needing all class rep email addresses. The Class Rep list is intended to a community forum for discussing ideas about keeping classes unified, tips for finding "lost" classmates, website, newsletters, etc.
3.2 How do I subscribe to the Class Representative mailing list?
If ABI has your current email address, as a class rep, your address is automatically included in this distribution list. If you have changed your email address, please contact the ABI webmaster (webmaster@aramco-brats.com) with your updated info.
If you do not want to be included in this list, please contact
the ABI webmaster (webmaster@aramco-brats.com).
3.3 Netiquette: Are there rules I should follow when posting to the CR mailing list?
- Be nice.
- Don't use the list for casual conversations. This is the Class Rep list, so threads on this list should relate to Class Rep functions or activities.
4.0 Class Representative Coordinator (CRC)
4.1 Who is the Class Representative Coordinator?
The ABI Class Rep Coordinator is Robin Payne-White (robin@aramco-brats.com).
4.2 What does the Class Representative Coordinator do?
The CRC is the contact person for all of the class reps. The CRC is responsible for sending you mailing address and email address updates that have come in to ABI, as well as answering any questions about being a class rep, giving pertinent tips and ideas for being a CR, and providing support for creating a website for your class. As a member of the ABI Board, the CRC provides a link from the Class Reps to the main administration of AramcoBrats, Inc.
5.0 Class Address Lists
5.1 How do I format a class address list?
Most people maintain their class lists in Microsoft Excel, since it's fairly universal and it organizes, sorts, and filters information effectively. If you don't have Excel, you can use MS Word, a text file, or whatever makes sense for you.
5.2 How do I list someone’s married name?
The preferred format is firstname maidenname-lastname. For example, Diana Ryrholm-Geerdes.
5.3 What should I do if a classmate does not want to be contacted by AramcoBrats, Inc.?
If someone has indicated a desire not to be contacted, please list the name in your database but note that no further contact is desired. Some classmates do not want their contact information published, but do want to stay in the network. If this scenario arises, please contact the Database Director (penny@aramco-brats.com).
5.4 What do I do when I find a "missing" classmate?
Jump up and down and pat yourself on the back! Tell them about the AramcoBrats community and point them toward the ABI website http://www.aramco-brats.com and to your class website, if you have one. Send them the last newsletter or email that you sent out to your class and basically bring them up to speed about what has been happening with your class. Make sure you get a current mailing address, telephone number and email address for them, and forward that information to the CRC (robin@aramco-brats.com).
5.5 What do I do when an address for a classmates doesn’t work any more?
An unfortunate reality in this modern world is that people move around a lot. If someone's address doesn't work any more, see if you can locate family members or friends who may know where they are now. If all else fails, let the CRC know (robin@aramco-brats.com) that the contact information is no longer valid and then add that person to your Missing Classmate List.
If you mail out a paper newsletter to your class, one of the most important things that you can do to aid you in obtaining new address information is to stamp or write in large letters on the outside of your newsletter or letter FORWARDING ADDRESS REQUESTED.
5.6 How can I find missing classmates?
There are several ways you can find a missing classmate:
ABI databases: The CRC will periodically send you your current class information from the ABI address database and email database. Cross-check your information to see if the classmate has submitted a change of address to ABI.
ABI BratBoard: The ABI message board has forums for class communication. Post a message about your search.
Create a Class Website: Class websites can do tremendous amounts of work for you. If you keep a complete class list, missing classmates and all, on your site, the names will come up on any Internet search. With the popularity of "googling" your own name to see where you are listed, many people see their name come up on a search and will find the site themselves. They might also be searching for items about "Aramco" or "Dhahran" or "Abqaiq," etc. and find your website.
Internet: In the same vein as people "googling" their own name, you can type a missing classmate's name into a search engine and see what comes up. Many times names will be listed on an employer's website, etc. **One tip...type the name in quotes e.g. "Mike
Simms"...anything typed in quotes in a search engine will find instances when the entire phrase, within the quotes, appears.**
6.0 Class Websites
6.1 Can I set up a class website?
YES!! It is strongly encouraged, and ABI can host your site so that you do not have to pay for a hosting service. You are welcome to have your class site residing elsewhere if you do not want it hosted by ABI. If you set up a website, whether hosted on the ABI servers, or not, we can put a link on the Class Pages section of the ABI website. Contact the ABI Webmaster (webmaster@aramco-brats.com)
about adding a link.
6.2 What resources are available to help me set up a class website?
We have a set of tutorials for folks who want to set up a website but don't know how. For more information, contact the webmaster, (webmaster@aramco-brats.com). You may also find several tutorials on-line.
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