AramcoBrats, Inc.

Brats,

We've got some new information to share and some old stuff that just
bears repeating, so read on for an ABI update.

Brand new financial reports reflecting activity through the second
quarter of 2006 have been posted to the AramcoBrats website. Take a
look if numbers are your thing. Even if they're not, take a look
anyway to get a picture of the financial health of the ABI. It's your
money and we want you to know that we're taking good care of it. Also,
read on below for a discussion and primer of sorts on the report from
Doug Webb, ABI Treasurer.

Also, Asheville, NC has been in the news lately and we thought you
might like to take a closer look at the home of the 2007 reunion.  If
that inspires you, we've included instructions for making reservations
at the reunion hotel.

And finally, there is stuff we need to get rid of and stuff we need to
get, so take a close look at the last two items in this update. Each
describes an excellent way to support the ABI and it's work.

Mike Simms AB'78
ABI President


In this update:

1- Financial Reports Posted on aramco-brats.com
2- Information on Asheville, NC -- Home of the 2007 Reunion
3- Make Your Reservations for 2007
4- Past Reunion Swag for Sale
5- Raffe/Auction Donations Needed

------------------------------------------------

Financial Reports Posted on aramco-brats.com

Financial Report by Doug Webb
As someone who has benefited greatly from the dedicated efforts of the
ABI, primarily as a result of having more fun than humans should be
allowed to have at several Reunions, I've always wanted to find a way
to contribute to the Aramco-Brats. So when I was approached last
summer and asked whether I would like to help out and fill in as
Treasurer, naturally I said, "Are you out of your mind?!".

Eight months later, here I sit with binders of correspondence,
statements, and receipts, not to mention a 1982 edition of Managerial
Accounting on my desk. To be honest, the job of ABI Treasurer has
been a learning experience for me; much of this due to getting
familiar with using a Quicken program that tracks all the financial
activity and the corresponding chart of accounts that creates a
category for all expenses and receipts.

Most of the categories you see in this report are also broken down
into sub-categories. For instance, the Publications expense account
contains sub-accounts for newsletter, directories and election
ballots, and each of those has categories for printing, and mailing
costs. AdBaks are divided between a category to offset costs of
printing the directory and a donation category. So, when the Treasurer
writes a check for something or processes a receipt, in many cases
they have to be apportioned into different sub-categories. Certainly,
I have a new found admiration for those who preceded me in the job.
And I can hear Cathie and Kathy saying, "Just wait until the Reunion."!

For those of you keeping score at home, the numbers in certain
categories may change on occasion due to modifications to past
activity; a good example being the few Brats who are due refunds as a
result of overpaying their reunion fees, and checks that were written
to Brats that were never cashed. Some may opt for a refund; others may
want to have the money applied to 2006-2007 AdBaks. Others still, may
be feeling generous and will donate all or a portion of their refund
to the ABI. And believe it or not, we do have some bad debt: checks
received from Brats that bounced a while ago, and have yet to be
replaced. Currently, this amount is less than $300, but if never
-----------------

Information on Asheville, NC -- Home of the 2007 Reunion

Check the Reunion pages at www.aramco-brats.com to find out more about
Asheville. The 2007 Reunion Committee has provided a list of ?Things
to do in Asheville? which includes links to some interesting area
restaurants, architectural and outdoor interests, historic attractions
and museums, as well as shopping areas. For more ideas or just to get
you daydreaming about the next reunion location, read the travel
article from the Sunday San Diego Tribune, ?Blue Ridge Mountains a
haven for the handmade in a soothing setting,? at
",1] ); //--> recovered, will have to be written off the books. Finally, we are
still in the process of having our books audited - a task that must be
completed at the end of each Board Term. All of these activities may
result in changes to the posted numbers.

Many of you have expressed a desire to pay for your AdBaks and Reunion
fees with a credit or debit card. Yes, we have a committee for that
(!), and it is exploring a variety of solutions that will allow us to
incorporate credit card processing to our bank account and website.
The service is not free and normally involves a flat monthly fee and a
nominal charge for each transaction. In addition to being
cost-effective, we also want to be sure that our chosen solution is
one that protects both you and the ABI from fraudulent activity. It is
our goal to have this feature available by the end of the year.

If you have any questions, concerns or suggestions, please don't
hesitate to write me at doug@aramco-brats.com.

Until next time, ma'a sallaamah!

-----------------------------------------------

Information on Asheville, NC -- Home of the 2007 Reunion

Check the Reunion pages at www.aramco-brats.com to find out more about
Asheville. The 2007 Reunion Committee has provided a list of "Things
to do in Asheville" which includes links to some interesting area
restaurants, architectural and outdoor interests, historic attractions
and museums, as well as shopping areas. For more ideas or just to get
you daydreaming about the next reunion location, read the travel
article from the Sunday San Diego Tribune, "Blue Ridge Mountains a
haven for the handmade in a soothing setting," at
-----------------

Make Your Asheville Reservations

Reservations at the Crowne Plaza must be made by May 10, 2007. To make
your reservations, go to http://www.ashevillecp.com) and click on
?reserve online?. You will be prompted to enter dates needed and
number of people. At the very bottom of the screen there will be a box
for ?group booking code?. Enter ABR to get the group rate. For those
who prefer to make their reservations by telephone, dial the toll-free
reservation number for the Crowne Plaza in Asheville - (800)733-3211.
Don?t forget to give them our group code to ensure you receive the
group rate. For those of you who are planning a longer vacation around
the reunion dates, our group rates will be valid for an additional 3
days before and 3 days after the event.

Suites cannot be reserved directly at this time. If you would like a
suite, please send an email to suiterequest@aramco-brats.com and
request to be added to the waiting list. Suites will be offered to
those on the wait list on a first come,first-served basis closer to
the reunion.

------------------------------------------------

Past Reunion Swag for Sale

2005 ABI reunion merchandise is available at the AramcoBrats Online
Store. For those of you who were unable to attend the reunion but
inquired about purchasing reunion t-shirts and goodie bags, we?ve made
an entire goodie bag ?bundle? including a t-shirt and AramcoBrat pin,
available for a special price. To order, visit the ABI Suq at
",1] ); //--> http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060716/news_lz1t16blue.html.

-----------------------------------------------

Make Your Asheville Reservations

Reservations at the Crowne Plaza must be made by May 10, 2007. To make
your reservations, go to http://www.ashevillecp.com) and click on
"reserve online". You will be prompted to enter dates needed and
number of people. At the very bottom of the screen there will be a box
for "group booking code". Enter ABR to get the group rate. For those
who prefer to make their reservations by telephone, dial the toll-free
reservation number for the Crowne Plaza in Asheville - (800)733-3211.
Don't forget to give them our group code to ensure you receive the
group rate. For those of you who are planning a longer vacation around
the reunion dates, our group rates will be valid for an additional 3
days before and 3 days after the event.

Suites cannot be reserved directly at this time. If you would like a
suite, please send an email to suiterequest@aramco-brats.com and
request to be added to the waiting list. Suites will be offered to
those on the wait list on a first come,first-served basis closer to
the reunion.

------------------------------------------------

Past Reunion Swag for Sale

2005 ABI reunion merchandise is available at the AramcoBrats Online
Store. For those of you who were unable to attend the reunion but
inquired about purchasing reunion t-shirts and goodie bags, we've made
an entire goodie bag "bundle" including a t-shirt and AramcoBrat pin,
available for a special price. To order, visit the ABI Suq at
-------------------

Raffe/Auction Donations Needed

We are extremely fortunate that our now-famous (and highly
anticipated) reunion raffle and auction is totally supported by
generous donations of much sought-after treasures from our days in the
Middle East.  The items are donated by Brats, parents, teachers, and
other friends of AramcoBrats, Inc.  Last year this event raised over
$5,000.  If you have items you would like to donate to the upcoming
raffle/auction in Asheville, please send a note to
raffleauction@aramco-brats.com.

",0] ); D(["ce"]); //--> www.aramco-brats.com (select AramcoBrats from the top menu). Goodie
bags, t-shirts and pins may also be purchased separately. Sorry, only
XL t-shirts remain!

-------------------------------------------------

Raffe/Auction Donations Needed

We are extremely fortunate that our now-famous (and highly
anticipated) reunion raffle and auction is totally supported by
generous donations of much sought-after treasures from our days in the
Middle East.  The items are donated by Brats, parents, teachers, and
other friends of AramcoBrats, Inc.  Last year this event raised over
$5,000.  If you have items you would like to donate to the upcoming
raffle/auction in Asheville, please send a note to
raffleauction@aramco-brats.com.