1. Fall 2005 Newsletter/Address Verification
2. ABI Election Brochure and Ballots
3. Reunion Registration
4. Other Reunion Deadlines
5. Reunion Information
6. Reunion FAQ du Jour
7. Other Reunion Goodies


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1. Newsletter/Address Verification

The Spring 2005 issue of the ABI newsletter was mailed out last week. If you have not received yours yet, please contact Sherri Dent-Moxley (Database Director) at sherri@aramco-brats.com to confirm that we have your currect current mailing information. You can complete the online address change form (<http://www.aramco-brats.com/address_change_form.htm>) to update our mailing and email information for you.

If you did not receive your paper copy of the Spring 2005 newsletter, you can view it online as an Adobe Acrobat file:

The low-resolution version (882K) is <http://www.aramco-brats.com/newsletter/BratnewsS2005lo.pdf>.

The high-resolution version (2.2MB) is <http://www.aramco-brats.com/newsletter/BratnewsS2005hi.pdf>.

The newsletter has useful information regarding the upcoming ABI reunion (especially for those attending for the first time), information on the upcoming ABI election, a trip back to Saudi Arabia, and other good stuff.

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2. ABI Election Brochure and Ballots

The ABI Election Brochure and Ballots is currently at the printer and should be in the mail to you by the end of next week. If you are voting by mail, please be sure to mail them in time to be in Gary's hands no later than May 23, 2005. Remember - your vote counts. Please show your support of the ABI by voting.

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3. Reunion Registration

The March 31st deadline has passed. For those who have already registered but not yet paid, you will need to include an addition $15/person late fee with your payment. If you have not yet registered, the on-line registration form has been changed to include the late charge in the fee calculation.

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4. Other Reunion Deadlines

If you have registered to participate in one of the sports tournaments at the Reunion and need to cancel, please note the following upcoming deadlines:

Bowling: Cancellations will be accepted and refunded through April 30, 2005.

Golf: Cancellations will be accepted and refunded through April 30, 2005. We will, however, allow stand-by's and will ask that they reimburse the player that they are replacing.

---

5. Reunion Information

If you would like information on the upcoming reunion, please visit the Reunion pages at <http://www.aramco-brats.com>. Click on "Reunion" on the top menu bar to go to the Reunion Overview page. Use the left-hand menu to make hotel reservations, register on-line ("Reunion Registration"), see the "Who's Coming" list, or to find information on Reunion activities, schedule of events, airports, discount air fare, discount car rental, ground transportation, area restaurants, and Houston in general.

Some other announcements and answers to commonly asked questions can be found on the BratBoard: <http://www.aramco-brats.com/BratBoard> under the ABI Reunion section.

---

6. Reunion FAQ du Jour

Does the $45 registration fee include a t-shirt? Yes, the $45 registration fee includes one L/XL t-shirt which you will receive with your registration packet when you check in at the Reunion.

If you want an XXL INSTEAD of the one L/XL t-shirt that is included in your $45 registration fee, please indicate this under "XXL shirt" on the form. An XXL shirt with registration packet is an additional $2.

If you want MORE than the one L/XL t-shirt included in the registration packet, please indicate this under "Extra shirt" on the form. An EXTRA L/XL shirt is $6.

If you want an EXTRA t-shirt but would like an XXL, please indicate this under "Extra XXL shirt" on the form. An Extra XXL shirt is $8.

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7. Other Reunion Goodies

We are beginning to place orders for reunion goodies. Quantities ordered will be projections of final attendance numbers based on registrations we have already received, so we cannot guarantee that supplies will not run out at the door.

---

Are you packed yet?

Diana Ryrholm-Geerdes RT 1962
For the ABI Board of Directors
And the Houston Reunion Committee

This is the ABI Announcement List, a low-traffic list reserved for official ABI business. To unsubscribe, send an email with your name and class to opt-out@aramco-brats.com.

Email webmaster@aramco-brats.com if you have any questions.

1. Aramco Brats Reunion Avis Discount Number: J906640
2. Registration Late Fees Kick In After March 31, 2005
3. Questions About the Reunion?
4. Does the Reunion Hotel Allow Pets?
5. Brat Store Update: New Look, UDH Section, New Products
6. Aramco Services Company Invite to California Brats
7. Add Name to Aramco Services Company Event List

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1. Aramco Brats Reunion Avis Discount Number: J906640p

Discount car rental rates are available from Avis from May 19, 2005 to June 05, 2005. To receive discounts, use the assigned Meeting Avis Discount. Number above when making reservations. Reservations can be made by calling 1-800-331-1600 or online at www.avis.com. See Reunion page at <http://www.aramco-brats.com> for more information.

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2. Registration Late Fees Kick In After March 31, 2005

The deadline to get your registration/checks in the mail and postmarked without incurring late fees is March 31st. For those who have registered on-line (which we really appreciate!), you are not fully registered until you have sent in your money, and there are quite a few of you. Your checks must be postmarked by the deadline, or you will incur the same late fees. We will be submitting orders for t-shirts and goodie bags soon, so the better the headcount we have, the less likely we are to run out at the reunion.

---

3. Questions about the Reunion?

If you have questions about the hotel, reunion activities, registration, or Houston in general, please don't hesitate to ask! Just drop us an e-mail at reunion2005@aramco-brats.com. We'll do our best to answer you questions or address any concerns.

---

4. Does the Reunion Hotel Allow Pets?

Yes, but the pet must be 30 pounds or less. A $100 deposit is required - $25 non-refundable and $75 refundable.

---

5. BratStore Update: New look, UDH section, new products

The ABI BratStore (<http://www.cafepress.com/aramcobrats>) has undergone some important changes in the last couple of weeks. For one thing, the storefront received a facelift - we hope the new look will be more attractive and help you find the items you're looking for more easily. For another, after receiving several requests (and some invaluable assistance with locating a high-resolution version of the Udhailiyah logo), we've added a UDH section to the store. Finally, with Spring now upon us, we added a number of new products to all the district (ABQ, DH, RT, UDH) stores: sleeveless t-shirts and ringer t-shirts for men; camisoles, tank tops, sweatshirts, and track suits for women; spagetti tanktops and ringer shirts for kids; and throw pillows and steins for everybody.

All products have a 30-day 100% money-back guarantee, so if you're not satisfied with a purchase for any reason, return it for a full refund. Products are priced $1-2 above costs (to pay for the expense of maintaining the online store). Any profit remaining at the end of the year goes to the ABI. The main goal here is to get quality Brat stuff into Brat hands as cheaply and easily as possible.

Please contact webmaster@aramco-brats.com if you have any questions or comments. Thanks.

---

6. Aramco Services Company Inivite to California Brats - RSVP by April 1

Mazen I. Snobar, President & CEO of Aramco Services Company cordially invites you and your guest to the Southern California Annuitant's Dinner:
Manchester Grand Hyatt - San Diego
One Market Place
San Diego, California
Thursday, April 7, 2005
Cocktails - 7:00 p.m.
Dinner - 8:00 p.m.
Valet Parking
Business Cocktail Attire

RSVP by April 1 (please give your name, name of guest, address, and telephone number) 713-432-8920.

Special hotel rate of $235 if you mention you will be attending the Aramco Annuitant's Dinner Manchester Grand Hyatt 619-358-6647.

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7. Add Your Name to Aramco Services Company Event List

Aramco Services Company wants to develop a list of AramcoBrats interested in
attending ASC social events, such as barbeques, dinners, parties, and other
gatherings. If you are interested in adding your name to the ASC contact list,
please visit our website www.aramco-brats.com, click on "Add your name to the
ASC Event List", and fill out the form.

---

Hope to see you all in two months,

Diana Ryrholm-Geerdes RT 1962
For the ABI Board of Directors and the Houston Reunion Committee

---

This is the ABI Announcement List, a low-traffic list reserved for official ABI business. To unsubscribe, send an email with your name and class to opt-out@aramco-brats.com.
Email webmaster@aramco-brats.com if you have any questions.

1. DoubleTree Post Oak Is Now The Hilton Post Oak
2. Who's Coming List
3. Reunion Babysitting
4. Reunion Activity Information
5. Registration Late Fees Kick In After March 31, 2005
6. AdBak
7. BratWear at the ABI Brat Store
8. American Community School In Beirut Alumni Reunion

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1. DoubleTree Post Oak Is Now The Hilton Houston Post Oak

It has come to our attention that some Brats have received perplexing, new hotel reservation confirmation e-mails. The DoubleTree Post Oak has gone through the final stages of switching over to the Hilton Houston Post Oak. This process included changing to the Hilton reservation system. If you made your reservation prior to the DoubleTree Post Oak becoming the Hilton Houston Post Oak, you will receive a new reservation confirmation message with a new confirmation number (10-digit beginning with a 3). The old reservation list will be checked against a new one from the Hilton system to confirm that all Aramco Brat reservations were transferred correctly.

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2. Who's Coming List

A "Who's Coming" list has been posted on the BratBoard under Reunion Announcements (<http://www.aramco-brats.com/BratBoard/viewtopic.php?t=322>). This is a list of Brats who have turned in registration forms regardless of whether registration fees and AdBak have been paid. Remember, you are not fully registered until you have paid both of these fees. This list does NOT include any of the many Brats who have reserved a hotel room but have not yet registered. Brats will be listed in order of graduation class year. If you do not see you name on this list but think you have registered, please contact the Reunion Committee at reunion2005@aramco-brats.com!

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3. Reunion Babysitting

In addition to the "Share-a-Room/Share-a-Ride" forum topic, we have added a "Reunion Babysitting" topic. If you are looking for a sitter, or if you know someone who is available to babysit during the reunion, post your message in this forum.

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4. Reunion Activity Information

Information about ABI Reunion activities and alternative activities during the reunion has been posted on the Reunion pages at www.aramco-brats.com. Check here for details, maps and driving directions to the bowling, tennis, and golf tournaments. If this is your first reunion, and you're wondering what the Welcome Reception or Banquet is all about, we've provided a brief description. If your are interested in organizing an alternative reunion activity (e.g. fishing trip, NASA tour, trip to George Historical Ranch), please contact the Reunion Committee at reunion2005@aramco-brats.com with details, and we will be happy to add it to the site.

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5. Registration Late Fees Kick In After March 31, 2005

The deadline to get your registration/checks in the mail and postmarked without incurring late fees is March 31st. For those who have registered on-line (which we really appreciate!), you are not fully registered until you have sent in your money, and there are quite a few of you. Your checks must be postmarked by the deadline, or you will incur the same late fees. We will be submitting orders for t-shirts and goodie bags soon, so the better the headcount we have, the less likely we are to run out at the reunion.

---

6. AdBak

A number of Brats have paid registration fees but not AdBak fees. If you arrive at the reunion without having paid your AdBak, you will be required to pay at the registration desk before collecting your reunion goodies.

Just a reminder - AdBaks are assessed on a term (2-year) basis, not an annual one. If you paid AdBak (currently $18 for US residents and $23 for non-US) in 2004, you do not have to pay it again in 2005. If you aren't sure whether you've paid it already or not, just email cathie@aramco-brats.com and she will look it up for you.

Also - checks for registration and/or AdBak should be made payable to "AramcoBrats, Inc" and not directly to Penny Dougharty-Maher or Cathie McCoy.

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7. BratWear at the ABI Brat Store

Want to show your pride in your district at the reunion in May? Looking for something comfortable and colorful to lounge around in this summer? Interested in coffee mugs or decorations for your office that show where you come from? The ABI Brat Store (<http://www.cafepress.com/aramcobrats>) carries an extensive line of t-shirts, mugs, and decorations with district and reunion logos.

All products have a 30-day 100% money-back guarantee, so if you're not satisfied with a purchase for any reason, return it for a full refund. Products are priced $1-2 above costs (to pay for the expense of maintaining the online store). Any profit remaining at the end of the year goes to the ABI. The main goal here is to get Brat stuff into Brat hands as cheaply and easily as possible.

Coming very soon: a Udhailiyah storefront for clothes and stuff with the UDH warrior logo!!

---

8. American Community School In Beirut Alumni Reunion

The American Community School in Beirut is going to hold its first-ever Alumni Reunion IN Beirut. The event will be June 13-18, 2005, and will honor the school's Centennial this year! Amazingly, through 2 world wars, the fall of the Ottoman Empire, the shifting of borders throughout the Middle East, and a 15-year civil war in Lebanon, ACS has never closed! Today it has 1000 students in grades K-12, although it no longer has a boarding department. All ACS alumni, even those who did not graduate from the school, are encouraged to attend the reunion. For more information, visit <http://www.acs.edu.lb>.


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Have you sent in your registration fees, made your hotel reservation, booked your flight?

Diana Ryrholm-Geerdes RT 1962
For the ABI Board of Directors

--------------------------------------------------------------
This is the ABI Announcement List, a low-traffic list reserved for official ABI business. To unsubscribe, send an email with your name and class to opt-out@aramco-brats.com.

Email webmaster@aramco-brats.com if you have any questions.

1. So What Went Wrong With Announcement #9? (New)
2. Reunion Hotel Heads Up!!!
3. Reunion Registration Heads Up!!!
4. Friendly Reminder
5. Can't Find Your Electronic Registration Confirmation?
6. "Who's Coming" List
7. Alternataive Reunion Activity
8. Aramco Services Company Needs Highly Qualified... (Revised)
9. Aramco Services Company Gathering in Miami (New)
10. Continental Airlines Group Fare Discount (New)

======================================================
1. So what went wrong with Announcement #9? (New)

We'd like to apologize for the problems caused by ABI announcement #9, which
went out on Feb 13. Some folks never received it, but some folks got 20 or more
copies and were understandably annoyed. What happened was this: the Vlists
server the ABI used for the announcement list was misbehaving. To complicate
matters, the guy who singlehandedly ran Vlists (the email broadcaster the ABI
announcement list and BratChat depend on to get messages out) passed away
unexpectedly around that time, and his family didn't know how to administer
the server, so there was nobody on location who could intervene to solve the
stuttering mail problem. (This is the same issue that took BratChat offline for
several days.)

The problem has been resolved. Once we recognized there was a problem, we
unsubscribed everyone from the Vlists announcement list, and the repeated
emails seem to have stopped. We have moved the announcement list to a new
service provider, and we don't expect the problem to recur.

Much of the information that follows repeats what appeared in Announcement #9
because we cannot tell who received the previous announcement and who didn't.
If you've already seen this information, we apologize for the repetition.

======================================================
2. Reunion Hotel Heads Up!!!

The Doubletree Houston Post Oak Hotel (a.k.a. Reunion Headquarters) is over
70% booked! If you plan to attend the reunion, make your reservation TODAY!
Call the hotel reservations center at 1-800-222-8733. Be sure to let them know
you're an aramco brat to get the special rate of $79 per night. If the internet
is more your style, log on to www.aramco-brats.com and click on Reunion,
then Hotel to make your reservation. At this time the hotel only has king rooms
available - all double/double rooms have been reserved.

======================================================
3. Reunion Registration Heads Up!!!

Much to Penny's mail lady's dismay, reunion registrations are pouring in.
Whilewe'd never turn anyone away from joining us at the reunion, some of the
events do have capacity limits, and the later registrants will miss out. So don't
delay. Register TODAY at aramco-brats.com. Remember.... you're not
registered until Penny receives your registration fees! Submitting the on line
form alone does NOT make you official.

======================================================
4. Friendly Reminder

If you've registered online, don't forget to mail your check, made out to
AramcoBrats, Inc., to:

Penny Dougharty Maher
4024 Ruskin
Houston TX 77005.

Several people registered awhile back but haven't sent in their riyals. All
activities, and the banquet itself, have a maximum number of spots, so don't
delay! You aren't fully registered until your fees (including Adbak) are paid.

======================================================
5. Can't Find Your Electronic Registration Confirmation?

If you have misplaced your electronic registration confirmation and can't
remember what you owe (or for which activities you have registered), please
contact Penny Maher at penny@aramco-brats.com or Marie Dunn at
marie@aramco-brats.com for assistance.

======================================================
6. "Who's Coming" List

A list of who's coming will be posted under the "ABI Reunion" section of the
BratBoard (<http://www.aramco-brats.com/BratBoard/>) in the near future. Be
sure to check other posts in this section for reunion announcements and Q&A.
We have also provided a Share-a-Room/Share-a-Ride topic for reunion attendees
who are looking for a ride, can offer a ride, or are looking to share a room with
someone.

======================================================
7. Alternative Reunion Activity

For those of you too fearful of golf, tennis or bowling, how about tandem
skydiving at the reunion in Houston? The jumps will consist of one tandem
parachute jump at Skydive Houston in Waller, Texas on Saturday, May 28, 2005
at 8:00 AM and probably will conclude by 2:00 PM. The cost will be no more
than $149.00 (probably less) and $69.00 for an optional freefall video.
Reservations should be coordinated through Russell Webb at
lawyerwebb@aol.com, so a head count can be made ahead of time.
Brats have been skydiving at reunions since Atlanta in 1999.
Last time, in Tucson, we had a dozen brats, plus a 71 year old
former teacher, Robert Klein, who jumped and his photo ended up on the front
page of the second section of the local newspaper.

======================================================
8. Aramco Services Company Needs Highly Qualified... (Revised)

Aramco Services Company currently has several positions open for highly
qualified oil industry experts, specifically in the field of Exploration and
Production. Because of your previous living experiences in Saudi Arabia, you
are the most qualified to identify appropriate personnel for the open
positions. To see what positions are currently open, go to
www.jobsataramco.com.

To refer a candidate, please obtain an electronic resume. Go to
www.jobsataramco.com/refer and follow the directions for submittal. To take
advantage of the reward program, you [not the candidate] must submit the
resume.

For your efforts, ASC will provide a cash reward for referrals ultimately hired
by Saudi Aramco. The award amount is based on the salary classification;
$500 for classifications 10 and below, $1,000 for classifications 11 to 14,
and $2,000 for classifications 15 and above.

======================================================
9. Aramco Services Company Gathering in Miami (New)

Aramco Services Company is planning a gathering in the Miami, FL area on
April1, 2005. Any Brats interested in more information on this event
should contact Kate Ivsevich at ASC in Washington DC at:

Kate Ivcevich
Aramco Services Company
Tel: 202-223-7769
Fax: 202-223-7756
Email: k.ivcevich@aramcoservices.com

Be sure to include your contact information in your correspondence so that they
may add you to their database for this and future events.

======================================================
10. Continental Airlines Group Fare Discount (New)

We have arranged for a group fare discount on Continental Airlines for Brats
traveling to the 2005 Reunion in Houston. Please be sure to indicate the
"agreement code" and "z-code" when making reservations. An additional discount
is available for reservations made 60 days prior to the event, so don't delay!

ARAMCO BRATS HOUSTON
Valid travel dates - May 23-June 6, 2005

Experience dependable, first-rate service and earn miles in OnePass,
Continental's award-winning frequent flyer program. To enroll in OnePass, log
on to www.continental.com.

For discounts, call your travel professional or Continental's MeetingWorks at
800-468-7022. Outside of the United States, please call your local Continental
Airlines Reservation Office.

Advise the agent of:
Agreement Code: VZX1QH Z Code: ZP6Y
Choose from discounts off applicable fares or Zone Fares.

Save an additional 5% off discounts when you ticket 60 days prior to event date!

Hope to see you in May,
Diana Ryrholm-Geerdes RT 1962
For the ABI Board of Directors

--------------------------------------------------------------
This is the ABI Announcement List, a low-traffic list reserved for
official ABI business. To unsubscribe, send an email with your name
and class to opt-out@aramco-brats.com.

Email webmaster@aramco-brats.com if you have any questions.
---------------------------------------------------------------

1. Reunion Hotel Heads Up!!!
2. Reunion Registration Heads Up!!!
3. Friendly Reminder
4. Can't Find Your Electronic Registration Confirmation?
5. "Who's Coming" List
6. Alternative Reunion Activity
7. Aramco Services Company Needs Highly Qualified...

[Note: Because of a problem with the Vlists server the ABI uses
for the Announcement list, some users got 20 or more copies of this
message in the first hour or two. They were understandably unamused.]

============================================
1. Reunion Hotel Heads Up!!!

The Doubletree Houston Post Oak Hotel (a.k.a. Reunion Headquarters)
is over 70% booked! If you plan to attend the reunion, make your
reservation TODAY! Call the hotel reservations center at
1-800-222-8733. Be sure to let them know you're an aramco brat to get
the special rate of $79 per night. If the internet is more your
style, log on to www.aramco-brats.com and click on
reunion, then hotel to make your reservation.

At this time the hotel only has king rooms available - all
double/double rooms have been reserved.

============================================
2. Reunion Registration Heads Up!!!

Much to Penny's mail lady's dismay, reunion registrations are pouring
in. While we'd never turn anyone away from joining us at the reunion,
some of the events do have capacity limits, and the later registrants
will miss out. So don't delay. Register TODAY at aramco-brats.com.
Remember.... you're not registered until Penny receives your
registration fees! Submitting the on line form alone does NOT make
you official.

============================================
3. Friendly Reminder

If you've registered online, don't forget to mail your check, made
out to AramcoBrats, Inc., to Penny Dougharty Maher, 4024 Ruskin,
Houston TX 77005. Several people registered awhile back but haven't
sent in their riyals. All activities, and the banquet itself, have a
maximum number of spots, so don't delay! You aren't fully registered
until your fees (including Adbak) are paid.

============================================
4. Can't Find Your Electronic Registration Confirmation?

If you have misplaced your electronic registration confirmation and
can't remember what you owe (or for which activities you have
registered), please contact Penny Maher at penny@aramco-brats.com or
Marie Dunn at marie@aramco-brats.com for assistance.

============================================
5. "Who's Coming" List

A list of who's coming will be posted under the "ABI Reunion" section
of the BratBoard ( http://www.aramco-brats.com/BratBoard/ ) in the
near future. Be sure to check other posts in this section for
reunion announcements and Q&A. We have also provided a
Share-a-Room/Share-a-Ride topic for reunion attendees who are looking
for a ride, can offer a ride, or are looking to share a room with
someone.

============================================
6. Alternative Reunion Activity

For those of you too fearful of golf, tennis or bowling, how about
tandem skydiving at the reunion in Houston? The jumps will consist
of one tandem parachute jump at Skydive Houston in Waller, Texas on
Saturday, May 28, 2005 at 8:00 AM and probably will conclude by 2:00
PM. The cost will be no more than $149.00 (probably less) and $69.00
for an optional freefall video. Reservations should be coordinated
through Russell Webb at lawyerwebb@aol.com, so a head count can be
made ahead of time.

Brats have been skydiving at reunions since Atlanta in 1999. Last
time, in Tucson, we had a dozen brats, plus a 71 year old former
teacher, Robert Klein, who jumped and his photo ended up on the front
page of the second section of the local newspaper.

============================================
7. Aramco Services Company Needs Highly Qualified...

ASC currently has several positions open for highly qualified oil
industry experts, specifically in the field of Exploration and
Production. If there are potential candidates who you believe meet
the requirements of Saudi Aramco, please direct them to their
website (<http://www.jobsataramco.com>). Because of your previous
living experiences in Saudi Arabia, you are the most qualified to
identify appropriate personnel for the open positions.

For your efforts, ASC will provide a cash reward for referrals
ultimately hired by Saudi Aramco. The award amount is based on the
salary classification; $1,000 for classifications 11 to 14, and
$2,000 for classifications 15 and above.

Happy Valentine's Day,

Diana Ryrholm-Geerdes RT 1962
For the ABI Board of Directors

---------------------------------------------------------------
This is the ABI Announcement List, a low-traffic list reserved for
official ABI business. To unsubscribe, send an email with your name
and class to opt-out@aramco-brats.com.
Email webmaster@aramco-brats.com if you have any questions.
---------------------------------------------------------------

1. ABI Nominations/Election - 2005-2007 Term
2. Reunion Hotel Update - Doubletree Post Oak
3. Reunion Committee - On-line Registration
4. Newsletter/Reunion Information


============
1. ABI Nominations/Elections - 2005-2007 Term

Nominations Deadline

The deadline for nominating yourself (or someone else) for one of the
elected positions (president, vice president, secretary, treasurer)
on the ABI Board is February 1, 2005. Anyone interested in submitting
a nomination should send an email to gary@aramco-brats.com
identifying the person you are nominating and the office to which you
are nominating that person. All Board officers serve a term of two
years, which will begin on November 1, 2005. Descriptions of board
positions are available on the ABI website and in the ABI annual
report (<http://www.aramco-brats.com/2003_annual_report.pdf>).

2005 ABI Board Elections

The election for the next ABI Board is just around the corner, and we
are still looking for candidates for President, Vice President,
Secretary and Treasurer. The ABI and all it accomplishes are made
possible only by the participation of Brats who treasure the memories
and relationships that are so uniquely ours, and are committed to
preserving them for all of us.

You don't need a lot of board experience to participate. It doesn't
require a degree from Board College, and we don't even require that
you remember everything you learned in your 5th grade Arabic class.
You will be joining a team of ten other Brats who are there to help
you learn the ropes and to assist you whenever necessary.

Think about what the ABI brings you: the biennial reunions where, for
a few days, you can relive the experience of hanging out with the old
gang around the pool, the AramcoBrat website where you can shop for
Brat merchandise, browse through photographs of your home town, post
a story or poem, or keep track of your classmates and teachers, and
the ABI museum where Arabian treasures are permanently on display for
all of us. Seriously, where else can you read an original copy of
The Blue Flame?

So come on. Hop down off your camel and toss your ghutra into the
ring. Become part of something special, something unique. Help us to
keep the memories alive. Become a candidate for the AramcoBrats
Incorporated Board of Directors by writing Gary Barnes at
gary@aramco-brats.com.

===============

2. Reunion Hotel Update - Doubletree Post Oak

The hotel has informed us that our room block for the reunion is more
than 70% full. If you are planning on attending the reunion, better
make your reservations quickly so you don't lose out staying at the
main hotel.


================

3. Reunion Committee - On-Line Registration

On-line registration is up and running well. Thanks to everyone for
making it so successful, and keep them coming!

A couple of friendly reminders:

1. Register! Register! Register! We are expecting a good turnout,
so if you want to participate in any of the activities with capped
capacity (bowling, tennis, golf, and even the Banquet), be sure to
register early to ensure your spot. Spaces in these events will be
filled on a first fully REGISTERED, first served basis.

2. Don't forget that your Reunion Registration is not complete until
you have paid your ABI Administrative Baksheesh (AdBak) for the term.
You can pay when you submit your registration fees, or if you have
already registered and forgot to add AdBak, the form is available in
the newsletter or can be downloaded from
http://www.aramco-brats.com/adbak2.htm. If you're not sure if you've
paid, contact ABI Treasurer, Cathie McCoy at cathie@aramco-brats.com .

3. Please do not forget to make your checks out to AramcoBrats, Inc.
and SIGN your checks. ;-)

Reunion Registration Q&A:

Q. Why didn't the committee receive my on-line registration?
A. When you register on-line, please be sure to complete "Step 4:
Click send." We have received a few payments for on-line
registrations for which we have not received the accompanying
electronic information. If you do not click "send," we will not
receive your registration information.

If you have already registered on-line, there is no need to panic or
worry that you MAY not have completed step 4: if we received your
check but not your on-line information, Penny will have contacted
you. If you have NOT been pestered to REsubmit the on-line form, you
are "good to go."

Q. How do I register more than 3 guests for the reunion?
A. The hard copy and on-line forms only have space for 3 guests. If
you plan to bring more:

- On the hard copy form, please write the additional names in the
left margin of the form and be sure to use the correct number of
persons in the fee calculation section in the center of the form.

- Using the on-line form, please add the additional names in the.
"Questions/Comments for the 2005 Reunion Committee" box and be sure
to use the total number persons under "Payment Calculation" (Step 2).

Q. Do I need to register my children?
A. If you want your child to get a name tag, goodie bag (with
ADULT-sized t-shirt), participate in sporting events, and attend
Friday's opening reception and Sunday evening banquet, then you do
need to pay registration and any applicable sports fees for them. It
has been our experience that most Brats do not register their
children, especially the younger ones. If you would like to bring
your children to the reunion but not register them, you might
consider hiring a baby sitter. The reunion committee can not arrange
for sitters, but the hotel concierge can help you with this. You
might be able to find a teenage brat offspring attending the reunion
hoping to make a few riyals babysitting during the reunion weekend.

Q. Does the fee calculator work properly?
A. Please be careful with the scroll wheel on your mouse when doing
fee calculation on-line. If you try to scroll down while a pull-down
menu is still active, you will be scrolling the numbers in the
pull-down menu, not the page! The resulting fee calculation will not
be what you intended! If your total looks ridiculous, please back up
in the form and check to make sure that you have the correct number
entered for each item.

NOTE: You can post your own questions about the reunion to the
Reunion Q&A forum on BratBoard
(<http://www.aramco-brats.com/BratBoard/>. Please check the Reunion
Q&A forum (and the other reunion forums on BratBoard) periodically
for reunion news updates.

=================

4. Newsletter/Reunion Information

If you did not receive your paper copy of the Fall 2004 newsletter,
you can download it from the ABI website at
<http://www.aramco-brats.com/newsletter/BratnewsF2004.pdf>. The
newsletter has useful information regarding the upcoming ABI reunion,
open class representative positions, information on the upcoming ABI
election, and news about how the ABI is doing.

Happy New Year,
Diana Ryrholm-Geerdes RT 1962
For the ABI Board of Directors

---------------------------------------------------------------
This is the ABI Announcement List, a low-traffic list reserved for
official ABI business. To unsubscribe, send an email with your name
and class to opt-out@aramco-brats.com.
Email webmaster@aramco-brats.com if you have any questions.
---------------------------------------------------------------

1. ABI Newsletter is Coming to Town
2. Register for Houston Online and be Entered for a Prize Drawing
3. Reunion Questions

1. ABI NEWSLETTER IS COMING TO TOWN

The Fall 2004 newsletter should be in your mail box later this week.
The newsletter is filled with lots of Houston 2005 Reunion
information, information regarding nominations for the upcoming
election, ideas for places to hold a class party in Houston, an
overview of the various ways for obtaining or receiving information
about events and news, ABI financials, and much more. Help us track
the newsletter arrive by signing on to BradBoard and posting a
message.
<http://www.aramco-brats.com/BratBoard/>

2. REGISTER FOR HOUSTON ONLINE AND BE ENTERED FOR A PRIZE DRAWING

The ABI is pleased to announce that online registrations for the 2005
reunion are now being taken. Even better, registrants who register
online will be entered for a prize drawing to be awarded at the
reunion. Experienced reunion goers will notice a few changes in the
process this year. We've eliminated that pesky, confusing Reunion
Survey step and using the online registration form let's you
completely avoid doing your own math. The new form includes clickable
links that lead directly to more information about various aspects of
the reunion such as why XXL t-shirts cost more and details on the
sports competition facilities. Registrants will still need to mail in
a check to cover the biennial AdBak and their registration fee as
calculated with the online form. To use this exciting new feature,
just go to <http://www.aramco-brats.com>, click on the Reunion button
in the toolbar, and then click Reunion Registration in the menu on
the left. Follow the directions on the form, mail your check and
then get yourself to Houston in May.

3. REUNION QUESTIONS

If you have any reunion questions, please post a message to the
Houston 2005 at reunion2005@aramco-brats.com. They are in the best
position to answer your questions. You can also post questions and
comments on BratBoard (<http://www.aramco-brats.com/BratBoard/>),
which has forums specifically created for reunion-related questions
and answers.

Wishing you and your family Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,
Diana Ryrholm-Geerdes RT 1962
for the ABI Board of Directors

---------------------------------------------------------------
This is the ABI Announcement List, a low-traffic list reserved for
official ABI business. To unsubscribe, send an email with your name
and class to opt-out@aramco-brats.com.
Email webmaster@aramco-brats.com if you have any questions.
---------------------------------------------------------------

1. Reunion Tennis Help
2. Planning a Road Trip
3. ABI Suq
4. BratBoard
5. Class Rep Vacancies


1. REUNION TENNIS HELP

The Houston Reunion Committee 2005 needs your help !!!!!

The Reunion Committee would like to have the Tennis Tournament at the
University Club at the Galleria (indoor courts), just down the street
from the DoubleTree Hotel. It is a private club, and they would like
to know if any Houston Brats are members, and if so, would they allow
us to use their membership for the tournament. The Committee could
also use the Houstonian (a bit further away) if anyone is a member of
that club.

Please respond to AndrewBobb@aol.com.


2. PLANNING A ROAD TRIP?

ABI has several boxes of treasures that need to get from San Diego to
Houston and/or Oakland to San Diego before the reunion in May. If you
are planning a road trip and have extra trunk space, please contact
diana@aramco-brats.com.


3. ABI SUQ

It is never too early to start planning what you are going to pack to
take to the Houston 2005 Reunion. Check out the ABI Suq to purchase
T-Shirts, sports towels, 6-pack coolers, beach towels, and Brat
window stickers. To access the ABI Suq, point a browser at the ABI
home page (http://www.aramco-brats.com/), click the 'ABI' button in
the toolbar, and click 'ABI Suq' when the menu appears on the left
side of the window.


4. BRATBOARD

The ABI BratBoard (http://www.aramco-brats.com/BratBoard/) is our new
innovative way to communicate with fellow Brats. Keep up on the
latest ABI and reunion news; join a discussion regarding food,
recipes, culture, politics; communicate with your classmates; or
initiate a new topic for discussion. You just need to register for a
free membership if you want to post messages, but you can read
messages even if you are not yet a member.


5. CLASS REP VACANCIES

If you are interested in being a class rep, but wonder what the job
entails? Visit http://www.aramco-brats.com/classes/cr_faq.htm. We
are looking for reps for:


AB57, DH57, RT57
AB63 & DH64
DH74, RT74, AB75, DH75, RT75, AB78, DH78
DH80, RT80, UD80, UD81, RT82, UD82, UD83, RT86, UD86, UD87, AB88, AB89,
UD89
AB90, RT90, UD90, AB91, RT91, UD91, AB92, RT92, UD92, AB93, DH93, UD93,
AB94, DH94, UD94, AB95, RT95, UD95, AB96, RT96, UD96, AB97, AB98, DH98,
RT98, UD98, AB99, RT99, UD99

We also need class reps for all classes, all districts, 2000 to present.


Please let me know if you have any questions or comments about how
the ABI is doing.

Happy Fall,
Diana Ryrholm-Geerdes RT 1962
for the ABI Board of Directors

---------------------------------------------------------------
This is the ABI Announcement List, a low-traffic list reserved for
official ABI business. To unsubscribe, send an email with your name
and class to opt-out@aramco-brats.com.
Email webmaster@aramco-brats.com if you have any questions.
---------------------------------------------------------------

The following was mailed to all AramcoBrats for whom we had an email address on August 12, 2004.

To improve our service to the Brat community, we have set up an ABI
email announcement list, which will be reserved for official ABI
business. We don't expect the list to receive more than one or two
messages a month. We recognize that some folks might find even this
low level of email traffic to be intrusive. If you'd prefer not to
receive an occasional ABI announcement, you can just reply to this
message (or send an email to opt-out@aramco-brats.com)and we'll
remove your address from the announcement
list. If you unsubscribe from the announcement list, you're welcome
to rejoin later.


1. Calling All AdBaks
2. Houston 2005 Reunion Hotel Reservations
3. Help Wanted - Reunion Class Party Night
4. Help Wanted - Reunion Tennis and Golf Tournaments
5. From the ABI Test Kitchens
6. Newsletter/Address Verification


1. CALLING ALL ADBAKS!!!

As you know, the ABI runs on donations from Brats - we call these
donations AdBaks (Administrative Baksheesh). The recommended AdBak
amount is $18 if you live in the U.S. or $23 if you live overseas.
(Feel free to donate beyond that...we won't mind!)

It would be of great help to our planning if we had an idea how much
money we have to work with for this term. If you have not yet paid
your 2003-2005 AdBak, please use the form in the newsletter or on the
website to do so.

Questions? Contact our Treasurer, Cathie McCoy at cathie@aramco-brats.com.


2. HOUSTON 2005 REUNION HOTEL RESERVATIONS

We are pleased to report that, after a brief delay to sort out some
technical issues, the Hilton (2005 reunion hotel) webpage customized
for reunion reservations is now online and ready for use. To make
your reservations, point a browser (Microsoft Internet Explorer or
Netscape Navigator only) at
<http://www.hilton.com/en/dt/groups/private_groups/iahws_abt/index.jhtml>
and click the "Book a Room" button below the hotel picture. The ABI
has negotiated a special room rate of $79/night for rooms, so make
sure you tell the reservation clerk you're an AramcoBrat if you call
for your reservation. The reunion dates are Thursday, May 26 through
Monday, May 30. The banquet is in the evening on Sunday, May 29.
The special $79 rate is available to Brats three days prior and three
days after the reunion.

There are no suites available at this time. We expect a limited
number of Junior, One Bedroom and Two Bedroom suites to become
available no later than December 2004. If you would like to be
placed on a wait list for a suite, please contact Diana
Ryrholm-Geerdes at diana@aramco-brats.com. In order to assure that
you have accommodations at the reunion, you should reserve regular
room(s) now, which you can cancel if a suite becomes available.


3. HELP WANTED - REUNION CLASS PARTY NIGHT

Saturday night at the reunion is designated as class party night. We
are looking for one person from each class to organize the gathering
for their class. You can plan to get together to look at old photos
and yearbooks, go out to dinner, have a hotel-catered event in one of
the meeting rooms, or whatever else you might like to do with your
class. If you're interested in helping with your class event, please
contact Gretchen Connally (ABI Class Rep Coordinator) and Penny
Dougharty-Mahers (Houston Reunion Committee) at
class-parties@aramco-brats.com.


4. HELP WANTED - REUNION TENNIS AND GOLF TOURNAMENTS

The 2005 Houston Reunion Committee is looking for a couple of
volunteers to assist in organizing the tennis and golf tournaments
(they already have a volunteer for the bowling tournament) to be held
during the reunion. They would prefer someone who lives in the
Houston area and plays the sport. If you are interested, please
contact Penny Dougharty-Mahers at penny@aramco-brats.com.


5. FROM THE ABI TEST KITCHENS

We are very excited to announce our plans to put together an
AramcoBrats, Inc. Community Cookbook. Remember those great Dhahran
Women's Group cookbooks that our moms had?? Let's aim for something
of similar greatness! If there is sufficient interest, our plan is
to put together a great cookbook that has traditional family
favorites, as well as all of those great Middle Eastern recipes that
our families collected during our years in the Kingdom.

Please submit your favorite recipes as soon as possible to Gretchen
Connally. You can email gretchen@aramco-brats.com or send them in
the mail to 116 Sapphire Lake Drive, Kyle, TX 78640. If you have any
questions about the project, please feel free to email Gretchen.


6. NEWSLETTER/ADDRESS VERIFICATION

The Spring 2004 issue of the ABI newsletter was mailed out last
month. If you have not received yours yet, please contact our
Database Director, Sherri Dent-Moxley (sherri@aramco-brats.com) to
confirm that we have your correct current mailing information. You
can complete the online address change form
(http://www.aramco-brats.com/address_change_form.htm) to update our
mailing and email information for you.

If you didn't receive your newsletter, you can view it online as an
Adobe Acrobat file at
<http://www.aramco-brats.com/newsletter/BratnewsS2004.pdf>. To
contain ABI costs, we are no longer remailing newsletters that are
returned to us.

Please let me know if you have any questions or comments about how
the ABI is doing.

Hope you are having an enjoyable summer,
Diana Ryrholm-Geerdes RT 1962
for the ABI Board of Directors

---------------------------------------------------------------
This is the ABI Announcement List, a low-traffic list reserved for
official ABI business. To unsubscribe, send an email with your name
and class to opt-out@aramco-brats.com.
Email webmaster@aramco-brats.com if you have any questions.
---------------------------------------------------------------

Dear AramcoBrat,

Even if you are sure you are not interested in the reunion, READ THIS
MESSAGE! (Especially number 3)

__________________________________________________
In this e-mail:

1- Reunion Update -- Status Report
2- Reunion Goodies -- What to Expect
3- New Simplified Reunion Registration Process!!!

__________________________________________________

1-Reunion Update

Only six short weeks to go! As things currently stand, 419 people
have completed their registrations and mailed them back. This is
shaping up to be as fine a reunion as we have ever had. The good
news is that there is plenty of room for all the procrastinators and
undecideds to get in on the reunion action this coming Memorial Day
Weekend. Contrary to early reports -- blame it on erroneous
communications from the main hotel -- *nothing* is sold out. Rooms
are available for all nights at the El Conquistador, so make a
reservation now to ensure you don't miss a thing throughout the
reunion. (Reunion Hint: Some of the best and most memorable reunion
experiences happen between midnight and sunrise. If you're asleep at
another hotel or a friend's place, you are just flat out going to
miss those altogether.) So pick up the phone and call 1-800-864-1284
to make your room reservation. Do it now.

If the reunion registration process just seems too complex and that's
holding you back, jump down to number 3 below for some great news.

__________________________________________________


2-Reunion Goodies -- What You Will be Missing if You Don't Go to the
Reunion

The reunion committee and the ABI have planned another fantastic
weekend which includes live music each night, special drink prices,
discounted room rates, an abundance of door prizes, the ever popular
raffle/auction, the Sunday night banquet, the live auction, pinatas,
bowling, golf, tennis, group and class photos, class party night, the
opportunity to relive your childhood, visit with old classmates, meet
new Brats, reminisce, have fun, and much more. But then, all of that
just goes without saying.

What you probably don't know is that, thanks to a generous cash
contribution from Aramco Services Company, the reunion committee has
personal shoppers scouring the streets of Al Khobar even as you are
reading this. The resulting hoard of baubles and treasures from our
shared past will be shipped to the reunion to be used as prizes,
gifts and door prizes throughout the weekend. The only sure thing is
that if you aren't there, you won't be able to share in this
incredible bounty.

Are you someone who remembers hours playing Spades, Hearts or
Backgammon with friends as a primary form of social interaction.
Does the reunion committee have a deal for you! Come to the reunion
and check out Auntie Di's Perfectly Fabulous Game Room. Grab an old
friend and challenge them to a rematch of that game you lost so long
ago in the land of our
youth.

Now, this is just a rumor, but there may be some olfactory
stimulation to be had at the reunion this time as well. Sources
report the heady aroma of warm pita bread, slow-roasting meat and
rich tahini sauce might be found emanating from one or two small
stands around the pool throughout the weekend. Wink, wink. If this
is something that matters to you, you know what we're talking about.

There is so much more, but time is short. The only way to experience
it all is to reserve a room and register today. Which conveniently
leads us right into the third topic of this announcement.

__________________________________________________

3- Registration Made Easy -- A New Simplified Reunion Registration
Process

Time is short. Decisions need to be made very soon on the number of
t-shirts and other goodies to order. The sooner you register the
more accurately the reunion committee can estimate what needs to be
ordered.

If you have not received your registration packet yet, it is most
likely because you haven't paid your AdBak and/or filled out the
reunion survey. In the interest of streamlining and making it easier
for you to register, we have decided to eliminate these steps between
now and the reunion. If you want a registration packet mailed to
you, please e-mail Erica at ericamel@comcast.net or call at
*82-1-520-529-2164 (*82 unblocks your phone number to ensure your
call goes through). She will need your full name (first, maiden and
last), your correct address, and your District and Year. You can pay
the required AdBak, registration fee, and late registration fee in
one shot and mail it all back with your completed reunion
registration. We'll sort it all out for you and you'll be all set in
one easy step!

Even more important though is for you to call and reserve a room at
the El Conquistador immediately! Don't wait for your registration
package to arrive. Do it now. It will become more difficult to
secure a room at our reduced rate (if at all) after April 30. Call
the El Con for reservations at 1-800-864-1284. Make sure you say you
are with the AramcoBrats.

BONUS MESSAGE -- If you've read this far, you really are someone who
should be at the reunion. The bottom line is this: These things are
magic. They renew, revive and rejuvenate us like nothing else can.
Come home. Spend the weekend with a few hundred friends who know you
like nobody else can.

============
This is the ABI Announcement List, a low-traffic list reserved for official ABI business. To unsubscribe, send an email with your name and class to opt-out@aramco-brats.com. Email webmaster@aramco-brats.com if you have any questions.