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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 Products6. Aramco Services Company Invite to California Brats 7. Add Name to Aramco Services Company Event List
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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!
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.
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.
5. Registration Late Fees Kick In After March 31, 2005
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.
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>.
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.
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.
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