SAUDI-AMERICAN FORUM

Today we are pleased to announce the launch of the Saudi-American Forum (SAF) and we thank you for your interest in this effort.

The Forum is an information service designed to provide you timely information on background and current issues impacting the Saudi-U.S. relationship.  The Forum will be a resource for Americans who value the relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia and who want to act in response to erroneous and misleading depictions of the relationship in the media and elsewhere.  The Forum will be a vehicle for stakeholders in the Saudi-U.S. relationship to contribute their experiences and their ideas and opinions on the issues of the day.

RESOURCES

The project consists of two services for you: the Saudi-American Forum Web Site and an email information service.

Saudi-American Forum (SAF) Web Site

The address of the project web site is: http://www.saudi-american-forum.org

The SAF web site includes a number of interactive service features: search engine, feedback forms, new member registration forms and a members' input form to facilitate contribution of your ideas and commentary.

The web site features two core venues: "The Forum" and "The Advocate." These areas are both information resources.

We hope the SAF Web Site will become an important information resource for you and we invite you to visit it regularly.

"The Forum" includes news archives, a reference library, and member's venues for posting testimonials and remembrances, and for input of comments on issues of the day.

"The Advocate" venue provides information to aid taking action.  It will contain the SAF "Action Alerts" -- bulletins alerting members to issues affecting the Saudi-U.S. relationship -- and resources to aid members in responding to officials, media and others regarding their concerns over these issues.

Email Information Service

The Saudi American Forum will feature an email newsletter service providing a variety of information resources for you.  These include essays by leading figures on Saudi-U.S. relations, bulletins providing current reporting on news of interest to supporters of the relationship and "Action Alerts" providing notification of issues that deserve your attention.

MEMBERSHIP

The members of the Saudi American Forum are U.S. citizens who have lived and

worked in Saudi Arabia and want information on issues impacting the Saudi-U.S. relationship.

New members can register through the web site.  Please pass this email to your friends and colleagues who may meet the criteria for Forum membership.

STAKEHOLDERS

As a member of the Saudi American Forum you are a stakeholder in the Saudi-U.S. relationship.  Your contributions to the forum will be critical to its success.  These contributions can take the form of:

Editorial Materials -- The Forum will benefit tremendously from the editorial input of members.  You are among the most knowledgeable participants in the dialogue about the U.S.-Saudi relationship.  Member's can support the forum's efforts by helping to build a bank of testimonials, remembrances, letters to editors, and so forth, that provide context and evidence of the strength, duration and importance of the relationship.

Ideas -- The Forum will benefit from your contribution of ideas on how to advance the mission of the Forum.  As we embark on this mission we are sure there will be a great many ways to improve the service to you and to help other members learn more and act upon these issues.

Action -- The ultimate success of the Forum will be measured by the impact members have in shaping the public dialogue over Saudi-U.S. relations.  Your support through action is key.  The web site and newsletter will assist you in this regard.

GULFWIRE

As a courtesy, Saudi American Forum members will receive e-newsletters through the GulfWire information service -- provided by the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations.  We realize some members may not need an additional information source -- in that case simply unsubscribe in a reply email to GulfWire and the service will cease.

CONTACT INFORMATION

You can contribute your editorial materials, ideas and feedback to the Forum through use of the "Feedback" form on the website or through direct email to the Forum at: info@SaudiAmericanForum.org .

Please indicate if there is anything in the material you send to us that you do not wish to have posted on the web site.

Thank you again for your support of the Saudi-U.S. relationship and the Saudi-American Forum.  We look forward to serving you.