MBAIAA Newsletter – November 2019

Published on November 27, 2019

Step 11 – “Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.”

Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.  Page 97

“Those of us who have come to make regular use of prayer would no more do without it than we would refuse air, food or sunshine.  And for the same reason. When we refuse air, light, or food, the body suffers.  And when we turn away from meditation and prayer, we likewise deprive our minds, our emotions, and our intuitions of vitally needed support.  As the body can fail its purpose for lack of nourishment, so can the soul.  We all need the light of God’s reality, the nourishment of His strength, and the atmosphere of His grace. To an amazing extent the facts of A.A. life confirm this ageless truth.”

Alcoholics Anonymous Events To Plan For

There are lots of opportunities for fellowship and fun in the coming weeks.  Visit our events calendar for a complete list of upcoming events.

Monterey Intergroup Birthday / Speaker Meeting
Saturday, November 30th, 2019 @ 7:30 pm

Hosted this month by the Women’s Big Book Study.  Mondays @ 7:00 pm at the Cypress Community Church in Coral de Tierra (681 Monterey Salinas Hwy).  The speaker this month is Brianne F.

This is a monthly birthday meeting held on the last Saturday of each month (except for December when the meeting is held along with a holiday banquet ). The first part of the meeting includes a presentation of birthday medallions for those celebrating annual A.A. anniversaries and all are invited to participate. Birthdays are followed by an A.A. speaker who shares for 40 to 45 minutes and the meeting ends about 9 pm. Coffee is typically ready no later than 7 pm. Arrive early for good parking, fellowship and a great seat!

Monterey High School Cafeteria
Herman Drive at Larkin, Monterey CA 93940

Thanksgiving Alcathon
Wednesday & Thursday, November 27th & 28th, 2019.  7:00am to 11:00pm

There is also a Thanksgiving Alcathon happening on November 27th and 28th.  It is held at the Fellowship Hall in downtown Monterey – 519 Hartnell St. in the back of Trader Joe’s parking lot.  There will be meetings every hour on the hour from 7:00am to 11:00pm on both days.  On Thanksgiving, there will be food served beginning at noon or so.  If your spirits are low during the holiday, come have them lifted with some fellowship. If you are filled with gratitude, come share that feeling with others.  There are many opportunities for service too. See the event calendar on our website at aamonterey.org for more information. Contact Jana at Central Office for more information – 373 3713.

Fellowship Hall
519 Hartnell St. Monterey, CA 93940

Holiday Potluck
Saturday, December 28th, 2019

In December we will be having our annual Holiday Potluck in conjunction with our monthly birthday meeting. This year it will December 28^th at 6:00 pm. Bring a dish to share. More information very soon.

News From General Service

This note from Susan, our DCMC.

Intergroup and General Service – What is the purpose of each?  Intergroup serves the local community while General Service connects groups nationally and worldwide.  They are complimentary, rather than competitive . Both exist to help insure A.A. unity and to fulfill the primary purpose of carrying the message.

A trustee from India visited our Area Committee Meeting a few years ago in Petaluma. He went to 28 meetings in 45 days.  He was very surprised we held meetings at 6:00 a.m.  Working in the sugar industry as an executive in India, the lunch and dinner meetings were full of alcohol.  He had a company paid expense account for himself and a guest.  He drank for both!  Beer costs less than Coke or Pepsi in India.  Walking into the Santa Clara Intergroup office, he was given a list of 600 meetings.  He was really taken back.  The country of India had 2600 meetings at that time.  They speak 22 different languages and have 512 dialects.

To see current IGR minutes and financial reports CLICK HERE

A Note From Jana

November is traditionally what we call ‘Gratitude month’. In Alcoholics Anonymous, we have so very much to be grateful for.  We come to the program in utter defeat and with some help from our sponsors and other members of the fellowships, we find a Higher Power, clean up our pasts, and find ourselves leading productive lives of service.  At this time of year, the MBAIAA asks that if you are able, please put a little extra in the 7th Tradition basket or the Gratitude Envelope that might be passed at a meeting.  This allows us to continue to fulfill our Primary Purpose – to help the alcoholic who still suffers.  You can also contribute digitally through Venmo by scanning this code.  Please write Gratitude in the memo.

Thank you for allowing me to be your Tradtion 8 worker.  I am forever grateful.

We Are Always In Need Of People To Be Of Service

If you are interested in being a part of what we do here at Central Office, I am always looking for office volunteers. People to be on the other end of the phone when someone reaches out for help. It is generally a four hour commitment (either 9:30 – 1:30 or 1:30 – 5:30) 1 day per week. Currently, I need a few people to keep on a list of those that are willing to fill in for these positions once in a while. Call or come by and let’s talk!

In closing, please feel free to stop by Central Office. If you are one of the ‘Trusted Servants’ at a meeting (Secretary, Treasurer,etc,) and you have any questions about the responsibilities of that position, don’t hesitate to ask what those responsibilities might be.

I am in the office Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9:30 -5:00.