MBAIAA Newsletter – December 2019
Published on December 17, 2019
Step 12 – “Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics and to practice these principles in all our affairs.”
Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions. Page 106
“Practically every AA member declares that no satisfaction has been deeper and no joy greater than in a Twelfth Step job well done. To watch the eyes of men and women open with wonder as they move from darkness into light, to see their lives quickly fill with new purpose and meaning, to see whole families reassembled, to see the alcoholic outcast received back into his community in full citizenship, and above all to watch these people awaken to the presence of a loving God in their lives – these things are the substance of what we receive as we carry A.A.’s message to the next alcoholic.”
Local 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 Holiday Banquet & Speaker Meeting
Saturday, December 28th, 2019. Doors open at 5:00 pm, dinner at 6:00 pm, meeting at 7:30 pm.
Hosted this month by the MBAIAA Steering Committee in order to celebrate the holiday season and to celebrate our good fortune to have found each other and sobriety. Our speaker will be Virginia C. Doors will open at 5:00 pm, dinner will be served at about 6:00 pm. We ask that you bring a dish to share (side dishes are welcome, we will provide the turkey and ham). After dinner, we will celebrate sobriety anniversaries by giving out coins. Birthdays are followed by an A.A. speaker who shares for 40 to 45 minutes and the meeting ends about 9pm. Coffee is ready by 5:30 or so. Arrive early for good parking, fellowship and a great seat! Dinner tickets will be $5.00 – as always the meeting will be free.
Monterey High School Cafeteria
Herman Drive at Larkin, Monterey CA 93940
Holiday Alcathon
Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve, and New Years Day
The other big event that is happening this month is the Holiday Alcathon at the Fellowship Hall in downtown Monterey. There will be meetings held throughout the day and evening on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day. You can see the complete schedule on our Calendar of Events page.
Fellowship Hall
519 Hartnell St. Monterey, CA 93940
News From General Service
Here is a note from Susan G our Area 6 DCMC (District Committee Member Chair).
The following summary is from a topic discussion at our Summer Conference:
“Are We Inclusive? Who’s Missing from our Meetings? Presented by Marisol A., District 03 (Santa Cruz).
Experience as a person of multiple minority status shared some examples of situations that limit accessibility and inclusivity. Such as circumstances limiting the ability to attend, expectations about behavior and expression of gender. Sexuality, race, color of skin, mental illness, ability and language. These are issues and conversations being discussed. Questions about this topic are very much spiritual questions, designed to raise our level of consciousness. Diversity itself is a useless word itself without inclusion. It takes work to be inclusive, and the way we achieve it is to participate. A member reminded us that the alcoholic who still suffers isn’t just the one that isn’t in the room. Feeling different from others is what keeps us suffering.
A member shared how bringing up discussions of inclusivity and accessibility and how to combat it leads some members to be weary. That this borders on promotion. Several shared their experiences of being judged and feeling unaccepted due to their mental illness. A member shared her observation of a lack of newcomers in her homegroup – a dinosaur meeting, consisting mostly of old-timers. Suggestions on going to meetings where you feel uncomfortable (e.g., straight people going to LGBT groups), because that’s what makes us grow.
To see current IGR minutes and financial reports CLICK HERE
A Note From Jana
Holiday greetings! It’s a busy time of year, and it is important to stop and reflect on the past year and look forward to 2020 (one day at a time, of course). As your Central Office administrator, I wish you all the very best in the coming year. I encourage you all to attend our holiday banquet and enjoy the warm and wonderful fellowship that surrounds us. I continue to believe that if we stay grateful, we are much more likely to stay sober.
We have had less than ideal representation at the IGR level this year. Not enough groups are sending one of their members to represent them at the IGR level. This is the only way we have to keep in touch with the individual groups and to share with them all that is going on and hear from them what’s going on in their own groups. If your group doesn’t have an Intergroup Representative, be sure to elect someone, or step up yourself. One meeting on the first Tuesday of the month is all we ask – and we have fun. It is a great way to be of service. Speaking of Intergroup service, we have put together a proposed budget for the year 2020. You can view it on our website here. If you have any questions or concerns, call me at the office 373-3713. We will be voting on the new budget in January. Also in January there will be an election for officers of the Steering Committee – Make sure your group is represented!
Keep in mind that this time of year can be difficult for many of us. Extend your hand to a newcomer, make them feel welcome. Extend your hand to an oldtimer, make them feel appreciated. This gift of sobriety is ours to share. Here are some tips to get through the holiday season…
Twelve Ways To Stay Sober During The Holidays:
1. Line up extra A.A. activities for the season. Take a newcomer to a meeting.
2. Be host to A.A. friends, especially newcomers and those alone.
3. Keep your telephone list with you at all times.
4. Find out about special holiday parties and meetings.
5. Skip any drinking occasions you are nervous about.
6. If you have to go to a drinking party and can’t take an A.A. friend with you, keep a soda in your hand; keep some candy handy.
7. Don’t think you have to stay late. Plan in advance an “important date” you have to keep.
8. Go to a place of worship of your choice.
9. Don’t sit around brooding. Do some reading. Take a walk with a friend.
10. Don’t get worked up about all those holiday temptations. Remember “one day at a time.”
11. Enjoy the true beauty of holiday love and joy.
12. “Having had a….” we don’t need to spell out the 12th Step. Reach out your hand to a newcomer (or an old-timer).
I want to thank you all for your participation in our annual Gratitude Month in November. Your continuing support allows us to be here for the alcoholic who still suffers. And once again, may this season bring you peace.
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.
