MBAIAA Newsletter – March 2022
Published on March 17, 2022
Step 3 – “Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.”
“It is when we try to make our will conform with God’s that we begin to use it rightly. To all of us, this was a most wonderful revelation. Our whole trouble had been the misuse of willpower. We had tried to bombard our problems with it instead of attempting to bring it into agreement with God’s intention for us. To make this increasingly possible is the purpose of A.A.’s Twelve Steps, and Step Three opens the door.”
Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions – Page 40
“All I have to do is look back at my past to see where my self-will has led me. I just don’t know what’s best for me and I believe my Higher Power does. G.O.D. which I define as “Good Orderly Direction” has never let me down, but I havel et myself down quite often. Using my self-will in a situation usually has the same result as forcing the wrong piece into a jigsaw puzzle – exhaustion and frustration. Step Three opens the door to the rest of the program. When I ask God for guidance I know that whatever happens is the best possible situation, things are exactly as they are supposed to be, even if they aren’t what I want or expect. God does do for me what I cannot do for myself, if I let Him.”
Daily Reflections – Page 79
What’s Happening Locally
Monthly Intergroup Birthday Meeting – Saturday, March 26th @ 7:00PM
The Birthday meeting is on Saturday, March 26th at 7:00pm and will be held online. The Zoom meeting ID & password are listed below. This month the meeting is hosted by Topic Tag. Topic Tag is a Thursday evening hybrid meeting that meets at St. John’s Chapel, located at 1410 Mark Thomas Dr. in Monterey.
- Zoom Meeting ID: 652 224 0517
- Password: Sobriety
Please come support the Birthday Meeting. If you have celebrated a birthday, we’d be happy to send you a chip! Just contact Central Office with your address along with the number of years you have and they’ll get one in the mail.
We have an exciting bit of news! We will actually be meeting IN PERSON for our next birthday meeting in April! After much negotiating and lots of back and forth, we have come to an agreement with Monterey High School to continue a 38 year tradition of holding our birthday celebrations in the Cafeteria of MHS! April’s Birthday Meeting will be Saturday 04/30 at 7:00PM. Monterey High School is located at 101 Herman Drive in Monterey… Just like the old days!
We are soliciting Groups to host these meetings and to be part of a wonderful tradition. Contact Central office if your group is interested
Unity Day
There is more exciting news! We have just reserved Toro Park for another nearly 40 year old tradition – Unity Day! This year we are planning on Sunday, June 19th to gather together with the Salinas Fellowship and celebrate the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous in 1935. There’ll be a speaker meeting, a barbecue, music, a bake sale, a raffle, and games! We look forward to being reunified with our fellows in celebration. Put it on your calendar!
Monthly MBAR Planning Meetings
The Monterey Bay Area Roundup will be held Labor Day weekend – Septemeber 3rd & 4th – at the conference center in Monterey. Planning is ramping up. Online registration will be available next month. The Main Speakers have been chosen and there will be a spaghetti dinner on Saturday night (09/03) cooked by Aubrey G. You’re encouraged to get involved in the planning, the fun, and the fellowship! The meetings are on the 2nd Saturday of every month at 11:00am on Zoom.
- Zoom Meeting ID: 831 4306 2293
- Password: 2022
News From General Service
Monterey General Service newly elected panel is currently preparing for receiving, reviewing and presenting Agenda Topics. Agenda Topics will be presented to groups in March so that we can gather our local group consciences. Different than a “yes or no” vote, we are looking for an informed group conscience to take back to our delegate. The delegate will deliver this information to A.A. World Services in New York so that every topic can be assessed from all viewpoints. This is the term “We are A.A.” in action. If your group does not have a General Service Representative, please consider electing a GSR to provide you with information so there’s an informed group conscience.
About the GSR position: It is a two year commitment – a firm foundation in the Steps and Traditions is very helpful. As a G.S.R. you are conveying the information, without giving your opinion, to your group. Willingness is the key. Your understanding will grow within these two years. We meet the third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. via a digital platform. Please read the pamphlet and, if interested , let your group know you are ready to be of service.
With gratitude and service,
Jessica A.
“I am responsible, when anyone, anywhere reaches out for help, I want the hand of A.A. always to be there, and for that, I am responsible.”
Responsibility Statement
Current Financial Reports
A Note From Jana
Happy Spring Everyone! Time for new beginnings and growth. We seem to be at a turning point with the pandemic (don’t say that too loudly). It has been over 2 years since we have been able to have an in person birthday meeting. Please come support the Birthday Meeting in person on April 30 at Monterey High School. We really can only succeed if we hang together. I am grateful for remote meetings, but it seems clear that we do better together. There are a number of newcomers who joined us during the pandemic and stayed sober. I give them a great deal of credit, but seeing people face-to-face is so much better.
There are lots of changes in the meeting schedule. We have updated the Website and have new printed schedules at the office. There are more changes to come, so in order to keep up, check the website frequently at aamonterey.org.
Be well. Look after each other, support each other, and remember that we can’t stay sober alone. Share with others what was so freely given to you.
“Nothing is so bad that a drink won’t make it worse.”
The Best of the Grapevine volume 3