MBAIAA Newsletter – April 2023

Published on April 26, 2023

Step 4 – “Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.”

“Alcoholics especially should be able to see that instinct run wild in themselves is the underlying cause of their destructive drinking.  We have drunk to drown feelings of fear, frustration, and depression.  We have drunk to escape the guilt of passions and then have drunk again to make more passions possible.  We have drunk for vainglory – that we might the more enjoy foolish dreams of pomp and power.  The perverse soul-sickness is not pleasant to look upon.  Instincts on rampage balk at investigation.  The minute we make a serious attempt to probe them, we are liable to suffer severe reactions.”

Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions – Page 35

What’s Happening Locally

Monthly Intergroup Birthday Meeting – Saturday, April 29th @ 7:00PM

This month’s host group will be Sunday Discussion. This meeting is held in-person at Meals on Wheels (700 Jewel Ave.) in Pacific Grove on Sundays at 11:00AM.  Speaking for Sunday Discussion will be Matthew.

Time: Saturday, April 29th at 7:00PM
Place:  Monterey High School Cafeteria – 101 Herrmann Dr. Monterey CA 93940

Please come and support the fellowship!  You’re encouraged you to celebrate in whatever way makes you comfortable – wear a mask, don’t wear a mask, hug, don’t hug.  No judging of others who may or may not do things the way you would like them to.  Kindness, love and celebration will be the order of the day.

The monthly birthday meeting is 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 – 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 8:30pm.  Coffee is typically ready no later than 6:30pm.  Arrive early for good parking, fellowship, and a great seat!

Monthly MBAR Planning meetings

Monterey Bay Area Roundup is a conference held at the conference center in Monterey in September. Get Involved in the planning- fun, and fellowship! The meetings are on the 2nd Saturday of every month at 10:00 am on Zoom.

  • ID 831 4306 2293
  • Password 2024

Be sure to join them as they plan the big MBAR event for September 2024!

Desserts & Dancing

A new event!  We hope you will come and dance the night away and indulge your sweet tooth at the same time!

Time: Saturday, June 3rd at 7:00PM
Place: Bethlehem Lutheran Church – 800 Cass St in Monterey

Unity Day Planning

This month we will start planning for this year’s Unity Day!  Unity Day will be held June 11th in Toro Park to celebrate the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous in 1935. We join the Salinas AA fellowship to commemorate this momentous event with a barbeque, bake sale, raffle, music, and games.  This event is a long-held tradition (35 years or so!) and is the only time, annually, that we join with the Salinas Fellowship to celebrate.  It is a terrific day of camaraderie and a celebration of our sobriety.

Save the date!  Come join us in the planning of this big annual event!  Contact Jana at Central Office if you are ready to pitch in and help.

News From General Service

District 01 is enthusiastic to begin Panel 73 with a fantastic group combining returning trusted servants and several new members. Presently, we have the following service positions available: Secretary, Archives, H&I Liaison, District Committee Member. If you believe you are available and/or would like to learn more, we’d love to see you at our next district meeting (please contact Central Office for details).  General Service is the link in chain between our local AA members and AA World Services.  If your group does not yet have a General Service Representative please consider electing a member to participate.

A reminder to visit aagrapevine.org.  Here you can:

  • Submit your story
  • Calculate your sobriety
  • Sign up for the Grapevine Daily Quote
  • Record your share for the Audio Project
  • Follow the Grapevine on on Instagram at Alcoholicsanonymous_gv
  • Join our Carry the Message Project by getting a subscription for a sponsee, a Doctor’s office, or for your meeting
  • Visit the online store
  • Become a GV Rep for your meeting or group
  • Subscribe to the Grapevine’s You Tube channel
  • Listen to the weekly AA Grapevine Podcast

In 1944 The first issue of the Grapevine was sent to all AA’s serving in the Armed Forces.  This is where the phrase “AA’s Meeting in Print” began.  A few years later it was renamed
The International Journal of AA.  That name never really caught on, but it is being used now because the Grapevine is more than just a magazine.

The only way to support the grapevine is through subscription or purchases at aagrapevine.org.  Because many members have never heard of the Grapevine, please spread
the word of all it has to offer at your meetings by making this announcement.

Thank you for allowing me to be of service to this program that has saved my life.

In love and service,

Annette C DCMC

“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 IGR Minutes & Financial Reports

A Note From Central Office

Hello!  We are now well into 2023 and I hope this finds you sober, healthy, and ‘trudging the road to happy destiny’.  We have some exciting events coming up and it feels as if we can gather relatively safely now.  For me, and many others, the fellowship of this program drew me outside of my alcoholic jail of isolation & loneliness.  I feel that MBAIAA has now seen our way through the difficult road of a critical worldwide health crisis and we seem to have landed on our feet, ready to face the coming years…TOGETHER!

Being of service is one of the legs of the AA triangle.  We have many opportunities to be of service either in ways of ‘one alcoholic to another’, or being of service to our groups, our homegroups, or the local fellowship.  When opportunities arise – raise you hand!  Be a part of what has been given freely to you!  Step up and volunteer to be a part of this terrific fellowship and together we can all take Alcoholics Anonymous into the future with a single mission – to help the alcoholic who still suffers.

Please keep Central Office posted about any meeting changes or any special events that might be happening. This Intergroup is about one thing – FELLOWSHIP!  We need each other to continue to be happy, joyous and free.  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.

Be well,

Jana

“Nothing is so bad that a drink won’t make it worse.”
The Best of the Grapevine volume 3