MBAIAA Newsletter – December 2022

Published on December 15, 2022

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.”

“As I continued to go to meetings and work the Steps, something happened to me.  I felt confused because I wasn’t sure what it was that I was feeling, and then I realized I was experiencing serenity. It was a good feeling, but where had it come from?  Then I realized it had come “…as a result of these Steps.”  The program may not always be easy to practice, but I had to acknowledge that my serenity had come to me after working the Steps.  As I work the Steps in everything I do, practicing these principles in all my affairs, now I find that I am awake to God, to others, and to myself.  The spiritual awakening, I have enjoyed as the result of working the Steps is the awareness that I am no longer alone.”

Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions – Pages 88

What’s Happening Locally

Monthly Intergroup Birthday Meeting & Holiday Banquet – Saturday, December 17th @ 5:00PM

Doors open at 5:00PM, our Holiday Banquet will be at 6:00PM, and our meeting will start at 7:30PM.  This month’s meeting will be hosted by our Steering Committee and our speaker will be Alison G.  The Holiday Banquet is potluck, so please bring something delicious to share with your fellows.  Here are some suggestions by first initial:

A-C:  Dessert
D-J:  Hot Vegetable Dish
K-O:  Potato Dish
P-Z:  Salad or Bread

Place:  Monterey High School Cafeteria – 101 Herrmann Dr. Monterey CA 93940
Time: Saturday, December 17th at 5:00PM

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!

News From General Service

Monterey General Service is excited to welcome our new panel of officers and liaisons in January.  Elections were held at our last monthly meeting and we are pleased to announce Annette C. as our incoming District Committee Meeting Chair (DCMC) for 2023-2024!  Our upcoming panel is ready, willing and able to serve.  District 01 Monterey still has a few positions to fill and will be holding elections for those at our upcoming District Meeting.  If you believe you are available and/or would like to learn more, we’d love to see you at our next district meeting.  We meet the third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at McGowan House, 381 High Street, Monterey or via a digital platform.  General Service is the link in chain between our local AA members and AA World Services.  General Service has personally rocketed my sobriety into the fourth dimension and I am very grateful to have been 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 IGR Minutes & Financial Reports

This document includes a revised version of the proposed 2023 Budget for Central Office.

A Note From Central Office

Hi Everyone,

Happy Holidays to all!

We will be having an election in January for a new Steering Committee Officers.  Please call the office if you are interested.  MBAIAA needs you – it’s very rewarding service work that requires a small amount of time, and you will be giving generously to the fellowship. We need people to step up in service.

As you read this, we will have presented the proposed 2023 Budget to the IGRs, and they will present it to the groups they represent and you will have the opportunity to vote on the budget.  There are not too many changes from last year to this year.  The Budget Committee met to hash the numbers out and we felt that we came to a good compromise.

Soon (December 17th) we will be having our Birthday Meeting and Holiday Banquet.  See all the information above, It will be a fun night to celebrate our sobriety together with food, fun, and fellowship.

A big thank you to all of you who sent along a gratitude contribution to the fellowship in honor of Gratitude Month. We are mailing out those receipts very soon.

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