MBAIAA Newsletter – February 2021

Published on February 21, 2021

Step 2 – “Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.”

“Therefore, step Two is the rallying point for all of us. Whether agnostic, atheist, or former believer, we can stand together on this Step. True humility and an open mind can lead us to faith, and every A.A. meeting is an assurance that God will restore us to sanity if we rightly relate ourselves to Him.”

Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions – Page 33

What’s Happening Locally

February Birthday Meeting – Saturday February 27th @ 7:00PM

The MBAIAA monthly Birthday Meeting is hosted by Good Morning Carmel.  This is a group that meets on Zoom everyday.  During the week, they meet at 7:00am and on Saturday and Sunday, they meet at 8:00am.

If you would like to receive a chip, just send an email to info@aamonterey.org with your length of sobriety and your mailing address – a chip will be mailed to you.  You can also participate in the 50/50 raffle by using Venmo. Buy tickets by sending the funds via Venmo – be sure to write the word RAFFLE on the transaction.  The tickets are 3 for $5.00.

Again, the meeting begins at 7:00 PM on Saturday February 27th.  The Zoom meeting ID & password are listed below.  Come a little early, stay a little late…  It will be wonderful to see all of your faces!  During this time of ‘Shelter in Place’ we cannot gather together in celebration as we usually do – this will be the next best thing.

  • Zoom Meeting ID:  652 224 0517
  • Password:  Sobriety

Monterey Bay Area Roundup (MBAR)

Monterey Bay Area Roundup 2021 is in the planning stages . The group is deciding whether to have a virtual conference or to postpone until 2022.  I know they would appreciate your feedback.  The group meets on Zoom the second Saturday of each month.  The Zoom meeting ID & password are listed below.

  • Zoom Meeting ID:  831 4306 2293
  • Password: MBAR2021

Next meeting is Saturday March 13th at 7:00PM.

Remote Meetings

We have page on the website listing all of our remote meetings.  The Remote Meetings page also lists information on protecting our anonymity at virtual meetings.  Read it carefully and join us online. We need each other to continue our sobriety.

There are physical meetings happening as well – you can check the website for those too.  All meetings are following safe practices.

Digital Contributions At Online Meetings 1

Online meeting spaces make it difficult to “pass the basket”.  Some groups have set up digital contribution accounts with services like Venmo, PayPal, Google Pay, etc. to deal with this problem. Now might be a good time to review an essential piece of AA literature, “Self-Support: Where Money and Spirituality Mix”.

Each group is autonomous and might consider taking a group conscience on whether digital contributions are an option, and which platform (or mix of platforms) best suits their groups’ needs.

Why collect 7th Tradition for an online meeting?

Our regular meeting locations still have operating expenses

  • Our meetings facilities may rely on contributions to pay their rent and utilities
  • Meeting supplies will still be needed when our meetings reopen – coffee, paper products, literature, refreshments. And after an extended closure, we may experience a large influx of people who are motivated to re-join the fellowship in person.

Central Office and the General Service Office still have operating expenses

  • Websites – which we may now rely on more than ever!
  • Phone lines, rent and insurance on office space
  • Utility and other ongoing expenses
  • Paid Special Workers who deserve our continued support. Their compensation is crucial to their ability to serve us.

Our Districts and Areas and H&I still have expenses

  • Regular expenses to support the work of committees and events that will take place when the crisis has passed are still there.
  • Web services support for groups
  • Expenses for venues for events that have been cancelled may still need to be met, since any income from the event won’t be there to support the pre-payment of reservations, cancellation fees, etc. The expense of re-arranging for venues to reschedule events is very real.

News From General Service

Monterey General Service is very excited to start gathering group consciences within the next month.  Each member of Alcoholics Anonymous has a voice in AA.  Agenda Topic discussions are a forum for us to share our opinions and ideas.  This is “we are A.A.” in action!

Here’s a sample of the Agenda Topics AAWS would like to hear our group consciences on:

I.  Consider proposals related to possible Fifth Edition of the book Alcoholics Anonymous

  • Develop a 5th Edition
  • Develop a 5th Edition of the books Alcoholics Anonymous with updated stories and revisions to Appendices III and V

II.  Consider requests to to revise the book Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions

  • To remove use of the phrase “opposite sex” paragraph two on page 117 in the chapter “Step Twelve”
  • To reconsider the phrase “lustful enough to rape” in paragraph one on page 66 in the chapter “Step Six”

Your group’s General Service Representative (GSR) will have further background information on all Agenda Topics in the next couple of weeks.  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.

Current IGR Minutes and Financial Reports

A Note From Jana

Here we are in February 2021.  The news concerning the Virus is more positive than it has been.  We are not out of the woods by any means, but after a year of only negative news, we are starting to see a glimmer of hope of opening up.  At MBAIAA we will do so cautiously, with our driving force, as always, being the power of the Group Conscience.  As things progress, each group will be able to have business meetings to consider the next option that is best for that group.  Please inform Central Office of those decisions as they are made.  As it says in the Introduction to the Twelve Traditions on Page 561 in the Big Book “We alcoholics see that we must work together and hang together, else most of us will finally die alone.”

Any personal contributions are welcome. Please remember to support your individual groups. All of the entities of AA need your support. Our webpage indicates the various ways to support AA and we have added a Paypal button to our website and you can always go old school and mail a check to MBAIAA 1015 Cass St #4 Monterey CA 93940. Or you can go really old school and drop a cash contribution in the mail slot at the office. I go to the office to check the mail frequently and I also am happy to meet you there if you need literature too. Just email me at info@aamonterey.org

A reminder that this is YOUR office. This office only exists to facilitate the groups. Please send a representative from your group to the monthly IGR meeting so that we may continue to communicate. Every group has a seat at the table if they send a representative. If you would like to attend the meeting, send an email to info@aamonterey.org and I will send you the pertinent information and a reminder that the meeting takes place on the second Tuesday of each month via Zoom.

If you are hungry for fellowship, please join us at the birthday meeting on February 27th at 7:00 pm on Zoom

  • Zoom Meeting ID:  652 224 0517
  • Password:  Sobriety

Once again, I must stress the importance of unity. Protect yourself and your loved ones and together in fellowship, we will get through this.

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

1 This information is from the AA Intergroup of SF & Marin Online Contributions page.