MBAIAA Newsletter – June 2019

Published on June 19, 2019

Step 6 – “Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.“

“So Step Six is AA’s way of stating the best possible attitude one can take in order to make a beginning on this lifetime job. This does not mean that we expect all our character defects to be lifted out of us as the drive to drink was. A few of them maybe, but with most of them we shall have to be content with patient improvement. The key words “entirely ready” underline the fact that we want to aim at the very best we know or can learn.

How many of us have this degree of readiness? In an absolute sense practically nobody has it. The best we can do, with all the honesty that we can summon, is to try to have it. Even then the best of us will will discover to our dismay that there is always a sticking point, a point at which we say “No, I can’t give this up yet.” And we often tread on even more dangerous ground when we cry, “This I will never give up!” Such is the power of our instincts to overreach themselves. No matter how far we have progressed, desires will always be found which oppose the grace of God.”

Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.  Pages 65 & 66

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 Birthday / Speaker Meeting
Saturday, June 29th, 2019 @ 7:30 pm

Hosted this month by MONYPAA – the Monterey Young People Of Alcoholics Anonymous. The speaker will be Joel Y.

This is a monthly birthday meeting 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 and 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 9pm. Coffee is typically ready no later than 7pm. Arrive early for good parking, fellowship and a great seat!

Monterey High School Cafeteria
Herman Drive at Larkin, Monterey CA 93940

Annual Hawaii Raffle

Our annual Hawaii Raffle is underway. Every year this is one of our biggest fundraisers. We sell 450 tickets at $10.00 each. The prize is a flight for 2, 5 days and 4 nights accommodations and registration to the 58th annual Hawaii Conference. The winner’s name will be drawn at the birthday meeting July 27th. You need not be present to win.

If you can’t find anyone who is selling tickets, give us a call at Central Office (373 3713) and we will be glad to get you all set up!

News From General Service

Here is a note from Susan G, our Monterey General Service District 01 DCMC (District Committee Member Chair).

Last weekend General Service held their post-conference event in Vacaville.

Three people shared in panel discussion after lunch. The first said he understood the meaning of surrender while facing the judge who sentenced him to jail for the fifth time. The second talked about going out after eighteen years and learning her disease was waiting for her to pick up where she left off. The final share was from a student at UC Santa Cruz feeling he finally found where he belonged and loved being of service to other students.

Our past Delegate serves in H & I after rotating out of his position. He recently held a meeting inside San Quentin for 105 men who are incarcerated. A man came up to him and said he’d been inside the walls for thirty five years for killing someone in a car accident while drunk. The warden said there was 105 more that wanted to attend the meeting, but they need more A.A. members in order to meet the prison requirements for safety, security, etc.

The whole time I kept thinking, “there but for the grace of God.”

“God will constantly disclose more to you and to us. Ask Him in your morning meditation what you can do each day for the man who is still sick.  The answers will come, if your own house is in order.”

A Vision For You. Page 164.

To see current IGR minutes and financial reports CLICK HERE

A Note From Jana

I have been thinking about participation. I have noticed a decline in attendance at IGR meetings lately. The only way we have of communicating with your group is by active participation in the Intergroup process. We meet monthly on the second Tuesday of the month at St James Church.

We discuss all of the activities that are happening in our fellowship, and ways of being of service. If your group does not have an Inter Group Representative, please see about getting one, or stepping up yourself to come and see what this process is all about. We need as many people as possible to suit up and show up to make this a vibrant and active fellowship in order to help the person who still suffers.

Last week we celebrated the founding of our program. Every year, the Monterey Fellowship and the Salinas Fellowship get together and throw a party at Toro Park to celebrate what is called Unity Day in recognition of 6/10/35 – the day that Dr. Bob quit drinking.

A good time was had by all in spite of an unusually warm day. There was good food, great music and most of all, a really great atmosphere for fellowship. Congratulations to all who helped in the planning of this big event on a job well done.

So let’s forge ahead to Summer. Here on the Central Coast, there are trails to hike, waves to surf, lengthy walks on the beach to take, new and different meetings to attend. You get my drift…get out and enjoy your sobriety.

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.