MBAIAA Newsletter – November 2025

Published on November 25, 2025

Step Eleven: “Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.”

Step Eleven invites us to deepen our spiritual connection and bring quiet balance into our daily lives.  Through prayer we seek guidance; through meditation we listen for it.  This Step helps us develop a more conscious relationship with a Higher Power, learning to pause before reacting and to align our actions with spiritual principles rather than self-will.

As the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions reminds us:

“Those of us who have come to make regular use of prayer would no more do without it than we would refuse air, food, or sunshine.” (Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 97)

Practicing Step Eleven keeps us grounded in gratitude, serenity, and purpose, one day at a time.

What’s Happening Locally

Thanksgiving Alcathon

Please join us at the Monterey Fellowship Hall (519 Hartnell St, Monterey) for the Thanksgiving Alcathon!  Alcathon meetings are 50 minutes long.  Regular scheduled meetings are normal times and lengths which are separate from the Alcathon. 

Meetings will be held as follows:

• Wednesday the 26th from 8pm to 11:50pm
• Thanksgiving Day the 27th from 8am to 11:50pm
  • There will be a potluck Thanksgiving Day at 2pm!  
• Friday the 28th from 8am to 4:50pm.

Monthly Intergroup Birthday Meeting

This month’s host is The Noon Groups! They meet at noon every day at the Fellowship Hall in Monterey.

Time:  Saturday, November 29th at 7:00pm
Place:  Monterey High School Cafeteria – 101 Herrmann Dr., Monterey CA 93940
Speaker: Leroy

Come celebrate sobriety milestones with us! We’ll share cake, coffee, and fellowship as we honor members receiving birthday medallions. The evening includes:

• Birthday Celebrations – Medallions for annual A.A. anniversaries (all are welcome to participate)
• Speaker Meeting – An inspiring share for 30-40 minutes
• Fellowship Time – Coffee is ready by 6:30pm; arrive early for a good seat and good company

This open meeting is held the last Saturday of each month (except December, when it’s combined with our holiday banquet).

Holiday Banquet

Next month, Intergroup will be hosting our Holiday Banquet & Birthday Meeting! Just like last year, we’ll enjoy a festive potluck dinner, with the main entrées provided by Intergroup. If you’d like to be of service, whether by donating a turkey or ham, helping with setup and decorations, serving food, or lending a hand in any way that feels right, please reach out to Central Office.

All help is welcome, and together we can share the joy of spending the holidays sober, supported, and connected in fellowship.

Notice of Proposed Bylaws Revisions

The MBAIAA Steering Committee has completed a thorough review of our By-Laws. A proposed set of amended By-Laws is now available for review.  We encourage all groups to:

• Read the draft (copy provided to your IGR; also available online here -> Revised By-Laws)
• Discuss the revisions in your home group
• Share feedback with your Intergroup Representative (IGR)

The Amended By-Laws will be voted on at the December IGR Meeting.  Please click here for more information.

Your Group’s Voice Matters!

Out of more than 70 AA groups in our area, fewer than 20 are currently represented at our monthly Intergroup meetings.  That means most groups are missing the chance to have a say in how our Central Office and Intergroup serve the fellowship.  Every AA group is encouraged to elect an Intergroup Representative (IGR) as your group’s direct voice in the local AA community.

What do IGRs do?

IGRs serve as the link between local AA groups and the Monterey Bay Area Intergroup.  They keep their groups up to date with local information, service opportunities, and special events.  IGRs also vote on matters that affect our fellowship at the local level, such as Central Office operations, literature and website updates, events, finances, and changes to our bylaws and guidelines.

MBAIAA provides essential services for local 12th Step work, including operating the Central Office, maintaining our meeting schedule and website, coordinating phone line coverage, stocking AA literature, and organizing events such as Unity Day and monthly Birthday Meetings.  Your group’s IGR helps ensure these efforts reflect the conscience and needs of the fellowship as a whole.

Encourage your group to elect an IGR and make sure your group’s experience, wisdom, and perspective are part of the conversation. Together, we keep AA strong and connected throughout Monterey County.

Intergroup meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM on Zoom.

News from General Service

Hello everyone! 🌟
This is Elena B., District Committee Member Chair (DCMC) for District 01, and I’m excited to share some important highlights with you this month!

📱 The General Service App Is Now Live!

You can now download the new General Service app from the Apple Store or Google Play.
This app will keep you updated on the latest news from our District, Area, GSO, and even from all 93 Areas across the U.S. and Canada 🇺🇸🇨🇦.

Fun fact: the app was built by the same team who created the Meeting Guide App — and they’re from our own Area CNCA 06! 🙌

🤝 District Inventory – November 18

We recently held our District Inventory, where we explored several important questions. Among them:

1. How informed are the groups in our district about the purpose and function of General Service?
   What can we do to better inform and engage them?
2. How well are we communicating with the groups?
   Are our reports, announcements, and outreach clear, timely, and accessible?

We are now beginning preparations for a workshop in February to spread more information about the importance of General Service.

If your group does not yet have a General Service Representative (GSR), please consider electing one.
Without a GSR, your group’s voice is not heard when we make decisions that affect AA as a whole.

📅 District Meetings

We meet every third Tuesday of the month at:

Bethlehem Lutheran Church
800 Cass Street, Monterey

Our meetings are hybrid — you’re welcome to join us in person or via Zoom.

Zoom Information:
Meeting ID: 332 217 2170
Password: 1935

Grateful to serve,
Elena B.
DCMC, District 01

News from H&I (Hospitals & Institutions)

Monterey Bay Area Roundup (MBAR) 2026 Update

What is MBAR?

The Monterey Bay Area Roundup (MBAR) is a biennial conference held in beautiful Monterey, California. It brings together the AA, Al-Anon, Ala-Teen, and Spanish-speaking communities for a powerful weekend of shared experience, encouragement, and growth.

Conference Dates: September 4–6, 2026

Visit: montereybayarearoundup.org

Join the Planning Committee

Do you feel called to service? We invite you to join us in shaping MBAR 2026! This event is made possible through the enthusiasm and dedication of volunteers like you.

Monthly Business Meetings

Held the 2nd Saturday of each month at 10:00 AM (PST)

On Zoom

– Zoom ID: 330 100 7207

– Password: 2026

Upcoming Meetings:

• December 13

Volunteer With Us

We are deeply grateful that most of our committee chair positions have already been filled—it’s a blessing to see so much passion and willingness to serve. A few important opportunities remain, and we’d love your help:

– Dinner Chair

– Facilities Chair

– Social Media Co-Chair

If you’re interested, please reach out to Jenn at mbarchair2026@gmail.com. Your service can truly help shape the success of MBAR 2026.

MBAR Fundraising News

MBAR recently hosted a BINGO fundraiser at the Monterey Moose Lodge—and what a joy it was! More than 100 participants from across the Monterey Bay Area joined us, and our speaker, Jesus, graciously shared his experience, strength, and hope.

The Moose Lodge went above and beyond, generously providing the space, support, and resources to make the evening a wonderful success. We are profoundly grateful for their partnership and for the spirit of fellowship that filled the room.

We’ll be announcing more fundraisers soon, and we hope you’ll join us. What a gift it is to have this much fun together in sobriety!

Why MBAR Has Fundraisers

Every contribution helps us create an unforgettable MBAR experience. Your support goes directly toward covering essential costs such as venues, supplies, and outstanding speakers.

As we prepare for MBAR 2026—bigger and better than ever—we are also facing rising expenses. Fundraising allows us to keep registration fees and activities affordable for everyone, with special outreach to the newcomer. This ensures MBAR remains accessible to all who wish to be part of this incredible weekend.

If you’d like to make a contribution to support MBAR, you can do so by scanning the QR code below or visiting our website:

montereybayarearoundup.org

Together, we can make MBAR 2026 a celebration to remember!

Stay Connected

Instagram: @mbar2026

Facebook: Monterey Bay Area Roundup

Email: mbarchair2026@gmail.com

Website: montereybayarearoundup.org

Keep It Simple—One Day at a Time.

Intergroup Meeting Minutes & Financial Reports – November 2025

A Note From Central Office

Closing Prayers & Group Autonomy

Some members have recently raised concerns about the use of specific prayers at the close of A.A. meetings. In keeping with Tradition Four, Intergroup does not govern individual group formats—each group is autonomous and guided by its own conscience.

That said, questions of inclusivity and accessibility are important to many. To support thoughtful discussion, we’re sharing a short guide based on A.A. World Services materials. It may help groups reflect on whether their current practices are as welcoming as they hope to be.  Click here -> Prayers & Tradition 6

A.A. Book Drive for Little Free Libraries

Our PI/CPC Committee is hosting a district-wide A.A. Book Drive to help share recovery, hope, and experience throughout our community. We’re collecting Big Books, Twelve and Twelves, and A.A. Grapevines to stock the Little Free Libraries across Monterey County. Your group’s contribution helps carry the message to people who may not know where to find it.

If you or your group would like to donate books, please bring them to Central Office or contact Mary Jane (flyer below).

Thank You for Your Gratitude Month Contributions!

A heartfelt thank you to every individual and every AA group who has contributed to Gratitude Month so far. Your generosity helps keep our Central Office running, supports vital 12th Step services, and ensures that AA in Monterey Bay area continues to be there for the alcoholic who still suffers. We are deeply grateful for the spirit of unity and service you’ve shown.

Gratitude Month isn’t over yet! If your group hasn’t had a chance to participate—or if you’d like to make an individual contribution—there’s still time. Every contribution, large or small, helps us continue carrying the message throughout our community.

Thank you for your continued support and for being part of this incredible fellowship.

In Love and Service,

Oliver

Events & Service Opportunities

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