MBAIAA Newsletter – September 2026

Bixby Bridge panoramic photograph.

Step 9: “Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.”

“Good judgment, a careful sense of timing, courage and prudence, these are the qualities we shall need when we take Step Nine.”
Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions

Step Nine calls us to put our willingness into action, but not without thoughtful consideration. Making amends takes courage, while good judgment, timing, and prudence remind us to consider the effect our actions may have on others. With guidance and care, we can face the past responsibly, make things right where we can, and continue moving toward greater freedom.

What’s Happening Locally

Monthly Birthday Meeting

This month’s Birthday Meeting will be hosted by the Mighty Muffins.  They meet every morning (7am weekdays and 8am weekends), both online and in person at the Carmel Valley Community Center .

Time:  Saturday, September 26th at 7:00pm
Place:  Monterey High School Cafeteria – 101 Herrmann Dr. Monterey CA 93940
Speaker: Sonya

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 40–45 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).

District 24 Open Speaker Meeting

Join District 24 for an Al-Anon Open Speaker Meeting with A.A. participation on Sunday, September 27 at the Fellowship Hall in Monterey.  Dinner begins at 5:00 PM, followed by the meeting at 6:00 PM, featuring Chris R. from Redondo Beach representing A.A. and Coleen G. from Monterey representing Al-Anon. A $10 contribution is suggested, and Spanish interpreting will be available.

Celebration of Life for Maggie & Margie

Friends and members of the Fellowship are invited to come together to celebrate and remember the lives of Maggie and Margie on Saturday, October 10, from 2:00 to 4:30 PM at First Presbyterian Church, 501 El Dorado St., Monterey.  The gathering will be a time to share memories, stories, love, and friendship.  A dessert potluck will be held, and attendees are invited to bring a favorite dessert to share if they are able.  Everyone is welcome.

MBAR 2026 – With Full Hearts, Thank You!

As we close the chapter on MBAR 2026, our hearts are incredibly full.

First and foremost, thank you to every member of our MBAR Committee who stepped into service. For nearly two years, this committee worked with incredible unity, dedication, and love to create a beautiful weekend for our fellowship.

In AA, we serve not for recognition, but to help others and strengthen our own programs. Watching this committee live that principle—working side by side, supporting one another, and keeping the purpose of MBAR at the center—was truly special.

The weekend was filled with amazing speakers, marathon meetings, panels, and countless opportunities for fellowship, alongside our wonderful partners in Al-Anon and the Spanish-speaking communities. And through it all, there was so much love, laughter, joy, and connection.

To everyone who supported MBAR along the way and to everyone who joined us in Monterey—thank you. You made the weekend what it was.

If you’d like to hear the speakers again, or weren’t able to attend, recordings of our main speakers are available at MontereyBayAreaRoundup.org.

More will come about MBAR 2028. But for now, we simply have full hearts and tremendous gratitude for AA, our fellowship, and this incredible community.

Thank you and bless you.

– Jennifer G. , MBAR 2026 Chair

Keep It Simple!

🗞️ General Service News

👋 Hello, everyone!

My name is Elena B., and I am your District Committee Member Chair (DCMC). 🤝

Welcome to our General Service News! This column is here to keep you informed about upcoming events, General Service announcements, service opportunities, and ways to stay connected with what’s happening in our District, our Area, and throughout Alcoholics Anonymous.

Thank you for allowing me to be of service. ❤️ I look forward to staying connected with all of you as we continue carrying the message of hope and recovery—together, one day at a time. 🌟

🎉 Sponsorship Workshop – Save the Date!

Our District 01 Sponsorship Workshop will be held on Saturday, October 3, from 12:00–1:30 p.m. at Bethlehem Lutheran Church.

Join us for inspiring speakers, fellowship, great food, and fun as we explore the vital role sponsorship plays in carrying the A.A. message.

📎 Please see the attached flyer for more information.

🗳️ District Elections Are Coming!

We are approaching our District elections in November, and this is a wonderful opportunity to become involved in General Service and help keep our District strong and active.

The following District service positions will be available:

  • DCMC – District Committee Member Chair
  • Alternate DCMC
  • DCM – District Committee Member
  • Recording Secretary
  • Registrar
  • Treasurer
  • Archives Chair
  • Bridging the Gap (BTG) Chair
  • Hospitals & Institutions  (H&I) Chair
  • Intergroup Liaison
  • Literature & Grapevine Chair
  • Public Information/Cooperation with the Professional Community (PI/CPC) Chair

💙 Please consider joining the District and being of service. There are many different ways to participate, and every position plays an important part in helping us carry the A.A. message.

If you are interested in any of these positions—or simply want to learn more about what they involve—please contact me for job descriptions and additional information.

💡 Our District is active and growing today, but there have been times when the District became very quiet and the light of service grew dim. Let’s not let that light go out again.

It takes all of us—our time, ideas, enthusiasm, and willingness—to keep General Service strong. Even a small commitment can make a big difference.

Come join us, get involved, and help keep the District 01 light shining! 🌟🤝

News from H&I (Hospitals & Institutions)

The Jail is getting quicker on their Clearances. If you have already put in an application and haven’t been cleared yet, give us a call to resubmit your application.

Be of service where your heart leads you!

  • Men’s Jail
  • Women’s Jail
  • Natividad Mental Health
  • CHOMP Mental Health Garden Pavillion
  • Genesis House
  • H&I Group Representative for your home group meeting
  • All Committee Positions have been filled. Thank you.

Orientation is on the 1st Thursday of every month via zoom.

Orientation/Business Meeting: 7:00p

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 860 3303 7751   Passcode: 554781

OR contact the Central Office.  Flyer available below or click here.

Intergroup Meeting Minutes & Financial Reports – September 2026

A Note From Central Office

Local Updates

–  Big Sur Sunday:  The Big Sur Sunday meeting has moved back to its original location at the Big Sur Grange.

–  NCCAA Fall Conference: The Northern California Council of Alcoholics Anonymous will hold its 77th Annual Fall Conference October 9–11, 2026, at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Fresno.  The weekend will feature speaker meetings, marathon meetings, Al-Anon and Spanish participation, area updates, a Saturday night dance, and more.  Pre-registration is $35 through September 26, or $40 at the conference.

News from the General Service Office

–  Monthly A.A.W.S. Self-Support Letter:  This month’s AAWS Self-Support letter features Southeast Regional Trustee Susan V., who shares how her understanding of self-support has grown from simply “taking care of myself” into something much broader.  Through the Seventh Tradition, she came to see self-support as both a privilege and a responsibility, connecting individual contributions, group conscience, and careful stewardship with A.A.’s ability to remain independent and carry the message.  She reminds us that the amount we give is less important than the spirit of unity, gratitude, and service behind it.

–  Everything AA App Update: A.A. World Services has released Version 5.0 of the Everything AA app, the first update since AAWS assumed ownership of the app.  The app remains free to download for iOS and Android, with an optional subscription of $1.99 per month or $19.99 per year that provides access to additional content.  The first subscriber feature, “Voices of A.A. Today,” includes material from the 2025 International Convention commemorative book, with additional archival audio, video, and other content planned for the future.  AAWS says further improvements and new resources will be introduced as development continues.

–  Fifth Edition Big Book Coming in 2027: A.A. World Services has announced that the hardcover Fifth Edition of Alcoholics Anonymous is on track for publication in February 2027.  The new edition will include 26 new stories of recovery and will have a list price of $20.  The hardcover will also feature a removable dust jacket. More information about the Fifth Edition is expected from AAWS this fall.

In Love and Service,

Oliver

Info/Events & Service Opportunities

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