MBAIAA Newsletter – April 2022

Published on April 20, 2022

Step 4 – “Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.”

“It is when we try to make our will conform with God’s that we begin to use it rightly.  To all of us, this was a most wonderful revelation.  Our whole trouble had been the misuse of willpower.  We had tried to bombard our problems with it instead of attempting to bring it into agreement with God’s intention for us.  To make this increasingly possible is the purpose of A.A.’s Twelve Steps, and Step Three opens the door.”

Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions – Page 42

“Step Four is our vigorous and painstaking effort to discover what these liabilities in each of us have been and are.  We want to find exactly how, when, and where our natural desires have warped us.  We wish to look squarely at the unhappiness this has caused ourselves and others.  By discovering what our emotional deformities are, we can move toward their correction.  Without a willing and persistent effort to do this, there can be little sobriety or contentment for us.  Without a searching and fearless moral inventory, most of us have found that the faith which really works in daily living is still out of reach.”

Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions – Page 43

What’s Happening Locally

Monthly Intergroup Birthday Meeting – Saturday, April 30th @ 7:00PM

BIG NEWS!  Our monthly birthday celebration is back!  We will be meeting at Monterey High School in person & face to face.  Masks are optional.  There will be hand sanitizer at each table.  It will be wonderful and weird at the same time.  Please come and support the fellowship and engage with each other in any way that makes you feel comfortable.  The Host group will be the Wild Women.  This is a meeting that has been held in Pacific Grove at noon on Wednesdays for approximately 60 years.  Speaking for their group will be Charlotte S.  We will have cake and coffee and there will be much to celebrate – TOGETHER!  Again, April’s Birthday Meeting will be held in-person at:

  • Place:  Monterey High School – 101 Herrmann Dr. Monterey CA 93940
  • Time:  Saturday, April 30th at 7:00PM

As a reminder…  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 – 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 6:30pm.  Arrive early for good parking, fellowship, and a great seat!

Monthly MBAR Planning Meetings

The Monterey Bay Area Roundup is a conference held at the Monterey Conference Center during the month of September.  You’re encouraged to get involved in the planning, the fun, and the fellowship!  The meetings are on the 2nd Saturday of every month at 11:00am on Zoom.

  • Zoom Meeting ID:  831 4306 2293
  • Password: 2022

News From General Service

Monterey General Service is busy & excited!  General Service It is the link in the chain between your AA group and AA as a whole – “We” are Alcoholics Anonymous.  If your group does not have a General Service Representative, please consider electing a GSR to provide your group with information pertaining to happenings in AA.   The GSR position is a two year commitment – a firm foundation in the Steps and Traditions is very helpful.  As a GSR. 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.

GSR Pamphlet

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


A Note From Jana

We are so excited to announce the return of the monthly Birthday Meeting!  From what I can tell, it is at least a 30-35 year tradition of gathering together at Monterey High School to celebrate sober anniversaries at the end of every month.  We have been unable to carry on this tradition for 2 years and 1 month.  We have celebrated on Zoom and it was great, but you just can’t beat a face to face celebration.  I want to encourage 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.  PRINCIPLES before PERSONALITIES!  Kindness, love and celebration will be the order of the day.

Also, we are also happy to announce that the long-held celebration, Unity Day, will be back on June 19th!  This is the only celebration that brings the Salinas fellowship and the Monterey fellowship together to celebrate the founding of our program.  A barbeque, fun games, raffles, a speaker meeting will all be held out at Toro Park in the sunshine.  June is not that far away, so come help us organize this fun event- it takes many hands to put together a big event like this.

Late summer and early fall, we are looking forward to making the Dog Show a tradition too. So get involved in the FUN.

There is a new podcast by the Grapevine.  It is called “The AA Grapevine Variety Half Hour”.  It comes out once a week (Mondays).  Each week, long-time members Don and Sam will interview a different member about their experience, strength and hope in a casual “meeting after the meeting” manner.  The podcast is available on all of your favorite podcast platforms.

Please keep Central Office posted about any meeting changes, any special events that might be happening.  This Intergroup is about one thing – FELLOWSHIP!  We need each other to continue to be happy, joyous and free.  Be well. 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