MBAIAA Newsletter – August 2022

Published on August 18, 2022

Step 8 – “Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.”

“This is a very large order. It is a task which we may perform with increasing skill, but never really finish. Learning how to live in the greatest peace, partnership, and brotherhood with all men and women.  Of whatever description, is a moving and fascinating adventure.  Every A.A. has found that he can make little headway in this new adventure of living until he first backtracks and really makes an accurate and unsparing survey of the human wreckage he has left in his wake.  To a degree, he has already done this when taking moral inventory, but now the time has come when he ought to redouble his efforts to see how many people he has hurt and in what ways.  The reopening of emotional wounds, some old, some perhaps forgotten, and some still painfully festering, will at first look like a purposeless and pointless piece of surgery.  But if a willing start is made, then the great advantages of doing this will so quickly reveal themselves that the pain will be lessened as one obstacle after another melts away.”

Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions – Pages 77 & 78

What’s Happening Locally

Monthly Intergroup Birthday Meeting – Saturday, August 27th @ 7:00PM

This month several groups that meet at the Fellowship Hall will come together to host our Birthday Meeting.  These groups meet three times a day at 6:45AM, 12:00PM and 5:30PM, every day of the week!  They are a huge asset to our fellowship and we urge you to support them with your attendance.  Our speaker for this meeting is yet to be determined :).

  • Place:  Monterey High School Cafeteria – 101 Herrmann Dr. Monterey CA 93940
  • Time: Saturday, August 27th at 7:00PM

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.  You’re encouraged 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.  Remember – Principles before Personalities! Kindness, love and celebration will be the order of the day.

The monthly birthday meeting is 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!

MBAR: Monterey Bay Are Roundup – September 3rd & 4th

The Monterey Bay Area Roundup with happen over Labor Day weekend this year!  This 2-day event is a great opportunity to mingle with your friends & fellows from all around the Monterey Bay area.  Activities will include guest speakers, marathon meetings, a spaghetti dinner (thanks Aubrey!), a sober dance, a Round-Up breakfast, an ice cream social, and more!  You can learn lots more about MBAR, find a complete schedule, and register for the event here – www.montereybayarearoundup.org.

  • Place: Monterey Conference Center.  1 Portola Plaza, Monterey, CA 93940
  • Time: Saturday & Sunday, September 3rd & 4th.

2nd Annual MBAIAA Dog Show – Saturday, September 17th @ 11:00AM

Bring your pooches and celebrate your recovery!  Our beloved pets are happy joyous and free about our recovery.  Come celebrate with them in a beautiful park setting.  We will have a meeting to start off the day – The topic will be what has your recovery meant to your dog!  Right after the meeting we’ll have lunch – hot dogs & veggie dogs from the grill and biscuits for our furry friends!  The show will be after lunch and will include all sorts of categories.  Rest assured that all dog will be winners and there’ll be plenty of blue ribbons to go around.  Bring your dog in costume and, wear a matching one yourself~ 🙂  Click here to check out our flyer for more details!

  • 2nd Annual Alcoholics Anonymous Dog Show
  • Place:  Oak Newton Park – 500 Newton St, Monterey, CA 93940
  • Time: Saturday, September 17th at 11:00AM

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. at McGowan House, 381 High Street, Monterey or 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 Central Office

Here we are in mid- August! It is a reminder that we need to be fully present for every moment.  Time certainly does fly, whether we are having fun or not, so “Seize The Day!”  It seems that the COVID menace continues to hang in there.  I would guess that people have found their own methods of protection and please continue to do the things that we must do in order to stay safe.  Many meetings have returned to in-person, some have hybrid formats, and some are sticking with Zoom.  Check the schedule on our website for all the details.  We try to keep it as current as possible and the way we do that is getting updates from you!  Please get in contact with any meeting updates or schedule changes.

Soon we’ll be celebrating are our delightful furry friends at the 2nd Annual MBAIAA Dog Show.  Details are outlined above.  The event will be help on September 17th at Oak Newton Park in New Monterey.  We will have a meeting at 11:00, a barbeque after the meeting, and then we all get to show off our pooches!  Blue Ribbons for everybody!  – our show, our rules! 🙂

A reminder to all to please engage in Service. – one of the three legacies of Alcoholics Anonymous.  H&I is looking for volunteers.  MBAR too.  Intergroup needs full participation.  There are always so many opportunities for service. Call the office and step up!  It’s great for your sobriety and for the fellowship.

Please keep Central Office posted about any meeting changes and/or 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