MBAIAA Newsletter – July 2026

Step 7: “Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.”

“My Creator, I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad…”
— Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 76

Step 7 is where willingness becomes action.  After recognizing our shortcomings and becoming ready to let them go, we humbly ask our Higher Power to remove the barriers that keep us from being the people we were created to be.  Humility is not thinking less of ourselves.  It is recognizing our need for God’s help and trusting that lasting change comes through His power, not our own.

As we practice humility, we become more open to growth, more useful to others, and better able to live the principles of the program one day at a time.

What’s Happening Locally

Monthly Birthday Meeting

This month’s Birthday Meeting will be hosted by the Carmel Valley Reflections meeting.  They meet at 6:30pm on Wednesdays at St. Phillip’s Lutheran Church in Carmel Valley.

Time:  Saturday, July 25th at 7:00pm
Place:  Monterey High School Cafeteria – 101 Herrmann Dr. Monterey CA 93940
Speaker: Beth

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).

🗞️ General Service News

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

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, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Join us for inspiring speakers, fellowship, great food, and fun as we explore the vital role sponsorship plays in carrying A.A.’s message. Time will be announced soon—stay tuned!

☀️ Summer Assembly – August 8

The Summer Assembly is just around the corner! Join us in Redwood City for a day of fellowship, General Service business, and informative workshops. Please see the attached flyer for details.

🌎🤝 New Cross-Sector Forum

A new Cross-Sector Forum is bringing together professionals and A.A. members from across the United States and Canada to strengthen support for individuals with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD).

🎤 Upcoming speakers:

• 📅 July 23, 2026 – Dawn Klug, M.S., LCMHC, CEAP
  President & Chief Operating Officer, Employee Assistance Network
  ⭐ Class A Trustee, Alcoholics Anonymous
• 📅 October 22, 2026 – Chief Judge Kerry Meyer
  Minneapolis
  ⭐ Class A Trustee, Alcoholics Anonymous

💡 Class A Trustees are nonalcoholics who serve on A.A.’s General Service Board, contributing their professional expertise in support of A.A.’s mission. Because they are not A.A. members, their full names are used in A.A. communications.

📎 Please see the attached flyers for additional information and registration details.

💡 Call for Theme Suggestions – 2030 International Convention

Planning has already begun for the 2030 International Convention celebrating A.A.’s 95th Anniversary in St. Louis, Missouri, July 4–7, 2030. Members are invited to submit theme suggestions to help shape this historic celebration.

📧 Send your ideas to 2030ictheme@aa.org by October 9, 2026.

Past themes include:
I Am Responsible • Unity • Let It Begin With Me • The Joy of Living • Fifty Years With Gratitude • Fifty-Five Years—One Day at a Time • A.A. Everywhere—Anywhere • Pass It On—Into the 21st Century • A Vision for You • 80 Years—Happy, Joyous and Free • 90 Years—Language of the Heart

Thank you to everyone who serves in General Service and in your home groups. Your willingness to serve helps ensure that the hand of A.A. is always there for the alcoholic who still suffers. We hope to see you at the Summer Assembly and our Sponsorship Workshop this fall!

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, bringing together the AA, Al-Anon, Ala-Teen, and Spanish-speaking communities for a powerful weekend of recovery, fellowship, unity, and service.

September 4–6, 2026
Monterey Convention Center

Website: montereybayarearoundup.org

REGISTRATION IS OPEN!

Registration for MBAR 2026 is officially open, and we encourage everyone to register early.

Click Here-> MBAR Registration

Early registration helps the committee plan more effectively and ensures we can create the best possible experience for all attendees.

LINK TO THE 2026 MBAR SCHEDULE

We are so excited to present the official schedule. We encourage to send this link to anyone you think would like to join us for this special event as well as ask them if they would like to REGISTER. We currently have well over 200 people and we are receiving more registrations daily!

2026 MBAR MERCHANDISE IS AVAILABLE FOR SALE ONLINE – Please follow this link if you have not had a change to purchase. Please note, these items are sold at cost and MBAR does not receive any funds from these orders. We will have some merchandise onsite but we do encourage you to get you swag early!

Monterey Bay Area Round Up Apparel Store

OUTREACH MATTERS MORE THAN EVER

As we move into the final months before MBAR, outreach is one of the most important forms of service we can offer.

Many dedicated volunteers have spent countless hours planning and preparing a meaningful weekend of recovery, connection, and fellowship. We now need your help spreading the word so that as many people as possible have the opportunity to attend.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

• Inspirational speakers from throughout North America
• AA Marathon Meetings
• Al-Anon Marathon Meetings
• Spanish-Speaking Meetings
• Open Ala-Teen Meeting
• Recovery, Unity, and Service Panels
• Folklorico and Aztec Dancers
• Meet the Speakers Dinner
• Sound Bath Experience
• Firepit & Letting Go
• Ice Cream Social, Painting, and Games
• Breakfast Bingo
• Saturday Night Dance
• Line Dancing Lessons
• Prize Raffle and 50/50
• Private Whale Watching Excursion

HELPING HANDS

Helping Hands volunteers provide support, companionship, transportation assistance, guidance around the conference, and a warm welcome to attendees who may need a little extra help navigating the weekend.

Learn more at:
www.montereybayarearoundup.org/helping-hands

If you are you know of someone who needs financial assistance to attend MBAR, please send an email to mbar2026service@gmail.com. We will be ready to assist you. We do not want to turn anyone away from this incredible, inspiring event!

VOLUNTEER WITH US

We still need volunteers to help with:
• Setup
• Registration
• Hospitality
• Onsite Events
• Ticket Sales
• Helping Hands
• Teardown

If you are interested in volunteering at the event – Please complete this form in order that we know how to reach out to you!

Volunteer Signup

Online Form: https://forms.gle/N8tDicwLdRiHCZUN8

JOIN THE PLANNING COMMITTEE

Upcoming Business Meetings (10:00 AM PST)

Zoom ID: 330 100 7207
Password: 2026

• July 25, 2026
• August 1, 2026
• August 8, 2026
• August 15, 2026
• August 22, 2026
• August 29, 2026

Stay Connected

Instagram: @mbar2026
Facebook: Monterey Bay Area Roundup
Email: mbarchair2026@gmail.com
Website: montereybayarearoundup.org

WE CANNOT WAIT TO SEE YOU AT MBAR 2026! THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT ENCORAGEMENT AND WILLINGNESS!

KEEP IT SIMPLE – ONE DAY AT A TIME

Service Opportunities

Hosts for Pacific Group Bus Trip

The Pacific Group Bus Trip returns August 8-9, bringing A.A. members from Santa Monica to Monterey for a weekend of fellowship, meetings, dancing, and softball. Organizers are currently seeking local members willing to host visitors and help continue this long-standing tradition of hospitality and service. Several service opportunities are available, and all are welcome to attend the Saturday evening meeting at First Presbyterian Church of Monterey.  Please see the flyer below for more information.

Intergroup Representatives-at-Large (IGRs-at-Large)

IGRs-at-Large serve on the Steering Committee and help support the work of Central Office and the unity of our fellowship.

Responsibilities include:

• Attending Intergroup and Steering Committee meetings
• Having voice and vote at those meetings
• Informing groups about Intergroup services and opportunities
• Serving on the annual Audit Committee
• Participating in ad hoc committees such as Unity Day and the Holiday Banquet

Qualifications:

• Minimum one year of continuous sobriety
• Prior service experience within the AA service structure
• Familiarity with the purpose and function of MBAIAA

Public Information committee

What is Public Information work and Why Should A.A.s Do It?

In all public relations, A.A.’s sole objective is to help the still suffering alcoholic.

Public Information (PI) in Alcoholics Anonymous means carrying the message of recovery to the still-suffering alcoholic by informing the general public about the A.A. program. We carry the message by getting in touch with and responding to the media, schools, industry, and other organizations which can report on the nature and purpose of A.A. and what it can do for alcoholics.

Those undertaking PI work for the first time, whether it be at the area, district, group, or intergroup/central office level, are encouraged to read and take guidance from the information contained here. It is suggested that members taking part in PI work should have several years of continuous sobriet

Public Information takes many forms; here are some areas being considered:

• Send PSA’s to radio and TV station (supplied by AA General Service )
• Supply information pamphlets to drug court
• Contact DUI attorneys
• Put relative pamphlets (or our business cards) in hotels, police departments and community centers.
• Supply information pamphlets to NPS, DLI

Those members interested in joining our committee need to be able to contact people outside of AA, be able to distribute literature, and/or be comfortable speaking to outside groups. Reading PI workbook (M-27i) and AA guidelines for this service are extremely useful.

Intergroup Meeting Minutes & Financial Reports – July 2026

A Note From Central Office

Intergroup Election Results

Thank you to everyone who participated in the recent Intergroup elections.  The results are as follows:

Treasurer: Chris L.

Recording Secretary: Matt H

IGRs at Large: Katherine Anne  (Four positions remain open!)

PICPC Chair: Cher

12-Step Phone List Chair: Barbara S. (Additional help for the men’s list, would still be welcome)

Please join me in thanking our new trusted servants and keeping them in your thoughts as they begin their new responsibilities.

Meeting Updates

–  The Herd in Marina is currently in transition to a new location at the Veteran’s Transition Center on August 2nd.  In the meantime, the meeting will be held in a private residence in Marina.  Please check the meeting guide for more information.

–  The Wednesday night Carmel Men’s Stag meeting has moved to the Wellness Center on the corner on 8th Ave. and Dolores in Carmel by the Sea.

News from the General Service Office

–  Monthly A.A.W.S. Self-Support Letter:  This month’s AAWS Self-Support letter features a heartfelt reflection from Class A Trustee Tom Ivester, who shares how Alcoholics Anonymous transformed not only his father’s life but the lives of his entire family. Although not an A.A. member himself, he offers a unique perspective on service, stewardship, and the immeasurable value of the Fellowship. His moving message is a reminder that while the impact of A.A. cannot truly be measured, it can always be passed on through grateful service.

In Love and Service,

Oliver

Info/Events & Service Opportunities

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