MBAIAA Newsletter – June 2025

Published on June 20, 2025

Step 6 – “Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.”

“So Step Six—‘Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character’—is AA’s way of stating the best possible attitude one can take in order to make a beginning on this lifetime job.”
— Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 65

In Step Six, we become entirely ready to let go of the character defects that block us from growing spiritually.  It’s not about achieving perfection, but about opening ourselves to change—one day, one defect at a time.

What’s Happening Locally

Monthly Intergroup Birthday Meeting

This month’s host is the Friday Men’s Stag group.  They meet Friday evenings from 8:00-9:15pm in St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, at 146 12th St. in Pacific Grove.

Time:  Saturday, June 28th at 7:00pm
Place:  Monterey High School Cafeteria – 101 Herrmann Dr. Monterey CA 93940
Speaker: Anthony D.

Please come and support the fellowship!  We will have cake & coffee and there will be much to celebrate – TOGETHER!

The monthly birthday meeting is an Open 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 alcoholics are invited to participate.  Birthdays are followed by an A.A. speaker who shares for 40 to 45 minutes and the meeting ends about 8:30pm.

Coffee is typically ready no later than 6:30pm.  Arrive early for good parking, fellowship, and a great seat!

News From General Service

Gratitude, Growth, and the Spirit of Service

Hello everyone! This is Elena B., your District Committee Member Chair.

We were grateful to attend Unity Day on June 8th and represent General Service at this inspiring and heart-filled event. A heartfelt thank-you goes out to everyone who helped make our presence possible—your energy, support, and love truly shined through.

To those who spent time at our table, shared about General Service, and helped spark curiosity and connection—thank you. And to those who couldn’t be there in person, we felt your presence and support from afar. Your love was with us.

As summer approaches, we’re excited for one of the most beloved events of the year:
🌞 Summer General Service Assembly – “The Fun Assembly!”
Saturday, August 2nd, 2025
📍 San Jose Scottish Rite
2455 Masonic Drive, San Jose, CA 95125
💻 Hybrid Format – Zoom ID: 632 553 607 | Password: 1935

This Assembly is a beautiful time of shared wisdom, solution-seeking, and transformation—where we gather as one voice to grow together in love and service, whether in person or online.

And remember: Every group deserves a voice. If your group doesn’t have a GSR (General Service Representative) yet, now is the perfect time to elect one. Without a GSR, your group may be missing the chance to help shape the future of AA.

Our next District Meeting is July 15th at 7:00 pm at Bethlehem Lutheran Church (800 Cass Street). Come join us—your voice matters, your presence matters, you matter.

With love and gratitude,
Your General Service Family 💛

News from H&I (Hospitals & Institutions)

Monterey Bay Area Roundup (MBAR) 2026 Update

What is MBAR?

Monterey Bay Area Roundup (MBAR) is a biennial conference in Monterey, California. It brings together 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

Anyone interested in service on the MBAR Planning Committee? We encourage you to join us!

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:

• July 12
• August 9
• September 13
• October 11
• November 8
• December 13

Volunteer with Us! We are so thankful that 28 of 33 chair positions for MBAR have been filled! We are blessed to have so much enthusiasm and passionate folks on the committees. We do have several MBAR 2025–2026 Committee Positions Still Available!

Make an impact and help shape the next roundup! Open roles include:

– Panel Speaker Chair

– Registration Chair

– Dinner Chair

–  Literature Chair

– Social Media Co-Chair

– Marathon Meetings Chair

– Welcome Chair

SAVE THE DATE!

THE FIRST EVER – MBAR Lawn Olympics

SUNDAY, JULY 20th @ Veterans Memorial Park – Group Area 2

• Lunch: 12:00 PM
• Games: 1:00 PM
• Meeting: 2:30 PM

Suggested Contribution: $15*

*We gladly welcome picnic item contributions like hot dogs, burgers, buns, and sodas. If you’re unable to volunteer your time, these thoughtful contributions are a meaningful way to support the event and MBAR 2026.

To contribute, please contact Jenn at mbarchair2026@gmail.com or Samantha at sam.cornelison83@gmail.com. Thank you for your generosity.

JOIN US for food, fellowship, and friendly competition. No athletic skills needed—just bring your spirit! There will be something lighthearted and fun for everyone to enjoy. Let’s Keep It Simple and make some memories together!

MBAR BINGO NIGHT!

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2025

Hosted at the Moose Lodge in Del Rey Oaks

A fun night featuring recovery-themed bingo and fellowship.

Play phrases like “One day at a time,” “There is a solution,” “Powerless,” and “Easy does it” will likely be echoed throughout the event.

Great vibes and great prizes—don’t miss it!

Stay in touch, get involved, and help us make MBAR 2026 – Keep It Simple…unforgettable. If you have any questions, ideas or information to share with us, please reach out to Jenn at mbarchair2026@gmail.com.

There’s a solution—and it starts with us, together.

Intergroup Meeting Minutes & Financial Reports – June 2025

A Note From Central Office

Warm greetings to our recovery community!

Thank You, Walter!

After an incredible 12 years of dedicated service, Walter has stepped down from his Volunteer Coordinator position at the Central Office. Walter has been a steadfast presence through countless changes, always showing up with a warm smile, a wealth of experience, and a heart for service. His commitment over the past decade-plus has been instrumental in helping our office run smoothly and in supporting the fellowship behind the scenes.

We are deeply grateful for all he has given — his time, energy, and care — and we wish him all the best in this next chapter. Thank you, Walter, for your years of unwavering service and for being such a vital part of our intergroup family.

Unity Day was a Huge Success!!

Thank you to everyone who participated and helped out in this years Unity Day celebration at Toro Park on June 8th!  Please see the posted report for a breakdown of the financials for the event.

Volunteer needed
Are you looking for a service position?  The Central Office needs a volunteer to staff the Tuesday afternoon shift (1:30- 5:30pm).  If you are interested, please give us a call or drop by!

Now Accepting Venmo and Zelle
You can now use Venmo or Zelle for purchases and contributions at the Central Office! Simply scan the QR code posted at the front desk with your Venmo or Chase app and you’ll be taken directly to our payment page.

Meeting Updates

We’ve had some recent changes to our local AA meeting schedule—please help spread the word!

Printed Meeting Schedules

The printed meeting guides have been updated!  The new format is designed to be easier to read and easier to update.  Zoom meetings now also include the meeting ID information.  Two formats are available, by City and by Time.  Both can be found in one PDF on our website.

Mighty Queer Mice (Zoom)
The Zoom information for this meeting has changed.  Please refer to the meeting schedule for details.

In Love and Service,

Oliver

News From A.A.

The A.A. International Convention is almost here!!  Click an image below to enlarge.