MBAIAA Newsletter – September 2025

Published on September 19, 2025

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

Step Nine is where willingness turns into action.  After we’ve written our list in Step Eight, we begin the process of repairing the damage we caused in the past.  Making amends is not simply saying “I’m sorry”, it is about taking responsibility and seeking to set things right.  Sometimes that means direct conversations, sometimes it means living differently so others can see our change, and sometimes it means exercising patience when amends would cause harm if made too soon.

This Step teaches us humility, courage, and compassion.  By facing those we’ve harmed, we release ourselves from the heavy burden of guilt and fear.  More importantly, we begin to restore trust, rebuild relationships, and grow in integrity.  As the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions reminds us:

“This very process of making amends will help us to live in the present and will release us from the bondage of fear and guilt.” (Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 84)

Amends are not only for those we hurt, but also for ourselves, as they free us to live in the present with a clear conscience.

What’s Happening Locally

Monthly Intergroup Birthday Meeting

This month’s host is the Mighty Muffins!  They meet at 7:00am every morning, both online and at the Carmel Valley Community Center.

Time:  Saturday, September 27th at 7:00pm
Place:  Monterey High School Cafeteria – 101 Herrmann Dr. Monterey CA 93940
Speaker: Jamison

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).

Notice of Proposed Bylaws Revisions

The Monterey Bay Area Intergroup is undertaking a revision of our bylaws.  To ensure transparency and invite participation from the fellowship, we have prepared two reference documents: a redline version of the bylaws showing all proposed changes, and a summary table outlining those revisions.  Both are available on our website.

Some groups have already shared suggestions, and a new draft of the bylaws is currently being prepared.  We encourage all members to review these documents and offer input, either by speaking with your Intergroup Representative (IGR) or by contacting the Central Office directly.  The revised draft will be available for review in October, and we hope to hold a group conscience on the final changes in November.

👉 MBAIAA Revised By-Laws Red-Line Document
👉 Revisions Table

News from General Service

Dear Trusted Servants, Friends, and Fellows in Service, 🌟

Warm greetings from your District Committee Member Chair (DCMC), Elena B.! 💌 I’m excited to share some important updates and inspiring highlights from our journey together in General Service. Our September 16th District meeting was fantastic, with great participation and a unanimous vote to hold our District Inventory on November 18th at 7 PM, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 800 Cass Street. 📅✨

Just as personal inventory is key to our recovery, group and district inventories help us stay strong, united, and focused on carrying the message to those still suffering. As the Big Book reminds us, “A business which takes no regular inventory usually goes broke.” 🛠️ Let’s come together to evaluate, improve, and grow our fellowship.

Don’t forget, our Fall Assembly on November 1st in Napa will feature an Area Inventory at Napa Valley Fairgrounds, 575 3rd Street. 🍇

Also, save the tentative date for our Accessibility and Safety Workshop on February 7th, 2026, here in Monterey—designed to help make A.A. welcoming and accessible to all, breaking down any barriers to unity and inclusion. 🌍💙

Stay tuned for more details, and thank you for your dedicated service!

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:

• October 11
• November 8
• December 13

Volunteer with Us! We are so thankful that most of the chair positions for MBAR have been filled! It is a blessing to have so much enthusiasm and such passionate folks on the committees. Several MBAR 2025–2026 Committee Positions Are Still Available!

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

– Dinner Chair

–  Facilities Chair

– Social Media Co-Chair

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 – September 2025

A Note From Central Office

Warm greetings to our recovery community!

Central Office now accepts cards!

We’re pleased to share that the Central Office is now able to accept credit and debit card payments for literature and other purchases.  To help offset the processing fees, we encourage members to add a small “fee contribution” when paying by card.  Your support ensures that the office can continue serving our fellowship without added financial strain.

Tracking Contributions for Back Taxes

Central Office now keeps track of any individual or group contributions that are designated specifically for paying down our outstanding tax balance. If you or your group wish to make a contribution toward this purpose, please let us know when making the donation so that it can be properly recorded. These designated funds will go directly toward reducing the tax liability and will be reported transparently in our financial records.

Meeting Updates

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

Woman’s Way

Woman’s Way is a new Women’s group that meets at noon on Mondays in the Church of the Wayfarer, on the corner of 7th and Lincoln in Carmel.  The format is reading and round-robin discussion of the Steps.

Safety and A.A.

Creating a safe and welcoming space is part of carrying A.A.’s message. Anyone with a desire to stop drinking is welcome, but if behavior threatens others or disrupts the meeting, the group may ask that person to leave. Anonymity is important, but it is not a cover for unsafe or illegal actions. To learn more, see the pamphlet Safety and A.A. flyer and the optional Safety Card for A.A. Groups.

Events & Service Opportunities

(click to enlarge)