Welcome to the July 2026 issue of the Coastal Bender, the monthly newsletter of the Coastal Bend Intergroup Association. Happy 4th of July!
“Why don’t you drink?”
“I went pro and retired early.”
The CBIA office will be closed on July 3rd in observance of July 4th.
CBIA Appreciates and Needs Your Ongoing Support
The Coastal Bend Intergroup Association has received money from its major fundraiser, the Coastal Bend Jamboree, for decades. The Jamboree funds that are raised each year typically contribute 35–40% of the money needed to run the office. The rest comes from the sale of literature as well as group and individual contributions.
This year’s Jamboree raised only enough to contribute about 12% of the annual income needed to run the office. We continue to hope that each of you will consider supporting the office with additional contributions this year! Many have done just that and there is still time for everyone to help!
It is easy to go to the website and make your contribution. No envelope or stamp is needed. Look for the Contribute button at the top of the page. There is a button for PayPal, and a button for contributions on Square. Clicking on Square opens up many ways that people can donate including Cash App, Apple Pay, Google Pay, etc. Maximum amount that can be contributed per year is $7,500.00.
Thanks to the many who do the Birthday Club where they donate a dollar or more per year of sobriety. Please join them and get your name and sobriety birthday in the Bender! The office is here in your community answering phone calls and selling literature, chips, birthday cards and medallions; but more importantly, we maintain the meeting schedules with all your updates and new meetings happening in our area, as well as maintaining the 24-hour Helpline supported by many volunteers in this area. If possible, be generous, as you can see the account is going down! Our community is so fortunate to have these services.
Where Are We Now? (Actual through June 2026)
| Checking Amount | $6,651.56 |
| Prudent Reserve | $12,672.08 |
| IRS Penalty Refund | $3,120.41 |
| Contributions | $12,299.67 |
| Jamboree Contribution | $5,587.36 |
| Gross Sales | $6,424.35 |
| Cost of Goods Sold | -$4,203.09 |
| Gross Gain | $23,324.97 |
| Total Expenses | $20,715.73 |
| Net Gain | $2,612.36 |
Group Contributions: Some groups have asked how to make distributions. The pamphlet Where Money and Spirituality Mix is good to review before your group conscience decides. See the suggested distribution and addresses.
Group Contributions — June 2026 and Year to Date
| Group Name | June 2026 | YTD 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Anonymous/Individual Contributions | 671.09 | 4,574.89 |
| CC – A Day Of AA In CC | 300.00 | |
| CC – 5th Tradition Group | 74.00 | 181.00 |
| CC – Calallen Group | 25.00 | 50.00 |
| CC – Cullen Mall Group | 100.50 | |
| CC – Flour Bluff Unity Group | 13.00 | |
| CC – Hilltoppers Group | 341.60 | |
| CC – New Life Group | 75.00 | 450.00 |
| CC – New Phoenix Group | 552.97 | 1,111.90 |
| New Phoenix Prom Night | 131.11 | 131.11 |
| CC – New Women’s Group | 84.65 | 432.95 |
| CC – Saratoga Group | 200.00 | |
| CC – Turning Point Face-2-Face Grp | 75.00 | |
| CC – Weber Road Nooners Group | 444.00 | |
| Goliad Open Arms Group | 15.00 | |
| Hallettsville Group | 158.25 | |
| Kingsville AL-K Group | 75.00 | 150.00 |
| Mathis Crossroads Group | 125.00 | |
| Portland Noon Meeting | 251.00 | |
| Portland Nueces Bay Group | 1,000.00 | |
| Rivera-SASTO Group | 402.00 | |
| Rockport Hope In Recovery Group | 500.00 | 500.00 |
| Rockport Fellowship Group | 750.00 | |
| Victoria Back to Basics Group | 196.09 | |
| Victoria For Sinners Only Group | 50.00 | |
| Victoria Main Stream Group | 100.00 | 200.00 |
| Victoria Unity Group | 96.38 | |
| TOTAL | $2,288.82 | $12,299.67 |
Intergroup Meetings
- CBIA Board of Trustees Monthly Meeting will be held on Monday, July 13th, 2026, at 6:00 PM on Zoom.
- CBIA Quarterly Association Meeting will be held on Monday, July 27th, 2026, at 6PM on Zoom.
Group Announcements
- New Phoenix Group — Group Conscience: 1st Sunday of each month at 1:15 PM. Birthday Night: 1st Saturday of each month at 8:00 PM. Location: 5433 S. Staples, Suite H in the Boardwalk Shopping Center; park in back lot behind shopping center off Bonner St.
- Hilltoppers Group — Group Conscience is quarterly after the noon meeting. Location: First United Methodist Church @ 900 S Shoreline Dr, Room 210.
- Weber Road Nooners Group — Group Conscience: designated Saturday of each quarter (Jan/Apr/Jul/Oct) following the 10:00 AM meeting. Birthdays: 1st Monday of each month at noon. Location: Travis Baptist Church @ 5802 Weber Road at Schanen St; park in lot behind church; meeting upstairs.
- Calallen Group — Group Conscience: 3rd Wednesday of each month following the 6:30 PM meeting. Birthday Night: 1st Saturday of each month with a potluck supper at 6:30 PM & the birthday meeting at 8:00 PM. Location: The Pass it on Club @ 11425 Leopard St.
- Flour Bluff Unity Group — Group Conscience: 2nd Sunday of each month at 12:00 noon. Birthday Night: 1st Saturday of each month with a potluck supper at 7:00 PM & the birthday meeting at 8:00 PM. Location: The Anchor Club @ 320 Anchor St.
Upcoming Speakers & Events
Prom Night: Wear whatever you want but dressing up can be fun. Come and join us! Lots of good food, fellowship and dancing!
Minutes: Coastal Bend Intergroup Quarterly Association Meeting, May 2nd, 2026
Read the minutes
I. Opening: Carolyn opened the meeting with a moment of silence followed by the Serenity Prayer at 2PM. Nancy read the CBIA Mission Statement. John read the General Warranties. Frank read the 12 Traditions.
II. Attendance: Carolyn C. (Chair), Billy E. (Vice Chair & Financial), Nancy B. (Trustee), Frank W. (Trustee), John K. (Trustee), Bob M. (Trustee), Rita (Office Manager) and Terry M. (Assist. Office Mgr.). Brian R. (Trustee) not present. Don K. (GSR Weber Nooners), Trish Y. (GSR Calallen Group), Marie A. (IGR Alanos Group), Wayne K. (Bookmarks), Joe B. (GSR Sunset 7), Nathan K. (New Phoenix Group).
III. Minutes: Rita read approved Minutes of the last Quarterly Meeting (January 27th). Carolyn read and approved Minutes of the last Board of Trustees Meeting (April 13th). John asked for a correction to Old Business to take out the line that many of the Jamboree Committee members did not know what to do and replace it with there was a lack of communication after reading the Standing Rules between the Board and the Jamboree Committee. With the correction Billy moved to approve the minutes and John seconded. Approved.
IV. Financials — March Treasurer Report: Balance Sheet (March 2026): Petty Cash $50.00; Checking $6,060.10; Prudent Reserve $12,672.08; Jamboree Account $976.00; Total $19,758.18. Year-to-Date (Jan–Mar 2026): Contributions (Group & Individual) $6,124.07; Jamboree Contribution $5,587.36; Sales Profit $1,020.13; Total $12,731.56; YTD Expenses $9,644.43; YTD Net Income $3,090.25. Profit & Loss (March 2026): Contributions (Group & Individual) $2,357.30; Gross Sales $288.31; Gross Profit $2,645.61; Total Expenses $3,565.29; March Net Income -$916.56.
V. Service Areas — the new Trustees and their service positions: Archives: Frank W. (Cullen Mall Group) nothing to report. Bilingual: open. Social: Nancy B. (New Phoenix Group) talked about Founder’s Day being held at Alanos on June 13th from 1PM–4PM. Rita handed out flyers to take back to the groups. Nancy said Bookmarks will do AA Trivia and there will be hot dogs and trimmings. Coastal BENDER: John K. (Cullen Mall Group) talked about getting Mailchimp to give the Bender a new look and content; the idea of the birthday list only being for people who do contribute and the names only being in the Bender when it is their birthday month. Would like to see more stories from individuals, cartoons, etc. Corrections/Treatment: Brian R. (Hilltoppers Group) not present. Jamboree: John K. — the committee will start meeting in July. According to the Standing Rules at CBIA, the Jamboree Committee Chairperson will be invited to our monthly meetings. Nominations: committee will be created in August. PI/CPC: Brian R. (Hilltoppers Group) not present. 12th Step: Bob M. (New Phoenix Group) nothing new.
VI. Office Report: Rita talked about finances at the office and passed out sheets with April Finances and Group Contributions through April and graphs about the decline in Jamboree funding. Asked that they make their group and individuals aware of the need to help CBIA financially at this time. Rita also passed out the Founder’s Day flyer for them to take to their groups.
VII. New Business: None.
VIII. Old Business: Joe B. (Sunset 7) asked if the Board was aware that there are some people who boycott the Jamboree and if so, what are they doing about it? There was much discussion from several Trustees that when the idea of an Advisory Committee came up a few people met to speak about that but then Rita found the Standing Rules under the CBIA Bylaws that give guidelines that the Board wasn’t fully aware of. John, Frank, and Billy would like to update the Standing Rules since they are not too clear as to what the duties of the Committee and Board are. They are also going over the contracts with the Omni hotel. Marie and Rita met with the Omni Hotel to try to revise the 2 contracts for 2027 and 2028 to benefit the Committee and CBIA; lots of good ideas came from the talk that will be gone over in the monthly Board Meeting. Everyone was asked to remind people that this is a fundraiser that is crucial to the funding of CBIA and that the Jamboree is done in the spirit of the 12 Traditions. Most of the people in the room spoke about ideas for the Jamboree, lots of good discussion.
IX. Next Meetings: Board of Trustees Meeting: Monday, May 11th at 6:00 PM on Zoom. Quarterly Association Meeting: Monday, July 27th at 6:00PM on Zoom.
X. Closing: Billy motioned to close. Frank seconded. Approved. Carolyn closed with the Lord’s Prayer at 3:35 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Rita Standish, Office Manager
2026 Birthday Club
The Birthday Club is for members who wish to contribute to CBIA on their AA birthday: $1 per year is suggested for each year of sobriety. Donations can be made by PayPal under the Contribute option on our website, or by cash or check to CBIA @ 3833 S Staples Suite S-212, Corpus Christi, TX 78411. Please indicate your Home Group or City and Sobriety Date. Let us know if you do not want your birthday listed in the Bender.
See the 2026 Birthday Club
| Name | Home Group | Since | Years in 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gail B. | Victoria Golden Slippers Grp | 01/01/2011 | 15 |
| Terry K. | CC Sunset 7 Group | 01/01/2000 | 26 |
| Sheila S. | CC New Phoenix Group | 01/07/2007 | 19 |
| Charlie B. | Victoria Golden Slippers Grp | 01/09/2006 | 20 |
| Ladara C. | CC New Phoenix Group | 01/09/1995 | 31 |
| Ceil Mc K. | CC Hilltoppers Group | 01/10/1982 | 44 |
| Sandra E. | CC Weber Rd Nooners Group | 01/20/2011 | 15 |
| Pat L. | CC Hilltoppers Group | 01/20/2001 | 25 |
| Rae T. | CC Happy Hour Group | 01/23/2006 | 20 |
| Ernest J. | CC Flour Bluff Unity Group | 02/15/2004 | 22 |
| Rob M. | CC Zoom Turning Point Group | 02/24/1985 | 41 |
| Janeen H. | CC Turning Point Group | 03/08/2017 | 9 |
| Chris N. | CC Oso Group | 03/09/2009 | 17 |
| Rita S. | CC Weber Nooners Group | 03/13/1977 | 49 |
| Mary C. | CC Turning Point Group | 03/22/1992 | 34 |
| Bruce R. | CC New Phoenix Group | 03/27/1985 | 41 |
| Phyllis H. | Portland Noon Meeting | 04/01/2004 | 22 |
| Marlive F. | Corpus Christi | 04/08/1987 | 39 |
| Kelly K. | Corpus Christi | 04/18/1986 | 40 |
| Lisa D. | Austin, TX (18th St) | 04/21/1987 | 39 |
| Fred C. | New Phoenix Group | 05/13/1987 | 39 |
| Carol D. | CC Happy Hour Group | 05/24/2016 | 10 |
| Mary H. | CC Happy Hour Group | 05/24/1995 | 31 |
| Jackie C. | Pleasanton, TX | 06/05/2014 | 12 |
| Pete M. | Portland Nueces Bay Group | 06/06/2025 | 1 |
| Gary L. | CC New Phoenix Group | 06/07/2009 | 17 |
| James M. | Portland Nueces Bay Group | 06/13/1993 | 33 |
| Terry M. | CC New Women’s Group | 06/18/1992 | 34 |
| Marie A. | CC Alanos Group | 06/21/1991 | 35 |
| Robin P. | CC Hilltoppers Group | 06/22/1986 | 40 |
| Annette C. | Bookmarks Group | 06/24/2012 | 14 |
| Bob Mc G. | Goliad Open Arms Group | 07/04/1979 | 47 |
| Bill Drews | Rockport Happy Hour Group | 07/16/1981 | 45 |
| Libby A. | CC New Women’s Group | 07/12/1987 | 39 |
| Tammy B. | CC Weber Rd Nooners Group | 08/11/1989 | 37 |
| April K. | Corpus Christi, TX | 08/20/1984 | 42 |
| Scott Mc G. | CC Hilltoppers Group | 08/22/2002 | 24 |
| Pat E. | CC New Women’s Group | 08/23/1987 | 39 |
| Butch R. | CC Weber Rd Nooners Group | 08/26/2006 | 20 |
| Mike Q. | CC Weber Rd Nooners Group | 08/28/2000 | 26 |
| Fred B. | Aransas Pass Group | 09/01/2002 | 24 |
| Hank S. | CC Cullen Mall Group | 09/07/1993 | 33 |
| Barb C-S | CC New Women’s Group | 09/09/1985 | 41 |
| Valerie B. | CC New Phoenix Group | 09/13/2017 | 9 |
| Heather D. | CC Weber Rd Nooners Group | 09/23/2009 | 17 |
| Dave D. | Rockport Fellowship Group | 10/04/1985 | 41 |
| Brandelyn M. | CC New Phoenix Group | 10/09/2009 | 17 |
| Patrick R. | CC New Phoenix Group | 10/09/2009 | 17 |
| Harold B. | CC Weber Rd Nooners Group | 10/18/2007 | 19 |
| Tim R. | CC New Phoenix Group | 10/21/2011 | 15 |
| Betsy H. | CC Hilltopper’s Group | 10/22/2010 | 16 |
| Kruger D. | CC New Phoenix Group | 10/23/2009 | 17 |
| Eddie M. | CC Weber Rd Nooners Group | 10/28/2005 | 21 |
| Debbie B. | CC Weber Rd Nooners Group | 10/31/2000 | 26 |
| Keith S. | CC New Attitude Group | 11/04/2020 | 6 |
| Loralei D. | CC New Women’s Group | 11/06/1984 | 42 |
| Joanie J. | San Antonio, TX | 11/28/2015 | 11 |
| Larry H. | Rockport Fellowship Group | 12/04/1990 | 36 |
| Jimmy M. | Port Lavaca Group | 12/14/1987 | 39 |
| Joe Mc M. | CC Hilltoppers Group | 12/21/1980 | 46 |
| Tony P. | CC Hilltoppers Group | 12/23/1978 | 48 |
| Ron S. | China, TX | 12/24/2009 | 17 |
| John K. | CC Cullen Mall Group | 12/25/1995 | 31 |
| Lois H. | CC New Women’s Group | 12/29/2007 | 19 |
Memorial Contributions
Memorial Donations can be made by any AA member in memory of another AA member who passed away during the current calendar year. Continuous attendance at meetings is not required as long as they died sober. Suggested donation of $1 per year of sobriety or a minimum of $5. They will be listed in each Bender from the month after the donation for a year. Please indicate their Home Group or City and the date of their death.
| Name | Home Group | Departed |
|---|---|---|
| Carmine T. | Weber Group | 07/26/2025 |
| Audrey H. | Rockport, TX | 08/12/2025 |
| Arthur A. | Nova Scotia, Canada | 10/03/2025 |
| Bud L. | Mountain Toppers | 01/07/2026 |
| Joe D. | Mission, TX | 01/16/2026 |
| Marcia L. | Oso Group | 05/15/2026 |
Have You Heard It Through the Grapevine Yet?
AA Grapevine has gone social! It has its own podcast! Each week, longtime AA members Don and Sam interview different members about their experience, strength and hope. The half-hour podcast is a casual “meeting after the meeting” with jokes, fun and the typical AA banter. Listening to a few episodes is a reminder that alcoholics are not a glum lot!
New episodes are available in English each Monday at 9:00am EST. The hosts interview their guests on getting sober, service, Steps, sponsorship and more. To listen to new or past episodes, visit aagrapevine.org/podcast (or wherever you get podcasts). By going to the website, members are able to email, call or leave voice recordings with comments, suggestions, jokes or recovery related questions for the Ask-It-Basket. Our Tradition of anonymity will be respected with all submissions on the show.
Helpline Help Needed!
More people are needed for “The Helpline”. The Helpline is staffed by volunteers who make sure the hand of AA is available 24 hours a day by answering the intergroup calls overnight (5 PM to 7:45 AM) and on weekends (8 AM Saturday to 8 AM Sunday or 8 AM Sunday to 7:45 AM Monday). This is a once-per-month commitment. A minimum of 3 months’ sobriety is required to answer calls after office hours. If you are available to do this vital volunteer work, please contact CBIA as soon as possible to add your name.
Calls taken during the month of June by volunteers: 19 calls for meeting information · 4 Twelve Step calls · 5 office referral/other calls.
- 12 Step List — If a caller needs help beyond meeting information, the helpline volunteer passes them to someone on the 12-Step List for a longer conversation on how to get sober and stay sober. A minimum of two years’ sobriety is required. If interested, please call Terry or Rita at the CBIA office (361) 992-8911 between 8:30–11:30 AM or 2–5 PM Monday through Friday.
- Jamboree Committee will start meeting again in July. First meeting is July 11th at 9:00am at New Phoenix Group.
- Local Stories Wanted for the Coastal BENDER — Consider writing your recovery story or an article on an AA topic for publication in this newsletter. Submit your article to cbia@grandecom.net in a Word document or similar format.
- District 8D Corrections Committee could use your help to carry the AA message to the incarcerated alcoholic. There are 12 Step opportunities at the Nueces County Jail, McKinzie Jail Annex, SATF, and TDCJ State Prisons. (Volunteers must pass a background check.) You can also consider becoming an AA contact for newly released alcoholics; both men and women are needed. Please donate your used Grapevines to the collection box at New Phoenix Group or CBIA. To volunteer or for more information contact Keith S. (361) 226-9343 or Karen S. (362) 980-7412.
From the CBIA Office
CBIA Phone Number: (361) 992-8911. Calls are answered by staff during business hours Monday–Friday and by helpline volunteers at lunch, after-hours and on weekends and holidays. Office Hours (except on holidays): Monday–Friday 8:30am–11:30am & 2:00pm–5:00pm. We will continue to work 30-hour weeks during 2026 to keep costs down. If you would like, you can call ahead with your order and we can have it ready to pick up. CBIA Holidays: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving (2 days), Christmas Day.