Welcome to the September 2026 issue of the Coastal Bender, the monthly newsletter of the Coastal Bend Intergroup Association.
Pass It On!
I had been sober about six weeks and was very tentative in my approach to AA. I didn’t like authority figures, organizations or the “God stuff.” I was desperate and hadn’t had a drink since my first meeting because I was reassured by the suggestion “I could take what I wanted and leave the rest” and the traditions suggested I could live with this lack of authority, organization and dogma.
I sweated, shook and white knuckled it through the weeks that followed. I refused to acknowledge God or even call myself an alcoholic. I kept coming back because of the welcoming warmth of the fellowship. As I saw their sincerity and recovery and listened to their stories, a small acorn of hope sprung to life that I might recover too.
I refused to ask God to remove the desire to drink, the idea of getting on my knees before anyone or anything repulsed me. I told the man who would later become my sponsor that. He told me I didn’t have to believe it, just do it. He said to throw my shoes under the bed at night and while I was down there getting them out in the morning ask God to remove the desire to drink today.
Tired of white knuckling it, I did it. It worked.
About a week later even after I got on my knees every day and the desire to drink was removed, I was still quite skeptical on the whole God thing. I came home from a meeting and told my wife “I wish I had $4 to buy a big book.” I was too ashamed to ask anyone for one, and my drinking had put us in the situation where I had let her dole out money to me as she saw fit.
She said, “I think there’s one over there on the shelf that my ex had and never used.” I walked over and there was a Third Edition Big Book. I’d lived in that tiny house for two years and never noticed it. I remembered somebody in a meeting talking about GMCs, God Made Coincidences. I almost cried. At the next meeting I went to introduce myself, “I’m John and I’m an alcoholic.”
Me: “I don’t think I need to go to 90 meetings in 90 days.”
Sponsor, knowing I was a daily drinker: “That’s ok, just go as often as you drank!”
Events & Other Info
- Alanos BBQ & Bingo — Sunday, Sept 6th @ 1PM, 1633 18th St, Corpus Christi, TX
- New Life Group 40th Anniversary — Most Precious Blood Church, Sept 24th @ 6PM
- 41st Heart of TX Conference — Oct 9th–10th, Waco, TX
- SWTA 68 Fall Assembly — Oct 16th–18th, Seguin, TX
See flyers for these and more on our Events page.
Intergroup Meetings
- CBIA Board of Trustees Monthly Meeting will be held on Monday, Sept 14th, 2026, at 6:00 PM on Zoom.
- CBIA Quarterly Association Meeting will be held on Monday, Oct 26th, 2026, at 6:00 PM on Zoom.
September Celebrants
| Celebrant | Sobriety Date | Home Group | Years Sober |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fred B. | 9/1/2002 | Aransas Pass | 24 |
| Hank S. | 9/7/1993 | Cullen Mall | 33 |
| Barb S. | 9/9/1985 | New Women | 41 |
| Valerie B. | 9/13/2017 | New Phoenix | 9 |
| Heather D. | 9/23/2009 | Rule 62 | 17 |
Ever think about contributing more?
Here’s where group and individual contributions stand this month. Contribute online with PayPal or Square.
Helpline Volunteers Needed!
The CBIA Helpline is staffed by volunteers who make sure the hand of AA is available 24 hours a day by answering the intergroup calls when the office is closed weeknights (5 PM to 7:45 AM) and on weekend nights or holidays (8 AM to 8 AM). 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 August by volunteers:
- 22 — Calls for Meeting Information
- 2 — Twelve Step Calls
- 6 — 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 to be on the 12 Step List. 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.
District 8D Corrections Committee
The 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 for that. Please donate your used Grapevines to the collection box located at New Phoenix Group or CBIA. If you don’t have any old issues, back issues can be purchased directly from Grapevine or monetary contributions to the Corrections Committee are also helpful! To volunteer or for more information contact Keith S. (361) 226-9343 or Karen S. (362) 980-7412.
Other Opportunities
- Jamboree Committee will start meeting again in July. Next meeting is Sept 12th at 9:00am at New Phoenix Group.
- Local Stories Wanted for the Coastal BENDER — Consider writing a short recovery story of an event in your sobriety for publication in this newsletter. Submit your short article to cbia@grandecom.net in a Word document or similar format.
- Coastal Bend Intergroup Board of Trustees — 4 new Trustees will be voted on Oct 26th at the Quarterly Board meeting. If you would like to serve from Jan 2027–Dec 2028, please check out the form to nominate Trustees for qualifications to run for Trustee, fill it out and email it to cbia@grandecom.net.
New Meetings & Group Announcements
- Alanos Group — Friday Night Speakers: 9/4 Birthday Night, plus speakers on 9/11, 9/18 and 9/25.
- New Phoenix — Saturday Night Speakers: 9/5 Birthday Night, plus speakers on 9/12, 9/19 and 9/26.
- New Life Group 40th Anniversary — Most Precious Blood Church, Sept 24th @ 6PM.
- Aransas Pass Group is starting a Speaker meeting soon. Interested in speaking at their meeting? Email: jalapena72097@gmail.com
In Memory Of
| Name | Home Group | Departed |
|---|---|---|
| Russ A. | Turning Point Group | 8/7/2026 |
| Paul B. | Weber Nooners Group | 8/27/2026 |
Memorial Donations may 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. Please indicate their Home Group or City and the date of their death. Suggested donation of $1 per year of sobriety like the birthday contributions or a minimum of $5. Donations for this or any reason can be made by PayPal or Cash App under the Contribute option on our website; or by check to CBIA @ 3833 S Staples Suite S-212, Corpus Christi, TX 78411.
Update on the 5th Edition of the Big Book
From Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. — August 26, 2026. To: GSRs, DCMs, Trustees, Non-trustee Directors, Area Officers & Committee Chairs, Delegates, Appointed Committee Members, Intergroups and Central Offices, Group Contacts, GSO and Grapevine Employees.
Dear A.A. Friends:
We are writing to provide an update regarding the forthcoming publication of the much-anticipated fifth edition of Alcoholics Anonymous. At the July 30 meeting of the A.A. World Services Board, the Publishing Committee recommended, and the full board approved, that the fifth edition hardcover be produced with a removable dust jacket and that a list price of $20 USD be adopted. We are on track with the production process to publish the hardcover of the fifth edition, updated with 26 new stories of recovery, in February 2027.
We share the Fellowship’s excitement about the fifth edition of our beloved Big Book—coming more than 25 years after the publication of the fourth edition. More information about the publication of the fifth edition will follow this fall.
Warmly,
From the CBIA Office
We will be closed Labor Day, Monday, September 7th.
The mission of the Coastal Bend Intergroup Association is to provide the vital first contact to the alcoholic seeking help. The CBIA office must be maintained for the benefit of those still suffering. Of primary importance to this goal, the CBIA Office is to establish a 24-hour helpline; maintain & print meeting schedules; and maintain a 12-Step list whereby AA groups and individuals are able to conduct 12-Step calls which are essential to the growth of AA in the Coastal Bend area.
- 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. If you would like, call ahead with your order and we can have it ready for pick up. If we are out of stock, we can let you know at that time.
- CBIA Holidays: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving (2 days), Christmas Day.