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Westman Intergroup Fellowship (WIF) serves as a local resource for AA groups in the Westman region, which includes Brandon and the surrounding areas. It is a fellowship that unites and helps local AA groups work together to plan events and workshops within the surrounding areas. WIF is maintained by trusted servants. Intergroup reps are elected by each group that wants to be involved. These reps form an intergroup committee who manages the affairs of the WIF. Major decisions are supported by the collective conscience of the groups that participate in monthly meetings.
Our purpose is to help coordinate services that individual groups may not be able to do alone. It exists to aid the groups in their common primary purpose of carrying the AA message to the alcoholic who still suffers.
Getting involved as an Intergroup Rep is a meaningful way to give back through service and help connect your home group to the broader AA community within your area.
Intergroup reps act as a bridge between their local AA group and their Intergroup. They:
Phil C. moved to Brandon in 1974. Soon after, he was invited to attend a “back-room” meeting after the regular meeting. The steering committee was discussing the need to plan a Roundup and to send a representative to Winnipeg for an Assembly. At this time there was also another smaller group in the city, the Brandon Group. He recalled talks of the service that Winnipeg Intergroup provided, and it was determined that Brandon did not need, nor could it afford, a “Central Office.” The Wheat City Group maintained a good supply of literature purchased from Central Office in Winnipeg. He didn’t recall a phone answering service until the Wheat City Group moved from Rosser Avenue to 10th Street in 1975. There we installed a rotary phone with an “answering tape,” and designated people to review the tape and return phone calls. During this period, the service offered was primarily Roundup planning and telephone answering; this essentially became the work of “Intergroup.” There were frequent discussions with other groups (Shilo, Sioux Valley, Minnedosa, Neepawa and Moosomin, SK) about joining in the Roundup planning.
Over the next few years, many new groups began in Brandon: Fellowship, Town & Country, Caring & Sharing, Prairie Group, Unity Group and Crocus Group. There was a concentrated effort by Intergroup to rotate membership and the Chair of Intergroup, and to rotate the Roundup sub-committee Chair amongst the various groups. Phone answering started to change, and we obtained a portable phone (sort of) which we rotated.
Over the years, the basic functions remained: providing the Roundup and telephone answering. A local organization was hired to answer the phone for us on a 24/7 basis and advertise the AA Helpline number. Intergroup provided an updated “12 Step call list,” and they would direct the incoming calls to members from the AA Helpline.
Various Intergroup committees would use the surplus to put on other social events. We have in the past had Valentine’s Day dances, park picnics, Halloween parties, dances, and New Year’s Eve parties.
