Who is Bill W.?!?!?!

[meab]

I was just reading some of the scans of the Navigators, and the "Friends of Bill W. Meeting" caught my attention. I've been on 7 cruises, on 3 different cruise lines, and there is ALWAYS a "Friends of Bill W. Meeting"!!!!!

So, who exactly is this Bill W.? Or what is it a code for?

Anyone?

 

[shoes99]

It's a code for an "AA" meeting.

 

[mmouse37]

Every cruise line offers a "Friends of Bill W meeting" for Alcoholics Aynonomous, not just DCL.

Think about it....all the drink temptations onboard must be horrible for recovering people.

MJ

 

[alexandrew]

i remember seeing a movie based on the life of "Bill W", which starred James Woods. I believe he is the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous

 

[kasar]

Thanks so much for asking this question. I was wondering the same thing!

 

[sitchu2]

I feel silly now, all this time I was thinking that this Bill W. must be some millionaire, to have booked private parties on a Disney Cruise ship.

Very thoughtful gesture of the industry, Im impressed!!


Felicia 9 Days 19 Hrs 53 Mins 11 Secs

 

[meab]

sitchu2, i also feel sort of silly. is this Bill W just a part of common knowledge? i also used to think Bill W was some millionaire who booked private parties on the ships, until I noticed it on every single cruise, even on different lines. i'm curious to see that movie that alexandrew mentioned. AA has really helped so many people...i think it's a great thing that the cruiselines are able to provide further social support when the temptations to drink run so very high.

thanks for answering my question.

 

[mmouse37]

I guess it is part of common knowledge.....I have seen the movie they are talking about....I can't remember who was in it or when it was on, but it was a good movie.

MJ

 

[GEM53]

Here's a link to a review of the movie you are refering to: http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hv&id=1800204905&cf=info&intl=ca

 

[jgalecpa]

Bill W was indeed the founder of AA.

One of the hallmarks of the system is the anonymity they provide, where members only give their first name and last initial.

John Smith would rise and say "hi, I'm John S. and I'm an alcoholic"

Being "a Friend of Bill W's" is a way of members to keep their dignity and let each other know they are their for support.

Where I went to high school, every student was required to take a course on alcoholism, given by a teacher who "was a friend of Bill W"

It was a great course and an eye opener for a 17 year old.

I hope I got the gist of this organziation correctly. If not, I meant no harm and would look forward to being corrected.

 

[Lisa F]

I'm not sure that it is part of common knowledge or that it is even meant to be part of common knowledge. Sort of like, if you know who it is you are either likely to need the meeting, are close to someone who goes to AA or are otherwise educated about it. Not that it's meant to be some big secret or anything, but it does lend a bit of privacy to the whole thing... I think most people ignore it because they have no clue who Bill W. is and are not his friend , and it gives the people who need the meeting their privacy while having a meeting. I don't think you should feel silly if you didn't know who it was, nor bad for asking.

Lisa