You've never heard of Bill W, Matt? Ever had any friends who did 12-step work or had personal experience with it, yourself? Google Bill W or AA and see what you find. He's done a lot of good for millions of people around the world for decades, including two of my uncles and a lot of the folks I've volunteered with over the years. Saying "I'm a friend of Bill W" is an insider's way of saying a person is working one of those programs that ends in the letter A. Anyone who goes so far as to take step 1 has already won my admiration.