this is not directly relevant but one of the things I will say about making people welcome is the day Gemma and I had pancakes with you and the crowd at the carrilian; we were made to fit in. We were not treated as freaks. I don't know who offered to read the menu; and it wasn't required but the offer was apreciated. People who do their best to take others at face value; a trait that is only too rare these days and effort we apreciate. Not that beeing a sci-fi fan makes you a freak or anything, but these people are more likely to say, "well blind people can't be that bad really let's talk to them." I think that whether it is getting new fans to cons or pushing the envelope by talking to new people it is to be encouraged. I enjoyed chatting to intelligent people at pancakes; something that isn't as common as i'd like it to be.