What do you think Rocketpacks are for. Mr Maets and Maduncle we expect to see you at The Asylum, technical difficulties pending.
You know perhaps we ought to start doing what SF fans do and start fan funds to send fans to and from the New World and The Antipodes. Basically they are a £5.00 a head subscription, and you have up to half a dozen people canvassing at major conventions and meetings, with the one who wins the most subscriptions winning everything collected for tickets, spending money etc. The big conventions donate a membership and involve the winner in their festivities, it is expected for other fans to put them up and entertain them whilst in the host country, where they spend a couple of weeks doing fannish things. I hosted the GUFF (Going Up Fan Fund) fans husband and wife Trevor and Sue, the week before Eastercon in 2009. I took them to Little Shop of Horrors with Sylvester McCoy, and they hadameal with the Sheffield SF Group, explored the Countryside etc.
You need a convention around the 700+ mark to make this effective, so whilst The Asylum is plenty big enough, not sure there are big enough SP Conventions yet in the New World I'd Antipodes to provide reciprocity.
The whole point is that the person chosen is an Ambassador and someone whose presence will enliven proceedings rather than chosen on 'buggins' turn, some worthy but dull fan. That's why I have never run! That and the fact the plane ticket might be one way!
