This is a complex topic and one where it's easy to be naive or even dismissive if one hasn't experienced stuff themselves or worked with people who have. If this conversation was about IETF culture, and how it's hard for non-Americans to participate "IETF style", I bet folk would much more quickly recognize some of the real issues. If folk really want to dive, http://www.ncwit.org/ is a good place to start. For the IETF, I think that interested folk might want to form an ad hoc support/networking group and *especially* see about putting together some sort of mentoring program. I'm sure if there was a way for potential mentors to volunteer, there would be a good number of interested volunteers (myself included). Growing a next generation of leaders is something the entire IETF should do more of. Thomas