I agree that doomsayers tend to get a cold reception - in my own case, I find that most folk I know will listen to "your costs are going to go higher" more than "your lifestyle is screwed and your kids are going to starve in the cold - if they're lucky."  I am also amazed that a combination of Simmons and HO's techie talks have given me the ammo to succinctly state the "oil is getting dearer" points, and the landlords freaking out have plowed the field for sowing seeds of knowledge re NG cost (and shortage).  

You're so right - this is a time for reasoned evangelism.

Speaking of the NYU conference, did you ever get any linkable material from them?