Moneyweb Radio market commentator David Shapiro was among those making their first visit.
Less welcome than these fresh converts to the Buffett cause were a handful of activists who used the global stage to express their opinions.
It was hardly a hijacking. Buffett allowed them to state their cases clearly but without disrupting much of the five-hour public session. But statements and subsequent questions from three different interest groups contrasted starkly with the relaxed mood and focused themes of past years.

FirstRand co-founder Laurie Dippenaar, attending his fifth consecutive AGM, reckoned: "Warren [Buffett] handled it very well, but seemed a bit rattled by the end of it. It's not his style to be portrayed as the bad guy. I think he will do something to ensure he's not subjected to this kind of thing again."
 

The discussion on the Darfur issue will occur during the business segment, starting around 3:15 p.m., of Berkshire's annual meeting May 5 at the Qwest Center Omaha.

The proposed resolution says Berkshire "shall not" invest in foreign corporations that "engage in activities that would be prohibited for U.S. corporations by executive order of the president of the United States."

Said Buffett, "We're going to have all the time people want, basically, and a really full discussion. Even if people don't own stock, I don't mind them speaking up on the subject.

    (Mr. Buffett challenged AbdelMagid right to speak as a non-shareholder (AbdelMagid had the proxy of a shareholder), cut the discussion off after 25 minutes, fillibustered for 15 minutes, and adjoined the meeting.)

"I really felt that some shareholders are interested in it, and the ones that are interested should have a chance to speak their views. I hope a couple thousand people stick around for the meeting."

    (17,000+ shareholders stuck around)

Many Berkshire shareholders typically leave the arena before the official part of the meeting starts. "It won't be a captive audience," Buffett said.

    (Perhaps not, but the applause for the speakers was much louder than the applause for Buffett's repetition of his earlier defensive statements)