The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) is legendary for the volunteer-centric culture of its annual AirVenture extravaganza in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, set for July 21-27 this year. But even a full-on effort by volunteers cannot do it all, so EAA is hanging out the “Help Wanted” sign.
I’ve always found that the fastest way to ruin something that you love to do, is to turn it into a job.
Perhaps I was preternaturally self-aware (unlikely) but when I was 18, and had been flying Cubs and Champs for a couple of years already, I decided that aerospace engineering wasn’t the degree (or career path) for me, and went into the nascent field of Computer Science. It worked out for me, and provided the time and money to pursue flying as a passion.
That said, my wife and I show up at Airventure a week early (when all there is to see is grass) as part of our extended-family-reunion down in Vintage. We work our butts off creating infrastructure for a week before any of the “early birds” show up. And then we work the show. It’s exhausting and sometimes grueling or frustrating, but I’ve been doing it for nearly forty years, and more than a few in my “family” have been doing it for much longer. But literally, you could not pay me to do it.
Cash registers need to be rung, parking lots need to be attended, and sodas need to be jerked, so I’m glad the local folks can share in the annual financial windfall that Airventure creates.
I am sorry that many of our Canadian cousins won’t feel comfortable attending this year, but I can’t blame them. I’m not feeling terribly secure down here these days, myself.
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