2018 Brown Arch Brick Award Winners Announced

July 26, 2018 - Every volunteer who contributes to making EAA AirVenture Oshkosh the World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration deserves thanks, but the Brown Arch Brick Awards exist to give special attention to a few people who really go above and beyond.

The 2018 Brown Arch Brick Award recipients are Pat Casetta, Geoff Robison, and the KidVenture volunteer team, led by Dan Majka.

Pat, EAA 250435, began volunteering at the Main Gate South building 32 years ago when EAA still had “Flight Line Rules” and only members could get on the flightline. Main Gate South was known as “Main Membership” in those days, and Pat’s building’s primary function was to sell memberships via two-part forms rung up on a cash register, to be entered manually at a later date. Today, memberships and admissions are uploaded into the main database, many AirVenture admissions are sold in advance, and Main Gate South’s primary function is to scan advanced sale admissions.

Pat has helped shepherd her volunteers through the many changes over the years and trains them all personally. Although it’s always very busy at Main Gate South, Pat and her fellow volunteers always make sure AirVenture guests are taken care of in the fastest and friendliest way possible.

Geoff, EAA 268346, attended his first EAA fly-in convention in 1983 and immediately became active in the Vintage Aircraft Association. He began volunteering with the Aircraft Parking & Flight Line Safety Committee in 1983 and served as the co-chairman of this committee for about 15 years. Geoff is the former director of the VAA and is actively involved in EAA’s B-17 Aluminum Overcast tour.

“This is a greatly appreciated recognition of many years volunteering at EAA, with Vintage mostly and with the B-17 program,” Geoff said. “It’s a real honor. The invitation from [EAA CEO and Chairman] Jack [J. Pelton] was pretty special. It’s very exciting to me, and a lot of my friends are excited about it.”

Dan, EAA Lifetime 90726, has been an EAA member and volunteer since 1974 and became an EAA board member in 1997. Dan and a small group of volunteers came up with the idea to give kids something to do at AirVenture, and that transformed into KidVenture, which has become a staple for the past 20 years.

With about 20,000 people participating in KidVenture each year, Dan and the team work hard to keep volunteers hydrated and fed, and try to give a few extra door prizes to be sure people know they are appreciated. KidVenture is a key part of the Oshkosh experience for thousands of people, and none of it would be possible without the efforts of Dan and the other co-chairmen who organize it.

The winners will be presented with the Brown Arch Brick Awards on Friday at 9 a.m. near the titular Brown Arch.