Welcome to Oshkosh!
Janine Diana, VP of People & Culture, EAA Lifetime 1082064
June 2015 - The smell of freshly cut grass is in the air…the buzz of planes landing, rumbling trucks delivering convention material, and an occasional hammer, likely pounding in stakes for the hundreds of tents that go up on the grounds…AirVenture Oshkosh is just weeks away. EAA staff members are waffling between the thrill and excitement of the approaching event…and fear that it’s coming way too fast!
It is not uncommon when you arrive at the convention grounds, whether a member, a volunteer, or a guest, to hear the magical words you only hear in one place: “Welcome to Oshkosh!” This year we want to build the mantra to new heights, and we need your help.
We want to create a low rumble of “Welcome to Oshkosh” across the convention. We can all play a role in ensuring our fellow members, volunteers, and guests feel welcome. When people feel welcome, they engage, they participate, and they become a permanent part of our community.
We want everyone to be a part of the EAA family, be they aviators or aviation enthusiasts, homebuilders or helicopter pilots. EAA welcomes all.
Remember the first time you visited the convention, or perhaps a chapter meeting? You likely had a feeling of hesitation and uncertainty, not knowing what to do or where to go or how to get started. Someone somewhere took you under their wing and pointed you in the right direction. If we want to continue to grow participation in aviation, we can all make a difference by making everyone feel welcome. It all begins with a friendly greeting.