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Mike and Trudy Petrow Photo by Rose Dorcey

Audrey's Park, the EAA volunteers' campground named for EAA Matriarch Audrey Poberezny, is a transitory home for a few hundred people before and during the World's Greatest Aviation Celebration (which is less than four weeks away at this writing). The people camping there epitomize what most EAAers have heard Audrey's husband, Founder and Chairman Paul Poberezny, say many times: "It's not just about airplanes, it's about people."

Consider Mike and Trudy Petrow. After volunteering at Sun 'n Fun in Lakeland, Florida, for nine months, the retired couple drove their 40-foot motor home to Oshkosh to continue their charitable activities. Mike, after 20 years in the military and 15 years in law enforcement, serves EAA in campground security. Trudy works with other volunteers in campground pre-registration. They're here for seven weeks. While Mike and Trudy have no aviation background, they love the people they meet and work with, both in Oshkosh and Lakeland. Mike has volunteered in Sun 'n Fun's aircraft restoration and Trudy in the volunteer kitchen for eight years. Last year, friends Ken and Carol Young encouraged Mike and Trudy to join them at Oshkosh. It turns out, there are dozens of EAAers who come here directly from Lakeland. Why do they do it? "No matter where you go, campin' people are nice people," Mike said. "Our friends are here," he continued, pointing up and down the gravel road.

Let's walk over to talk with them. Pennsylvania natives Ken and Carol Young, the "Sun 'n Funners" who introduced the Petrows to EAA volunteer opportunities, are relaxing in their motor home. After convoying from Lakeland with the Petrows, they've established their short-term Oshkosh headquarters. Ken and Carol, like Mike and Trudy, have warm, generous smiles. Ken is head of campground security; a job he and Mike admit produces little stress. Ken is a pilot who built an award-winning Marquart Charger in 1986. EAAers since 1976, they began volunteering 10 years later at the urging of friends they were camping with. They love the fulltime RV lifestyle, and they'll log 9,200 miles on their Tropical motor home by the time they return to Lakeland. They also love their volunteer work at EAA, and the friends they've made because of it. "We have our family in Florida, and our family in Oshkosh," Carol said.

Just south of the Young's mammoth RV is a small Airstream camper Jim Martin calls home from May through September. He travels back to McFarland, Wisconsin on weekends to spend time with his wife and family. An EAA volunteer for 29 years, he restores aircraft up at the Weeks Hangar, and serves as co-chair of AirVenture's workshops. In that role, he sets up each shop with tables, tools, and materials, making sure the instructors have everything they need. Jim also conducts three rib-making workshops. "It's fun to do," he explained. "It's neat watching the event come together, the buildings and forum tents. Plus, the people you get to know and work with. When you're volunteering, you meet people from around the world." Jim admitted that the work gets harder after 29 years. "It would be nice to get some young, talented, eager, responsible people to come help out, because we're getting older, we'll need others to help."

Jim Martin  Photo by Rose Dorcey

The sentiments among EAA volunteers are similar. They're familiar, too. Paul Poberezny, who occasionally makes his way through the campground, must be pleased.

Volunteer opportunities abound at EAA AirVenture. Visit www.airventure.org/2007/events/volunteers.html for more information on how you can participate. Who knows? You just might strike up some new, lifelong friendships.

Rose Dorcey is Assistant Editor for EAA Publications. An instrument-rated pilot and Central Wisconsin native, she currently resides in Audrey's Park, near the volunteers, while searching for a permanent home in Oshkosh. She already feels part of the Oshkosh family.