This newspaper — yes, the one you’re likely reading as you enjoy that hot coffee and donut you got from the Red One Market — was delivered by EAA Print Mail Center volunteers. Before the sun even rises over Oshkosh, this dedicated group of volunteers sets out on their daily newspaper run to deliver AirVenture Today to 114 locations across the convention grounds and local hotels.
Led by Print Mail Center volunteer chairman Jonathon McKenzie, EAA Lifetime 1110671, the group starts its morning at 5 a.m. sharp to load the trucks before it splits into teams for each of the three paper routes: north, south, and city. They typically are on these routes until 9 a.m., though their work isn’t over yet. The volunteers continue deliveries throughout the day, carefully navigating golf carts through the crowds to restock the newspapers in high-traffic areas.
The long days are not an issue, however, said Jon. “I’ve got a great group here, and they’re all hard workers. … We say, ‘Go wander,’ and they don’t want to. They want to work more. So, you can’t find better volunteers.”
Despite the workload, Jon and the team make sure to take time for what’s important: EAA members and guests! “On some of our deliveries, if we see somebody that’s with crutches, we can stop our delivery … you take them wherever they need to go,” Jon remarked. “That’s been a blast. I’ve met a lot of neat people and helped people out. … That’s really the fun part.”
Volunteers, like those at the Print Mail Center, are what make EAA AirVenture Oshkosh such a special experience. So, if you see someone wearing a red volunteer T-shirt this week, make sure to thank them for making your convention possible.