By John Nowicki, Volunteer Chairman
As an original member of the Volunteer Advisory Committee, it has always been a pleasure, honor, and privilege to work with some of the finest staff members and volunteers in our great organization. In my new role as volunteer program liaison/chairman, I hope to continue to work with EAA staff and volunteers to be sure our members, guests, and volunteers have the best experience they can when attending any EAA events, including the biggest of all, AirVenture.
One of the important items we want to be sure everyone is aware of is the Volunteer of the Year award. Every year, we recognize individuals and/or groups that have gone above and beyond in their volunteer efforts. The Volunteer of the Year award ceremony takes place the Sunday before AirVenture begins. Volunteer Park is located inside Camp Scholler in front of the Volunteer Kitchen and Mess Hall. This award includes presentation of a permanent brick placed in Volunteer Park recognizing the volunteers for their contributions in making sure The Spirit of Aviation lives on. Without these folks, it would be difficult at best to have the organization we have, as well as put on the best aviation event in the world.
These individuals are nominated by their chapter members, fellow volunteers, and AirVenture chairmen. Anyone can nominate one or more individuals for this award. The volunteer nomination forms are available now. Simply fill out the nomination form with all the information requested, but most importantly, tell us about the nominee and what they do as a volunteer. This information will be shared during the awards presentation. It is very important to let other EAA members know about some of the amazing people who volunteer their time and efforts to make the organization and its events so successful.
The 2023 Volunteer of the Year award recipients are:
- Sandy Zorn, EAA 331980
- Cliff Chetwin, EAA Lifetime 429238
- Robert McLaughlin, EAA 188831
Sandy Zorn and her husband Gene, EAA 331979, became EAA members in 1986 and were instantly hooked. They started to volunteer in 1987 in the first aid station. If you have ever needed medical attention, you may have met Sandy and Gene, as they held that position for their first nine years as volunteers. After the Red Cross took over the first aid station, Sandy and Gene moved to trams and are now the chairmen of that group. Sandy and Gene have chauffeured and given directions to countless visitors on the AirVenture grounds.
Sandy, not a pilot herself but very much an aviation enthusiast, flies with Gene. Their daughter and son in-law are second generation EAAers, and are currently involved with the trams operation as well. Their third generation is a bit young to volunteer yet but is currently in training.
Cliff Chetwin has been a longtime EAA member and volunteer. Cliff earned his ratings and brought a lot of expertise to EAA through his work with the National Park Service and the over-flight issues with GA aircraft over national parks, including the Grand Canyon. As a pilot himself, Cliff understood both the GA side as well as the environmental concern side. Communications developed with multiple governmental agencies who also wanted to showcase how they operate with GA, so the Federal Pavilion was born, naming Cliff as the chairman.
The National Park Service personnel were the first volunteers to operate what is now known as KidVenture. The National Park Service started a STEM-type program called Junior Rangers that still exists today.
Cliff belongs to EAA Chapter 1267 in Granby, Colorado, and is very involved with introducing young people to aviation through the EAA Ray Aviation Scholarship program. He has been instrumental in promoting youth programs online with services, GA, and organizations such as EAA.
Robert McLaughlin, an EAA member for more than 40 years, got his start in aviation by obtaining an A&P mechanic certificate, but never worked as a mechanic. He was always eager to help anyone who needed help who was working on or building an airplane. His specialty was electrical and avionics.
Bob went to his local chapter to help on a Taylorcraft restoration and soon became fast friends with the members and a valuable part of their group. He was soon invited by the group to go up to Oshkosh to work on some of the restorations that were being worked on in Oshkosh. If you have not been to the Weeks Hangar, it is located across the field where all the aircraft restoration and maintenance is done on all EAA aircraft, whether flying or in the museum. Bob quickly became a permanent volunteer at the Weeks Hangar, even having his own office space. Every time Bob would get involved with a project, Paul Poberezny would come find Bob to steal him away to work on some of his own projects. Bob has worked on several of EAA’s aircraft including the P-38, the F4U, B-25, and quite a few of the other aircraft we have enjoyed seeing fly during AirVenture, as well as some displayed in the museum. I have been told by several of the volunteers at the Weeks Hangar that worked on some of the restorations mentioned, that they could not have been done it without Bob’s help.
Bob told me two things he was most proud of include that the first time he was ever behind the controls of an airplane; he was in a T-28 with Paul Poberezny. The second was receiving the President’s Award presented to him by Paul Poberezny. The President’s Award is the most prestigious honor awarded to an individual that has always gone above and beyond in their efforts to make the EAA organization what it is today.
If you know or run into these individuals, please congratulate them on this recognition, but most of all, thank them for all they have done and continue to do for this great organization. Remember, the volunteer effort is important, recognized, and appreciated. Thank you to all volunteers for all you do.