Your action represents everything that is good and wonderful about EAA
and
my home-state of Wisconsin!
--
Jay Honeck


Jay, this response left me feeling kind of funny. As much as I like the
show and museum I have rather ambivalent feelings about EAA the
organization, for this reason: A fellow I work with's grandmother lived
near Wittman Field, and when EAA wanted to expand and she wouldn't sell
they
had Oshkosh condemn her property and evict her from a house and land that
had been in their family for generations, which was then "donated" to EAA.
This happened some years ago, recent Supreme Court decisions
not-withstanding, and my friend is still plenty bitter about it. I hate
bullies, and EAA came across as such to me. I also have some question
about
nepotism and Tom Poberezny getting quite wealthy from our dues, from a
position given to him by his father who also was made quite wealthy from
the
organization he founded. I can accept Paul Poberezny getting rich from
EAA;
he put a lot into founding the group. But passing the torch to his son so
he can get paid a pretty incredible (in my opinion) salary from EAA just
galls me more than a little.

You make some good points. I had heard that story about the land seizure in
the past, and always assumed it was overblown in the re-telling -- but
apparently not?

As for Tom P., I don't know. The guy grew up in EAA, flew airshows for 25
years, and has the ear of his father at all times. If you are going to
provide stability and continuity in an organization like EAA, that first
"change of command" is all-so-important. Going from Paul to Tom probably
did more psychologically for the organization than anything else, giving the
membership faith that nothing major would change.

Which, of course, proved to be untrue. Oshkosh has expanded exponentially
since Paul stepped down.

As for his pay, I don't know -- what's he make annually?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"