I did an EAA thing this week. I made a small contribution to help revive EAA1 Chapter 241 in DeKalb, IL.
I was the web master of EAA241 chapter website from 2008 to 2012. The setup was a freebie wordpress site which our chapter secretary could easily edit and add content. It worked well and I can still remember editing the banner image from various photos of our events.
How I got here
EAA1 was created in 1953 to promote the hobby and educational endeavor of construction of Amateur Built Aircraft. Chapters exist all around the country and every year in July-August in Oshkosh, WI. the largest flyin in the world takes place. As many as 10,000+ aircraft fly-in and people camp under the wings of their aircraft. The airport also hosts a large campground for those who arrive by car.
I was involved in EAA Chapter 241 by volunteering at pancake breakfasts, helping logistics of Young Eagles events2 and by setting up and running the chapter web site.
Memories
Aside from getting to be around pilots (I wasn’t one at the time), listening to their stories, getting to see their projects built, I also got to spend a fair bit of time at KDKB (Dekalb, IL) and OC2 (Hinckley, IL) airports. These two airports is where most pancake breakfasts, BBQs and Young Eagles events took place and whose owners, and tenants I got to know.
Alan, one of the folks foundational to EAA241 and involved with 0C2, gave me a bit of life advice while showing me a warehouse full of unfinished projects, cars and airplanes: “complete your projects and follow your dreams while you can!” At the time he was struggling with health issues.
In 2009, a number of chapter members went to Oshkosh, WI and camped together at Camp Scholler. Our RVs, tents and cars formed a circle and in the center we had a common area. I attended with my 2 year old daughter. Everyone took us under their wings, we were fed and felt like we were camping with family 😄.
In 2011, under helpful suggestion of my Wife, I got my Sport Pilot License and followed my dream of being a pilot. Shortly after, we moved out of Illinois on a new adventure.
Help rendered
EAA Chapter 241 continued to operate until 2018 at which time the web site updates ceased.
Last week, Hinckley Airport manager reached out to me expressing interest in reviving the chapter. The old web site is still up at wordpress.com, it contains a wealth of historical records of chapter activities and would make a good resource to new members.
Fortunately, I was never removed from the web master emeritus position - I was able to log-in and added new admins. I hope the chapter makes a comeback and one day I’ll be able to eat a pancake for breakfast at their future flyin ✈️.
Gallery
Some photos from my time at EAA 241:
