July 29, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Stan Shannon Receives EAA President’s Award
By Linda Ridgway

At the prestigious President’s Circle Banquet on Saturday evening, July 29, 2006, at AirVenture Oshkosh, Stan Shannon was recognized for his many years of service to EAA and the SouthWest Regional Fly-In (SWRFI). As the longtime President of SWRFI, Stan has built a first class leadership team and has established outstanding relations in Hondo Texas, the current and future home of the regional fly-in. Laudatory comments for Shannon as a recipient of the award included:

- Over recent years, the fly-in was moved several times before coming to its current destination in the Hill Country. They were looking for an airport that would have enough space as well as a city that would welcome them. When a new city manager came to Hondo, they realized they had found their spot. In two years, the fly-in has grown and the 42nd annual fly-in, held in May 2006, was bigger and better than at any other time since 1996:
- Attendance was 6,100; a 35% increase over 2005 and a 52% increase over 2004.
- Approximately 750 aircraft flew to Hondo; a 46% gain from 2005 as well as the greatest number in 10 years.
- One of the most difficult aspects of the fly-in is always getting enough volunteers. Although 200 people volunteer to make the fly-in a reality, Shannon estimates 100 more are needed. “Most everyone who volunteers is over 40, many are over 50, and a lot are over 70, Shannon Says. “Our goal is to get more young people involved.” They are trying to do just that. A boot camp for troubled youth helps set up and tear down; then those who help can come to the fly-in, as spectators, under supervision. They also involve Civil Air Patrol, Girl and Boy Scouts, in addition to a troop of Police Explorer Scouts.

For the future, Shannon will concentrate on raising money to pay for infrastructure needed to support the fly-in. One shower house has already been added, but another one needs to be built. A headquarters building where people can gather, out of the sun, is also needed. “We could build this into a major event,” Shannon says, “and if we do our job well, we know it’ll be good for the mother organization and vice versa.”

At the conclusion of EAA President Tom Poberezny’s remarks, Shannon gracefully accepted the award, saying, “this truly belongs to all of the volunteers who make our fly-in such a success.”