Answers to some gripes

[Bill Greenwood]

As to smoking, well much as we may not like it, smoking is Not prohibited in the Airventure grounds.

As a matter of fact, if you look on the small folded Visitors Map the was available at many places, there are even designated smoking areas, at warbirds, near the Fed pavillion, vintage hangar, camp store, etc.. It is right there the last item on the key list, and shows a picture of a lit cigarette.

Why doesn't EAA prohibit smoking anywhere on the grounds?
I guess because there are a lot of foreign visitors and in some of these countries they are still about 1940 when it comes to smoking. There are a few places where we are actually ahead of much of the rest of the world. The last time I was in London there was still smoking even in nice hotels.Of course the U S is not all good about this, if you go to a casino hotel in Reno or Las Vegas, there are still addicts puffing away indoors. I stayed at the Holiday Inn Fon du Lac which is non smoking inside, but you have to walk a gauntlet of all the addicts puffing away just outside the front door. One day I tried to get an early dinner over at the Charcoal Broiler just outside the north 40 and their whole patio was filled with smokers. It was like going back in time 50 years. I ffelt sorry for those folks, they look so desperate.
Here in Colorado, it is illegal to smoke in virtually all restaurants, bars and hotels, schools and even some outfoor malls. Only about 10 % are still smoking and I am glad that I am not trying to break that addiction. Thankfully chocolate chip cookies only make you fat, they don't poison your lungs.

As for knowing where and when the fourms and other events are it is pretty easy, if you bother to look.
And it doesn't take any email or ipod or wi fi or online hocus pocus. There as a small booklet, a guide for visitors, perhaps 6x8 inches put out by EAA that list all or almost all the events and time and location. It is free, small enough to carry in a pocket and I get one the first day I arrive. I then go through and see if there are forums that I want to see. I mark the prime one on each day and some back ups if it works out that way. I look at the map and mostly plan each eve what I want to do the next day. Some days a couple of forums, some days none.
If you don't have or you loose this booklet, there is also a free newspaper on boxes all around the grounds as well as at many hotels that show the events for just that day.
If none of this suits you, you can often ask to see some one else's copy at a forum or when eating at a food table. Most people will share. The time and tittle of the forums are also posted on boards outside the various locations.
I have been coming to EAA for over 30 years, and have attended many forums and even given some as I did this year.
I may have had trouble finding time to do it all, but have never had a hard time finding the info on them, and I have never needed a cell phone to find them.

[I_FLY_LOW]

Where did you acquire the booklet?
I think that was the idea of the original question, also.
Was it at camper registration? elsewhere on the grounds?

[FlyingRon]

The booklet is not well advertised. Most newcomers would expect that sort of information to be in the "program" which as pointed out is really just a "souvenir" of pictures and advertisements. It was not given out when I registered except I knew about it from previous years and specifically asked for copies.

Relegating information about what a designated smoking area to an obscure map (which by the way the online copy was completely illegible) is not really going to reach the casual visitor who is a smoker. And absent the POP and other gentle suggestions as to where to go, smokers are going to assume that "outside" is a perfectly valid "designated" area.

[Bill Greenwood]

I am not certain where I got the booklet, but they are not rare or that hard to find. "Beagle One writes that the booklet is at every admission gate. "Cary" wrote that it was in the "flo bag" that he was given. And as I said, the daily newspaper that is there when we arrive each morning has much the same info.
I usually register at warbirds and the forum schedule and vendor display booklet is part of the packet given, I think, but I have also gotten it other places. The forum office near the Honda tents probably has the booklets also. I didn't go through camper registration. but I do get around a lot of the grounds. The museum probably had that booklet also.
I don't get the program anymore, as you said it is mostly adds for the Piglatus which I am not buying and it is bulky.

As for the map, I really think they are available in many places and are not obscure. I think I got mine at warbirds registration, am not sure. It never occurred to me in 31 years to try to print out an online map of the EAA grounds, so I can't address the problem in doing that. The real printed map is mostly well done, and pretty clear and shows most things needed with the exception of porta potties.
Both booklet and map were likely at the EAA member and merchandise building also.

But then I am old fashonied and even flew from Colorado to Oshkosh with a printed map, (chart), just as I have done for more than three decades. There were a lot of things I wanted to see and do at Airventure and didn't get time for all of them, and defintely didn't have time to find all the ways that cell phones didn't work.

And I don't know what a "Pop" is unless that is the partner of a Mom.

[RickFE]

Got mine when I checked in to camp at N40.

[bboss74]

I got mine with the "Flo bag" when I signed in at the N40, as well.

[Floatsflyer]

I-am-a-smoker but Oshkosh, much like other societal smoking-restrictive workplace and public areas, helps me to cut back dramatically which I welcome. That's mainly because the designated smoking areas are few and far between.

Let me give you my observations as a smoker at Oshkosh. There are only 2 places I don't go to because I have no reason: the N40 and Camp Scholler, so I don't know about smoking in those areas. On the main grounds, I only smoke at those designated areas(i.e. wherever there is a butt can)and I have never seen anyone smoking outside those designated areas except in one location and that's in "Vintage". Those senior well heeled guys and ladies don't seem to follow the rules for some reason-could be dementia or "I'm just too old and have too much money to give a s**t."

But I did notice that there were far more butt cans in more places this year than in past years.

[AlexC]

I don't know when Bill was last in London, but speaking as a Londoner I'm pleased to report that there are very few places in my much beloved city where smoking is still permitted!

[krw920]

Where did you acquire the booklet?
I think that was the idea of the original question, also.
Was it at camper registration? elsewhere on the grounds?

The "booklet" is the Vistors Guide, it is in all the camper bags, and available at all entry points, EAA welcome center, and at all of the group headquarters.

[Bill Greenwood]

It turns out that I was mistaken, the booklet, Visitors Guide is indeed rare. They only printed two dozen copies and therefore they had to ration their distribution. They were only given to members who were young, tall, dark, handsome, smart,charming, and able to make 3 point landings ( no jet pilots need apply).
So I can understand how some of you missed out.
Next year arrange to meet me Sun eve and I'll let you share my copy for planning purposes.

And Alex, are you the great guy that I know who saved me from a prop strike on the gator?
Were you at Osh this year? I didn't get out in the line area much to say hello. How is Steve?
And it has been a long time since I have been to England, too long, maybe next year for the Normandy anniversary if I can afford it.
I am glad to hear that U K is joining the rest of us on the non smoking thing. Maybe one day they will even start to refrigerate beer.

Do you know how the Brits heat their bathrooms in the winter? They stack a couple of cases of beer in there.

And you have to take what the Brits say with skeptisim, next thing they'll be claiming is that some Brit won a big tennis tournament and we all know how unlikely that is.