I didn't get started with EAA until 15 years after I got my license. I was a loyal member of AOPA but had never paid much attention to EAA. Around 1986 the FAA proposed TCAs, Terminal Control Areas, subsequently renamed Class B airspace. Both AOPA and EAA opposed the proposal. AOPA's approach was NRA-like (though not so successful!), no way Jose, absolutely not, nothing whatsoever, end of the world, period. EAA's opposition was more reasoned, more graphic, more personal, much better articulated in my opinion. So that attracted my attention and I joined EAA. I first went to Oshkosh two or three years later.

By the way, I think the opposition was partly successful. As I recall, the deployed TCAs were smaller, more tailored to the location, and fewer than in the original proposal.