Kevin Hannig sits in the F-100 cockpit in the Welcome Center and says it brings back memories of when he was an A&P on the F-100. Photo by Kristy Hemp

Consider it the “help desk” to the World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration.

“If you have a question, we can answer it here, or direct you to who can,” said Katie Kollmann, EAA marketing account manager.

The EAA Welcome Center sits at the northeast corner of EAA Member Square and provides membership services to EAAers. It also serves as a resource to all AirVenture attendees looking to learn more about EAA and AirVenture.

“You can join EAA, renew your membership, and put it on AutoPilot,” said Barry Elk, EAA director of membership marketing. “AutoPilot saves you $4 on this year’s membership.”

New this year is the EAA Welcome Center Stage. This area holds daily presentations with seating for 120. Daily presentations/briefings include: Early Bird Briefing at 7:15 a.m., AirVenture Insider at 8:30 a.m., EAA Programs at 9 a.m., Salute to Veterans at 10 a.m., EAA Radio (Live!) at 11 a.m., Air Show Briefing at 1:15 p.m., and Meet the Air Show Performers at 1:30 p.m.

“The Salute to Veterans presentation will have an individual or panel talking about their experiences,” explained military historian and Vietnam veteran Bob Kupon. “Dick Rutan will be speaking about his Vietnam experiences and flying the F-100 on Thursday.”

If you are a veteran, make sure you sign the Veterans Wall in the Welcome Center. “All those who served in uniform, men and women, should come sign the wall,” said Kupon.

You’ll also find the Salute to Veterans daily highlights schedule and information on the Veterans Parade and the group photo scheduled for Friday, July 30.

Homebuilders or aspiring homebuilders can stop by the Welcome Center and talk with EAA representatives.

Women pilots are invited to sign the WomenVenture logbook and, if you took part in last year’s photo, to sign the 2009 poster. Free WomenVenture T-shirts (yellow) will be available at the Welcome Center to all women pilots to wear at the photo of what is becoming the world’s largest gathering of women pilots on AeroShell Square, Friday at 10:30 a.m.

Attendees can also sign up for the Young Eagles Golf Classic on Friday, July 30, register for the Runway 5K on Saturday, July 31, as well as purchase tickets for the Young Eagles Raffle, and enter the Share the Spirit Sweepstakes.

Information will be available for student programs including the First Flight Lesson, Sporty’s Next Step Pilot Training Course, and the Young Eagles Flight Plan.

You’ll also find a social networking kiosk where you can see what other members are uploading to Flickr. And you can check out Oshkosh365, find out more about EAA on Twitter and Facebook, and sign up for EAA’s e-newsletters.

For the first time ever, Canadians can stop by and register as a guest at the Welcome Center, meet fellow Canadians, and find out more about EAA membership in Canada.

Visitors can discover opportunities to participate in the future of aviation through EAA’s many development and fundraising programs, and ask questions about the many benefits included with an EAA membership.

Representatives from Ford Motor Company, John Deere, and U.S. Bank will also be present.

An Internet Café is also located in the tent and is a convenient sun-free place for EAA members to check their e-mail, surf the net, or research a new aviation gadget.

The EAA Welcome Center is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.