CONGRATULATIONS to our Great Voice Inner Circle “Member of The Month” June 2009 – Pamela Mitchell

Pamela Mitchell

[Susan] Who do you fly for?

[Pamela] Northwest Airlines, now merged with Delta.

[Susan] What made you want to become a pilot?

[Pamela] A book in seventh grade called, “The Search for Amelia Earhart” sparked my initial interest, but my folks weren’t too keen on their daughter learning to fly. So, after graduating Colorado State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in graphic design, I took that first flight lesson…and was, quite simply, hooked!

At that time there were no women airline pilots, so it seemed a pipe dream to actually fly as a career. I made that my goal and after 6 years of hard work flying odd jobs, delivering single-engine aircraft across the Atlantic (my small tip-of-the-hat to Amelia), flight-testing new aircraft for Cessna Citation, and anything else I could do to build flight time, I finally made it! Twenty-five years later, it’s been a wonderful career.

[Susan] What led you to explore voice-over and take our Bootcamp?

[Pamela] After doing some sporadic voiceover work through the years (company training video narration, union video narration, regional Northwest television spots) and having passengers and flight attendants tell me I have a “great voice” (how many times have you heard that from your students, Susan?!) I consideredprofessional voiceover after my second hip replacement surgery last July, just as a possible fallback if I couldn’t go back to work. When the Air Line Pilots Association called in September to do another narration, I figured it was a sign!

Surfing the web, I started reading Susan’s website along with others, and emailed for information. After not flying for quite awhile, I was ready to get out of town for a bit, the West Palm Beach Bootcamp had a cancellation…and the rest is history! What a fabulous bit of serendipity and a very valuable weekend!

[Susan] How are you enjoying the Ultimate Voice-over Success Coaching Program?

[Pamela]I’ve so enjoyed my time with Moneen and I feel it has really broadened my opportunities. I’m very excited about recording my demo and Moneen feels I’ve made a lot of progress!

The entire Ultimate program is geared toward making this career really take off. The support from everyone at Great Voice Company, as well as my classmates at the Bootcamp, is truly special. It feels like everyone is family cheering me on and helping out with advice and suggestions and encouragement!

[Susan] You are a board member with Patrons of the HeArts. Tell us more about this charity.

[Pamela] Patrons of the HeArts is a charity whose mission is to fund an endowment to provide life-saving heart surgery in the U.S. for children from underdeveloped countries who don’t have the facilities or the surgeons to provide this care.

In the past, artists have relied on patrons to fund their work. Patrons of the HeArts funds kids! Our tie-in with the arts is in the form of a yearly art auction and gala, with work donated by artists from all over the country; coordination with musical events, art walks, children’s art activities, etc. all geared toward funding surgeries for 10-15 kids each year.

Although the surgeon’s time, hospital time, and many other aspects of the children’s care is donated, it still costs about $5000 per child to get them to the U.S. and pay for their anasthesia, supplies, and recovery. Many folks have generously sponsored individual children as well as committed to paying for a child each year. Kids have come from Ethiopia, Uganda, Afghanistan, China, Venezuela, Morocco, and many other countries in Africa, Asia, and South America so far.

The two little boys I escorted from Afghanistan were 8 and 2. Tamin was from Kabul and Azad was from a remote little village where he lived in a mud shack. U.S. military surgeons identified the boys when they came to the free medical clinics the military holds regularly. Though they spoke not a single word of English and were accompanied by their fathers, who also spoke no English, Tamin and Azad captured everyone’s hearts! It was so hard to take them home after 8 weeks, but heartwarming to see them run around and play like healthy, hearty little boys again!

Our website, www.patronsofthehearts.com shows photos of many of “our” kids and tells their stories. in addition to listing our yearly activities and telling people how they can help. The video is narrated by a local television anchor who also volunteered his time. You can see Tamin and Azad, their fathers, and me when we arrived in Jacksonville at the airport, as well as many of the other little kids we’ve helped through the almost-five-years Patrons has been a reality.

If anyone is interested in more information or would like to help out, feel free to go on our website! Patrons of the HeArts is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization affiliated with Baptist Medical Center in Jacksonville, Florida, and all donations are tax-deductible. And, trust me, it is truly amazing how good it makes your heart feel to help these little kids’ hearts!

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