The Zonta Club of Miami Lakes held its January meeting that traditionally honors Amelia Earhart, one of Zonta’s founding members. The event was held at Amelia’s namesake park in Hialeah.
The club’s speaker was Irene Schwartz, a former Pan Am stewardess and currently the Miami chapter president of World Wings International, Inc. She spoke about some of the flying experiences during her time with the aviation pioneer Pan American World Airways and the influence Pan Am had on her life.
As Pan Am’s worldwide network expanded, the need to fulfill destination language positions was apparent, and Pan Am was granted permission to hire overseas.
Schwartz was hired as a language speaker in her native Germany when Pan Am recruited in 1972 during the Olympic Games in Munich. She completed a six week Stewardess training course in 1973 at the Pan Am International Flight Academy on N.W. 36 Street, still operating today, and Miami has been her home ever since.
As the Miami chapter president of World Wings International, Inc., the philanthropic organization of former Pan Am Flight Attendants, she upholds the organization’s mission to maintain the long Pan American tradition of Global Humanitarian Assistance, to safeguard Pan American’s place in aviation history and to promote friendship among its members through cultural and civic activities.
The Zonta Club of Miami Lakes is a member of Zonta International, a worldwide service organization of executives in business and professionals working together to advance the status of women, and has been active in the Town since 1984. The Zonta Club of Miami Lakes supports local charities in Miami-Dade County.