Monday, June 18, 2012

June Meeting Recap

In this message:

  • Marie Rowley on early Las Vegas brothel history
  • Cork Proctor's Roast
  • Harriet Trudell's Birthday Celebration in her honor
  • Birthdays
  • Next Meeting information

Another great turnout for our luncheon today with 47 members in attendance. Could it have something to do with the topic? Marie Rowley did a great job sharing her research on early Las Vegas brothels. She was talking to a group of people who could add to her research as many of them were here in Vegas when brothels operated under the radar in Clark County. Several members shared some of their knowledge with Marie. It was a great talk!

Here Rich Friedland introduces Marie Rowley to the group

Marie is headed to the University of Illinois, Chicago to continue her studies. Best of luck to you, Marie.
We had many new faces in the crowd today, some were guests of members and some we just have not had the privilege of seeing for a while. Frank Mitrani also made an appearance all the way from Kanab, Utah. As we wrapped up our meeting it was just so great to see so many old friends catching up, shaking hands, and clapping one another on the back.
For those of our membership that are ailing and cannot be with us, please know that many of us ask after you, we think of you, wish you the best and hope to see you again soon.
Two of our members will be recognized in the community soon. Cork Proctor will be honored (maybe that’s not the right word) in a roast to celebrate his 8oth birthday and the release of his book, “My Mind is an Open Mouth” (Stephen’s Press). Tickets are $40.00 and the proceeds benefit Opportunity Village.


Harriet Trudell’s 80th birthday will be celebrated on August 22, hosted by the Women’s Democratic Club (http://www.womensdemo.com/). The event takes place at the Springs Preserve at 5:30 pm. Tickets are $50.00 each or $80.00 for two. Call the WDC at 702 737-8683 for more information or to RSVP.
We said Happy Birthday to three June Babies! Best wishes to:

Rich Friedland
David Kramer
Pat Clary


Next month we meet on July 16 and our speaker is long-time Las Vegas resident Frank Fiedler, who hosted a radio show called, "Let's Talk Las Vegas."
See you all soon!
 

Thursday, June 14, 2012

A Seredipitous Meeting I will Never Regret or Forget

I never regret anything I’ve done in life, although there are a few things I shake my head at and say, “What was I thinking?” The reason I have no regrets is that no matter what I’ve done, there seems to have been a purpose and a lesson behind it. I’m the ultimate optimist and have gone through life seeing things just that way. How I met the members of the Las Vegas “Old Timers” Media Group is just such an example of a silver lining from a dark cloud, or period, in my life.


In 2001 my husband and I had just returned to Las Vegas after trying to make a go of it in a small, rural western New York village. I had wanted badly to return to small town life, to live where neighbors actually made eye contact with you and fresh produce could be purchased from the local farm down the road. It was a great experience – for the first couple of years. By the third winter that lasted six months, I was ready, as was my husband, to head back to the desert.

Luckily, we had the wisdom to rent out our home so we had a place to move back to. My husband had maintained contact with his former employer so, another spot of luck, he was rehired. For me, however, I went months without employment. Through a friend-of-a-friend, the way Las Vegas used to hire good employees, I received an invitation to interview at Jackie Gaughan’s downtown casino, The Plaza. First I was offered a position as Food and Beverage manager. I turned it down as one, I had no experience in that field and, two, I didn’t want to work in a smoky, old casino. While I thought I’d have to keep looking I received another offer from the Plaza, “How would you like to be Convention Manager?”

That position didn’t sound so bad; after all I knew how to plan and throw a good party. As I had no other offers pending and the pay wasn’t too bad, I reluctantly took the job. I lasted all of nine months, but while there I met some amazing people, both employees and clients. Frank Mitrani and his group were one of my favorites.

The “Old Timers” as they like to call themselves have been meeting for over a decade. When they came to me at the Plaza, they were looking for a place to hold their monthly meeting where they could eat and socialize for a price they could afford. It took a little convincing to my bosses, but I was able to book the group for the price of meals alone. It was during their monthly meetings that I came to know Frank and become familiar with the group.
 
I was drawn to find out more because I was (and still am) a “wanna-be-writer” and the group name, Las Vegas Media Group, seemed like a good place to start my future career. I was a little mistaken, however, as the members were retired from the world of journalism and weren’t in much of a position to further my career aspirations. But, they were really nice people who liked to get together and reminisce about Las Vegas history so I always stuck around to listen.
 
Frank never intended his quasi-club to be exclusive and anyone expressing an interest in history was welcome to join them at their meetings. He promptly placed me on his email list. From then on I received a monthly reminder about the day, time and place of the meetings.

Sometime in 2002 I left the Plaza, found a few other great opportunities that led me in the direction of the career I enjoy today – that of historian, college professor, and writer. While on that path I had little time to visit my old friends at the Las Vegas Media Group luncheons, but would make an appearance every now and then.
 
When, in 2008 I was hired to conduct a research history of the Spring Mountains, I knew just the place I needed to go. I went to a lunch meeting, was welcomed like an old lost friend, and received great leads on little-known stories about the history of Mt. Charleston to make my final report a rich one. After that re-acquaintance, I have been to almost every meeting since.

I see in this group of men and women, professional and hobby historians and long-time Las Vegans, a rich, diverse treasure trove of knowledge. I realize that so many of their members have passed on. Many of them are in the winter of their lives and when it is their time to say “So long,” with them goes their stories, recollections, and memories. It is my goal to gather and preserve those that remain. Each and every meeting is full of friends sharing their stories over a good meal and among good company. What more could a girl ask for?

No, I have no regrets because I am wise enough to know that every life experience is an opportunity. I know that taking that job that I didn’t really fit into was just my luck. I was in the right place at the right time and came away with a lifetime of great friends.

Now that I’m a member, I never really agreed with the group referring to themselves as “Old Timers” because I didn’t see myself as one. I suspect that down the road I will feel like I fit right in with that description – with no regrets whatsoever.