The Las Vegas Media Group is joining the social network trend! We are now on Facebook, as are several of our members. Now we can get even more exposure for this great organization. In addition to announcing upcoming meetings and providing meeting recaps, our Facebook page will share the photographs and videos of our presenters.
So, if you are on Facebook or have been considering joining, please click on https://www.facebook.com/pages/Las-Vegas-Media-Group/283369248369856 and "LIKE" us.
Showing posts with label Blog Posts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blog Posts. Show all posts
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
October Meeting Recap
Meeting Recap for October 17, 2011
Monday was another great meeting of the Las Vegas Media Group. There was lots of information to share such as upcoming events.
Old Time Reunion Dinner
Thalia Dondero and Jim Marsh provided information on the Old Time Reunion taking place at the Orleans on Sunday, October 23rd. The event starts at 5:00 pm. Tickets are $45.00. RESERVATIONS will be taken up until Thursday, October 20th so make sure you get your name on the list. Here’s a website for more information: http://oldtimereunion.com/sign-up/ I am told they will take last-minute walk-ins, but to ensure there’s enough food for everyone, please put your name on the list.
Goldstroms’s Classic Car Show
Rollie provided a flier on the 10th annual car show taking place on Saturday, November 5th. It starts at 8:00 am. For more information check out the website at http://nostalgiastreetrods.com/
Dear friend Murray Westgate could sure use some cheering up as he’s experiencing some health issues right now. I bet he’d LOVE to hear from you, so send him an email at mwestworld@embarqmail.com and say hello!
October Birthdays
Happy Birthday to Florence Mayhew, Joe Thomson, and Bruce Langson!
If your birthday is not on my list, please send it to me! We want to send you best wishes during your birthday month
We had some new people attending the meeting; it’s always great to see new faces in the crowd. One attendee, Stu Michaels, shared that he has a book coming out. It’s called You Can’t Make This Up. Find out more at his website: http://youcantmakethisupbook.com/tag/stu-michaels/
Speaker of the Month
Our very own Don Payne provided the entertainment by sharing his career history for the Las Vegas News Bureau. It was a wonderful talk and it is always great to hear from our very own members who have amazing stories to share. I received an email
remarking on Don’s talk, “I was surprised to hear how big a job Don Paine had with the News Bureau, and how modest he was
in his presentation.” Great job, Don – and thank you for taking the time to share with us!
Next Meeting
Speaking of member stories – next meeting, November 21st we will hear from Jim Marsh. Jim has some great tales to tell so be sure and RSVP so we can have a seat waiting for you at the next meeting.
Nevada History Project
As many of you know, I have requested that my Nevada history students interview you individually for a project. Unfortunately, I did not have enough students for a class this semester so the project is postponed until spring. I still have the names of those that have agreed to be interviewed, but need more so if you are interested, or would like more information, just contact me at gioiaacres1988@gmail.com or 702 245-9206.
See you all in November! Boy, the days are going by quickly!
Monday was another great meeting of the Las Vegas Media Group. There was lots of information to share such as upcoming events.
Old Time Reunion Dinner
Thalia Dondero and Jim Marsh provided information on the Old Time Reunion taking place at the Orleans on Sunday, October 23rd. The event starts at 5:00 pm. Tickets are $45.00. RESERVATIONS will be taken up until Thursday, October 20th so make sure you get your name on the list. Here’s a website for more information: http://oldtimereunion.com/sign-up/ I am told they will take last-minute walk-ins, but to ensure there’s enough food for everyone, please put your name on the list.
Goldstroms’s Classic Car Show
Rollie provided a flier on the 10th annual car show taking place on Saturday, November 5th. It starts at 8:00 am. For more information check out the website at http://nostalgiastreetrods.com/
Dear friend Murray Westgate could sure use some cheering up as he’s experiencing some health issues right now. I bet he’d LOVE to hear from you, so send him an email at mwestworld@embarqmail.com and say hello!
October Birthdays
Happy Birthday to Florence Mayhew, Joe Thomson, and Bruce Langson!
If your birthday is not on my list, please send it to me! We want to send you best wishes during your birthday month
We had some new people attending the meeting; it’s always great to see new faces in the crowd. One attendee, Stu Michaels, shared that he has a book coming out. It’s called You Can’t Make This Up. Find out more at his website: http://youcantmakethisupbook.com/tag/stu-michaels/
Speaker of the Month
Our very own Don Payne provided the entertainment by sharing his career history for the Las Vegas News Bureau. It was a wonderful talk and it is always great to hear from our very own members who have amazing stories to share. I received an email
remarking on Don’s talk, “I was surprised to hear how big a job Don Paine had with the News Bureau, and how modest he was
in his presentation.” Great job, Don – and thank you for taking the time to share with us!
Next Meeting
Speaking of member stories – next meeting, November 21st we will hear from Jim Marsh. Jim has some great tales to tell so be sure and RSVP so we can have a seat waiting for you at the next meeting.
Nevada History Project
As many of you know, I have requested that my Nevada history students interview you individually for a project. Unfortunately, I did not have enough students for a class this semester so the project is postponed until spring. I still have the names of those that have agreed to be interviewed, but need more so if you are interested, or would like more information, just contact me at gioiaacres1988@gmail.com or 702 245-9206.
See you all in November! Boy, the days are going by quickly!
Friday, February 25, 2011
A Serendipitous Meeting I Will Never Regret
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.
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.
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