Changes Regarding Our Website

We hope you found the new website for the Las Vegas Media Group.  After consideration (mainly cost and user-friendliness), we decided to utilize Google Blogs for updates about our group.  Sorry for any inconvenience this change may have caused you while searching for us on the lasvegasmediagroup.org website.

Keep checking with us for all the news about LVMG. 

And remember to mark your calendars: every third Monday of the month is our meeting.  Reminders are sent to those on the email list.  To be included on this list, contact Lisa at lasvegasmediagroup@gmail.com

Have a great day! 

Lisa Gioia-Acres

January Meeting

What a great meeting we had to start the New Year!

For those of you that couldn't make it today, you missed a great lunch.

Featured guest speaker was local author, Stu Michaels, who shared stories from his recently published
book:  You Can't Make this Up: Cops, Crooks and Celebrities from Brooklyn to Las Vegas.  We are lucky to be graced with so many amazing speakers, who take the time out of their busy lives to visit with us! Stu's stories
were very Las Vegas-related: he talked about his encounters (protective services and eventual friendships, really) with the likes of President George Bush, Steve Wynn, Michael Jackson, Elizabeth Taylor and Liza Minelli.  More of his great stories are in his book.

We would also like to wish a happy January Birthday to

Thalia Dondero
Pat Weaver
Ester Lynn
Joan Massagli
Helen Mortenson
Rich Newman
Ralph Pressler

We would also like to wish Mark and Joan Massagli a happy 49th Wedding Anniversary.

Lisa's Nevada history class is a go this semester and her students will be interviewing Las Vegas Media Group members on their life and career histories.  If you haven't signed up to be a part of this project (and you all should, you all have stories that need to be told!), please contact her at 702-245-9206.  We have about 15 signed up so far.

Next meeting on Monday, Feb. 20, we will welcome news correspondent Ms. Myram Borders.  Mark your calendars.

See you again soon.

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.

Blog Posts. |

January Meeting Reminder

Our January meeting will take place at The Wedding Room at 3601 West Sahara on the southeast corner of Valley View on Monday, January 16 2012.

Our guest speaker will be Stu Michaels.

RSVPs for the meeting are required.  It's simple - just call Lisa at 702 245-9206 or email to lasvegasmediagroup@gmail.com

December Meeting Recap

At the last Las Vegas Media Group luncheon of 2011 we had another large attendance with 44 people!  Once again, I need to remind everyone that RSVPs are important, as I called in for only 35.  Luckily, our server, Patty, had the foresight to ensure there was enough food so no one went without.  As we continue to grow, however, we can’t always count on that so PLEASE email or call in your RSVP.  Remember, we meet EVERY THIRD MONDAY OF EVERY MONTH.  Put the date on your calendar so you have a reminder to let us know if you are coming to the lunch.

Our group was surprised with the arrival of LVMG founder, Frank Mitrani.  It was so good to have Frank present; we miss him as he now lives in Kanab, Utah and is not able to be with us often.  Frank, you look great and we hope to see you more often!

Our speaker was Mr. Rick Rico, manager of Palm Mortuary.  He shared some interesting stories.  See an excerpt of his talk about his life and career on You Tube: http://youtu.be/WLpjTiGw4Po .

Our giveaway was once again fun-John Getter provided two of his books, Moonwalkers:  to the moon, untold stories of the space race.

Last month it was new author Betty Bunch, who gave a few of her recently published books, High Heels and Headresses:  memoirs of a vintage Vegas showgirl to be raffled off.  Betty brought her books to this meeting for purchase.  For the group she sold her books for $20.00.  Let me know if any of you are interested in purchasing member books.  Soon I hope to have all members’ books (and even their historic photos) for sale on our website (lasvegasmediagroup.org).

Another promotion goes to our MC Rich Friedland.  His Fame Game Show is performing at Choices Pub and Showroom on Thursday, January 25 at 9:00 PM.

Happy Birthday to:

Carey Burke

Jewel Mayhew

Jim Marsh

Lee Mcdonald

Bob Shawhan

Here is hoping you all have safe and wonderful holiday celebrations with your family and friends.

Our next meeting is, Monday January 16. The speaker scheduled is Stu Michaels.

 See you then!

December Meeting Reminder

HELLO EVERYONE!  Santa and I would like to remind you about our next Las Vegas Media Group lunch meeting.  Next Monday, December 19th, we will once again meet at The Wedding Room at 3601 West Sahara on the southeast corner of Valley View.

This month we have the floor to ourselves.  No speaker is scheduled so we have a chance to catch up with one another, something we haven't had much chance to do in a while.  Maybe we'll even have a surprise visitor!

So, make your RSVPs to me as soon as possible and I'll phone in the head count.  Lunch begins at  11:30 am and cost is only $15.00.

See you on Monday.

Las Vegas Comedian Sammy Shore

Our guest speaker was comedian Sammy Shore giving us a taste
of his genius with stories of his work in Las Vegas, as an opening act for
Elvis Presley, and gave us his take on reality television. He had everyone in
the group laughing, especially our own Carey Burke who took the brunt of his
jokes!