Our meetings are getting crowded!

Here's a group shot of a regular lunch meeting of the Las Vegas Media Group.  We hold our meetings monthly at The Wedding Room on Sahara Ave. 

September, 2013
Photo courtesy of Joe Thomson

Maybe you recognize some of these Las Vegas people?  There is a wealth of Las Vegas history in this room!

If you'd like more information about our group, send an email to lasvegasmediagroup@gmail.com.

September Meeting Recap with UNLV's Michelle Light

A full house at Monday’s (Sept. 16) Las Vegas Media Group meeting; we have over 40 people there.  Many visitors from UNLV came to support Special Collections director, Michelle Light. 

Michelle Light
Photo courtesy of Joe Thomson

Michelle talked about the treasures housed at the library, brought some of the items from the collections,  

and explained how members could donate their own Las Vegas history so it would be accessible to the general public and cared for professionally.  It was a great, informative talk.  After the meeting I saw several members getting more information from the Michelle, Claytee White, and Su Kim Chung.  We hope to see these new faces at future LVMG meetings! 

Rich was not at the meeting, so a big THANK YOU to Joe Thomson for facilitating.  We had a great raffle of prizes (as always, thanks to Phil Jensen for always bringing in books!), a great meal, and wonderful conversations, including SKYPE visits from Frank Mitraini (from Kanab, Utah) and Cork and Carolyn all the way from Ecuador.  Remember, Cork Proctor will be our October speaker. 

Lisa has a favor to ask.  As most of you know she won’t be at the next few meetings so in order for her to send out these recaps, hearing from the members who do attend about what took place at the meeting will be much appreciated.  Just send her a quick email with who and what happened and she’ll include it in the recap email and on our blog.  Thanks in advance for your help!

A couple of upcoming events of interest:

Oscar Goodman will be signing copies of his book at a fundraiser for the Doberman Rescue organization.  Members Pat and John Getter are very involved so contact them for more information. 

www.drnv.org
www.facebook.com/drnv1
info@drnv.org
 702-672-7204

On October 20, UNLV is hosting an event to celebrate the Oral History Research Center’s 10^th anniversary with a meet & greet of members of the Las Vegas music community who were interviewed for the project, ALL THAT JAZZ.  To find out more and to RSVP, contact Claytee White at 702 895-2222

UNLV is also presenting and AUTHOR SERIES of events.  The first author to speak on October 6 is Rex J. Rowley, who wrote Everyday Las Vegas: Local Life in a Tourist Town. 

Go to wwwl.library.unlv.edu/author-rsvp for more information and to RSVP. 

to

Marlene Adrian
Wally Carson
Carl Harley
Rollie Gibbs
Lisa Gioia-Acres
Judy Reich
Nelson Sardelli
Z.Z. Zorn

August 2013 Meeting with the Getters

What a great meeting we had on Monday, Aug. 19.  Joining the group via a SKYPE chat was our leader, Frank Mitrani.  I can’t believe we didn’t think to do this sooner; Frank was able to watch the comings and goings, talk and see his old friends, and stay with us for most of the presentation (until the computer battery ran out.  I forgot to bring the cord!).  It was so good to see Frank and his beautiful wife, Jean.  As you know, Frank is going through some health challenges and can’t make it our meetings for the time being, so being able to visit with him this way was the next best thing!

A member chats with Frank

John Getter and his wife, Pat were are team speakers.  Both shared a bit of their history as authors, journalists, and now as public speakers.  Pat gave some wonderful anecdotes about her pre-Las Vegas history when she and her mother visited as tourists.  It gave a different perspective to all of us Las Vegas Old Timers!  In addition to the photographs, check out brief snippets of their talk on our YouTube Channel. 

John and Pat Getter

A few brief announcements:

Michele Light (I provided her surname incorrectly in my Meeting Reminder – please accept my apology!), from UNLV’s Special Collections will speak to the group at the September 16th meeting.

Cork Proctor, funny man and now living in Ecuador, will be home for a visit and is coming to tell us all about his recent life change and adventures for the October 21st lunch meeting, Rollie Gibbs said that the Las Vegas High School Alumni Reunion (always a great event!) will be held at the Orleans on September 7.  Anyone interested in attending can contact Rollie at 702 873-7939.  Talk about having Las Vegas history in one room!  This is the place.

Rich Friedland and his band, Zodiac Dragon, performs this Saturday at the AFAN Black & White Party.  To find out more or to buy tickets, go to the Website.

Birthday Well Wishes this month go to:

Harriet Trudell
Terry Williams
Len Yelinek

July Meeting Recap with Janet Geary as the Speaker!

At the July 15th, 2013 meeting, Ms. Janet Geary, publisher of Nevada Magazine, shared her Nevada history with the group.  Some members shared that this was one of their very favorite meetings and speakers ever!  

Marlene Adrian, president of Women of Diversity and founder of the website, Nevada Women's Virtual Center (NWVC) took video of Janet during her talk and in the near future I believe the presentation will available on the website for all of us to see.  I will let you know when that happens.  In the meantime, the NWVC website is a Nevada women's history resource that you should all check out at: http://www.nevadawomensvirtualcenter.org/

Birthdays for the month of July include:  

Lenn Cooper

A.D. Hopkins

Chuck Evans

John Foley

Roger Buehrer

Sam Upton

and....................  John "Buzzy" Ullom who turned 80 on July 16!

 

  

June Meeting with Member Collections

This meeting we did things a bit different.  Instead of having a speaker, it was decided to have our members share their very own Las Vegas history by brining in their collectibles.  Of the nearly 40 members that attended, about half of them brought in photographs, ephemera, pottery, buttons, casino memorabilia, and even an old outfit to share.  It was a great meeting and we got to know our members a little better. 

Here are photographs taken of the meeting.  Enjoy!



Frank Valeri and Lisa Gioia-Acres



Some of the great stuff on display

Phil Hodson and Carey Burke

Fight photos

Casino napkins

Carey Burke and Phil Jensen

Florence and Juel Mayhew check out
Frank Valeri's photographs
 

The very first gaming license in Nevada. 
Dated 1931

Bo Boivert dons goggles he wore when, as a photo
journalist, he witnessed the atomic tests
at the Nevada Test Site

Lenn Cooper

Frank Valeri talks about his photos

Record Breaking Member Attendance for a Field Trip!

Sixty members attended the meeting/lunch/tour at the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health?  60 members! That is a record breaker.  And I missed it!  But Cynthia Cicero kindly stepped in and helped out Don and Gretchen Payne at the door and assisted Rich Friedland as needed while he made announcements. 

Here is Cynthia's recap of the meeting:

Those of us who toured the Ruvo Center were treated to a world class research and treatment center for Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis.   And I do mean world class since there are Ruvo Centers in Florida and Abudabi with more planned throughout the world.  Every aspect of the clinic was designed to treat clients with the utmost care and dignity.  The story of how the Ruvo Center came into being is just as amazing as the center itself.  From a dinner Larry Ruvo held with close friends and family to honor the memory of his father and donations to Alzheimer’s research, Larry Ruvo’s journey brought him to the construction of this wonderful facility.  No better way to honor his father’s life. 
Thanks to Laura Fritz and Elaine Villanueva Taylor for this wonderful tour and lunch and to Lisa for organizing the event.

Photo Taken:  I understand that a group photo was taken at the event and I have a phone call in to see if I can get a copy.  Perhaps we can have copies made and members can get a copy at the next meeting if they are willing to pay for the cost of the print.  I'll find out how much when I get in touch with the photographer.

TO:

•Bo Boivert

•Mark Massagli

•Phil Jensen

•Joyce Marshall Moore

•Don Payne 

•Betty Bunch

 

Upcoming Meetings:

 

The June Meeting is all about Member Highlights:  Bring in your Memorabilia, Photographs, Hobby Stuff.  That’s right!  Anything you’d like to share with us.  Tables will be set up to share with the group things you’ve collected over the years.  This is an organization about Las Vegas history and you are the history-keepers.  We all can’t wait to see what you have to share.

The July Meeting: Thanks to Member Carl Harley, our next speaker is Nevada Magazine Publisher, Janet Geary.  She is coming all the way from Carson City to share her Nevada life and career story with us.