Mark Hall-Patton is the Museums Administrator for the Clark County museum system, where he oversees the Clark County Museum, the Howard W. Cannon Aviation Museum, and the Searchlight History Museum. He has been with Clark County for twenty-three years and was previously the Director of the San Luis Obispo County Historical Museum in California. He has worked for both public and private non-profit museums, and has consulted with numerous start-up and established museums and museum boards.

He is a MAP surveyor for the American Alliance of Museums, and the author of two books, over 400 published articles, and has written and produced 48 local history videos. In 2009, he hosted a live interview program on C4 television in the Vegas valley and is regularly seen on the History Channel’s Pawn Stars as a visiting expert. He has also appeared on American Restoration, United Stuff of America, America Facts and Fallacies,10 Things You Don’t Know About American History, TMZ Sports, CSPAN 3, Mysteries at the Museum, Hoarders, PBS, and the BBC Radio World Service.

In addition to 14 years as a Board member of the Nevada Museums Association, where he served as President from 2000-2002 and 2008-2010, he has served on the California Association of Museums and Western Museums Association boards. He is a member of the board of the Nevada Test Site Historical Foundation, and the Nevada Aerospace Hall of Fame. He has been in the museum field for over 38 years, having also worked with museums in California and South Dakota. He holds a BA in History from the University of California at Irvine and did graduate work in Museum Studies at the University of Delaware.

He is married to Dr. Colleen Hall-Patton, professor of Sociology and Women’s Studies at UNLV, and they are the parents of Joseph and Ellen Hall-Patton.

• President Michael Gordon called the meeting to order
• Arleen Sirois gave the invocation. The Four Way test was lead by Gina Gentleman. Bob Fisher led the club in singing the “God Bless America.” The Pledge of Allegiance was recited and the Sergeant-at-Arms was Doug Grant.
• There were (4) International Rotarians, (1) Visiting Rotarians, and (2) Guest of Rotarians that were introduced.
• The drawing began at $1,006.00 plus this week’s donations. The winner gets half the pot and half goes to the Las Vegas Rotary Foundation. Ticket Winner: Bill Stieren who won $10!  Lawry Bucks Winner: Sarah Brown.
• PP Caty Crockett announced a tour of the Aviation Museum at McCarran Airport before next Thursday’s club meeting. PP David Thorson added that there will be an opportunity to tour the USO at 10 am.
• PP Tom Krob announced that the cigar social raised $900!
• Kirk Holmes announced that our club now has its own podcast!! Our meetings will also now be live-streamed on our club’s Facebook page. We believe both of these actions are “first in the world” for Rotary clubs.
• Shannon Brown, Beckley ES principal and Cheryle Trupe, vice principal, announced that the next Breakfast with Books is October 10, 2017, with a Harvest Festival on October 20 and a Harvest Parade on October 31, 2017.
• PE Jim Kohl presented So. NV Jr. Golf Association with a check for $5,000.
• Jackie Thornhill presented the Nellis personnel with their Wetzel awards.
• Rod Tucker announced that there will be a Halloween party on October 27, 2017. Anil Melnick will donate the food and the suggested donation is $50 that will go towards the canned food drive.
• Erik Astramecki announced that highway cleanup will be on October 14, 2017.
• Jaime Goldsmith announced that Wine-to-Water will be on October 14, 2017.
• Anil Melnick announced that the UNLV tailgate picnic will be a BBQ meal on Saturday, September 30, 2017.
• Howie Hopkinson announced that the next United Way Day of Caring will be held at Bridger Middle School on Friday, September 29, 2017.
• Bob Fisher introduced the speaker, Dr. Michael Green, Associate Professor of History at UNLV. Dr. Green shared several stories about founding members of our club. He also talked about the legendary Bugsy Siegel and some of the early casinos in Las Vegas.
• President Michael Gordon presented the speaker with a “Share What You Can” award to benefit a veteran in need and adjourned the meeting.