The Wheel


Marvin Menzies – UNLV Basketball

Menzies, 54, comes back to Las Vegas after nine years as the head coach at New Mexico State. Under his direction the Aggies have appeared in the postseason each of the last five seasons and six of the last seven years. Menzies led NMSU to its fifth straight 20-win season in 2015-16, and seventh in eight years, as it was 23-11 overall and 13-1 in conference play. The Aggies have won 35 straight home conference games, which is
the second-longest such streak in the nation.

From 2012-15, Menzies led his team to four straight WAC Tournament titles and NCAA Tournament berths. His team also won the conference tournament crown and appeared in the NCAA Tournament in 2010. Menzies also led the Aggies to the outright regular-season conference title in 2014-15 and a co-championship in 2008.

“Marvin is an experienced head coach with UNLV and west coast roots who knows what it takes to build and maintain a winning college basketball program,” UNLV President Len Jessup said when the announcement was made. “He is a dynamic recruiter and proven leader who understands the proud tradition of UNLV basketball, and we look forward to welcoming him back to campus.”

Menzies owns a career record of 198-111 (.641) over nine seasons as a Division I head coach and he has gone 103-37 (.736) in conference play. He has coached a pair of AP All-Americans at New Mexico State, two WAC Players of the Year, two WAC Freshmen of the Year, 20 players selected to the all-conference team, five to the all-newcomer team and seven to the all-defensive team.

In 2015, Menzies was named the WAC Coach of the Year.

Prior to his tenure at NMSU we was an assistant coach with Rick Pitino at Louisville, Lon Kruger at UNLV, Henry Bibby at USC and with Steve Fisher at San Diego State.

Menzies earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from UCLA in 1987 and a master’s degree in education from Cal State Sacramento in 2003. He and his wife, Tammy, have a daughter, Andreanna, and a son, Andre.

Message From The President

Dear Fellow Rotarians,

Wow – it is already September! In addition to the blissfully cooling temperatures this time of year and, of course, the beginning of UNLV football and basketball seasons, fall is also when our Rotary Club starts getting into the thick of our service and social schedule. This month alone we have a Cigar Fellowship, SOAR awards, a Club Assembly, Highway Cleanup, Wetzel Awards and a Rotarians at Work Day. Also our school support activities will be back in action any day now!

As we get ready for all this great activity, I thought I would challenge you with a second rhyme. A special prize awaits the first the person who can correctly identify the author and title. This one is a bit more challenging than the last I think.

September’s Baccalaureate
A combination is
Of Crickets — Crows — and Retrospects
And a dissembling Breeze
That hints without assuming —
An Innuendo sear
That makes the Heart put up its Fun
And turn Philosopher.

Here’s to another great month of serving humanity!

David Thorson
President 2016 -2017

Member Highlights

Scribe – August 25, 2016

  • President David called the meeting to order at 12:16 with opening remarks of the sad news that Shawn Noorda’s mother-in-law recently passed, the good news that Bob Patten is getting better and hopes to join us soon, and the fun fact that today is both National Whisky Sour Day and Banana Split Day. Rosalee Hedrick gave the invocation. Sidra Kain and special guest Maya Thorson, President David’s daughter Maya, led us in singing America the Beautiful. Sergeant-at-Arms was PP Steve Linder.
  • One International Rotarian from Shanghai, visiting Rotarians, and guests of Rotarians were introduced. President David’s family, including his wife and son Chieko and Noah, were also introduced in attendance.
  • President David thanked all who helped set up today’s meeting; recalled the new member orientation last night;
  • President David presented Deb Granda with a Four Way Test coin for her work as membership Chair; gave a special thanks to Nancy Slitz for coordinating the weekend at the Shakespeare Festival; and shared that our Rotary Youth Exchange student is staying with a host family in Mesquite.
  • Rosalee Hedrick introduced RYLA student Lance Ledet, President of Speech and Debate at Northwest Career & Technical Academy, who requested volunteers to be speech contest judge.
  • Deb Granda recognized in attendance Joe Lee and Jimmelle Siarot who were inducted last night at the new member orientation, and introduce Kimberly Brodeur as a returning Rotarian.
  • Michael Gordon announced our next annual car show April 23, 2017 and encouraged all to submit ideas for the renaming of our car show.
  • Anil Melnick announced he “hopes to see all” at our tailgate party Oct 22, starting 11:30am!
  • Kirk Alexander reminded all the Corazon Superbuild in Tecate, Mexico is Oct 15, and announced the next build will be in Tijuana, Mexico on May 6, 2017 in partnership with Project Hope.
  • Arleen Sirios invited all the next Wine to Water on Fri, Oct 7, starting at 6pm.
  • David Lester announced the next Rotarians at Work Day is Sept 30, 9:30am – 3:30pm at Bracken or Hollingsworth STEAM Academy, participating in the United Way Day of Care.
  • Jackie Thornhill announced the 3Q Wetzel Award is Sept 29.
  • Francesca Gilbert invited all to support our southern Nevada first responders at the 15th annual SOAR Award ceremony Sept 12 at City Hall.
  • Jim Hunt announced our 13th annual Cigar Fellowship on Sept 9 hosted by Russ Swain.
  • Megan Moreno and Barrett Thomas recapped on the recent LeMONS Rally ‘16.
  • Raffle: New member Joe Lee found the Joker! Captain Kirk Holmes won Lawry Bucks.
  • Mike Ballard introduced our guest speaker North Las Vegas Mayor, John Lee.
  • President David awarded Mayor Lee with our Sole Power Award and adjourned the meeting.

New Member Orientation Photos


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