GAMetta Stone UNIVERSITY! Come Celebrate New Years!!

It's on!  Today (March 22nd) clubs from NYIT met with clubs from CCNY at CCNY to look over the venue for GAMetta Stone University!  This spectacular event invites everyone to Come Celebrate New Years by sharing the UNIVERSITY of the Countless Cultures of New York at City College of New York.  

GAM CCNY Captain Luiza Bilt broke the good news on the GAM Facebook group event page:

Hello, Judge, hello all! The meeting was a success. A whole beautiful bunch from NYIT showed up at CCNY College networking and mingling with three other clubs from the campus. From NYIT side we had visiting UN, graduate and undergraduate clubs taking a field trip throughout the whole campus and familiarizing themselves with the surroundings. The visit culminated with a warm salutation with Mr. Rhinehart, Director of Student Life. Thank you all for a wonderful and insightful meeting. As I said today as a next step: CCNY comes to you NYIT people.  Ahoy to you shipmates and prepare yourselves for a phenomenal world celebration event.

Students are invited to come celebrate all the various nations and regions of the world represented at CCNY on April 12th from 12-2p in the NAC Rotunda.  Our goal is to offer our huge diverse population an opportunity to get to know one another--to share images, music, dress, and culinary samples of the communities here at CCNY culminating in and through the excitement of New Year’s Eve.  Experience it all through what we all share in common--celebrating the new year!  

Today began a new year of cooperation between clubs from two colleges along Broadway--East meets West.  Represented today from NYIT was Chinese Student Association, the United Nations Team, Chinese Business Student Association, and GAM/Great American Mentoring.  From CCNY, there was the African Students Union, Senegalese Students Association, Haitian Students Association, Caribbean Students Association and GAM/Great American Minds.  If you join us Now You're International Too, NYIT; and Crazy Cool Now Y'all at CCNY.  

For more information:   http://goo.gl/I7Gyc | GAM.ccny@gmail.com.

Captain's Log: Letters of Marque

These are the voyages of the GAMship captains. Our third Captain's Log treks broad way--a short crossing across and a long voyage along--back to where it all started with our first captain. His ship was preceded by the corsair command newly setting sail with fellow academy director Captain Ninoska Alvarez.

Captain Ninoska Alvarez, GAM CC Fall 2008-Spr 2009

During the summer of 2008 a league of thirteen extraordinary fellows convened (at the academy across the broad way) to parlay with the lil mayors ("the keys to the city," the Association of Hotel Concierges). These thirteen were GAMA! And their creative director was future Captain Ninoska Alvarez.

After the summer of 2008 a fleet of two ships emerged embarking on a voyage of extraordinary leagues. Welcome aboard GAMship! And the first to receive Letters of Marque were led at the helm by Captain Ninoska Alvarez.

"Everyone has a story, will yours make an impact?"  Wise words from Captain Ninoska, who left an enduring impact. Captain Ninoska led her crew: 

• holding court at the Cochrin law firm running a silent auction to help raise dubloons for the Make A Wish Foundation;  
• ghouling around at the GAMoween party with the cauldron (SPA) from NYiT; and 
• ballroom dancing at the Valentine Noir Masquerade Ball with our anchor sisters teaching us how in the cathedral of Shepard Hall at CCNY!

Captain Ninoka is tacking ahead:  after she received her communications degree with a specialization in Public Relations and Advertising, she set course for an MBA in Marketing and her own Event and PR company.  Bon Voyage, Captain Ninoska Alvarez

eXistenZ is better with the Moon On Yer Sail

GAM CCNY is proud to invite their vice president of the student government at CCNY to share her experience of a GAM event. Sahar Khan joined other students interested in seeing a variation of Plato's Allegory of the Cave on the silver screen, hosted by Career Services and sponsored through GAM's Moon On The Sail movie series. By popular demand, this was an encore performance with Ms. Leigh Mascianica, Assistant Director, Career Services, leading our moviegoers in an after-theatre discussion of this scifi movie with deep philosophical ideas. As Sahar notes, at this event we had "no popcorn, but instead GREAT snacks! Chips, drinks, cookies, and sandwiches!"

Bella, Bernard, Sahar and Muhammad 

On Friday, March 4th, 2011, I went to see the movie eXistenZ sponsored by GAMship at NYIT. The movie was good. Jude Law, playing one of the main characters in the movie, performed very well. There were MANY twists in it, which confused the hell out of me! Like a game, there were many characters involved that play a significant part in the climax, so keep that in mind when watching!

The movie had some gross scenes and was visualized in a sci-fi setting throughout. Some of the scenes from the movie were really interesting and mind-boggling. The movie kept me on the edge of my seat, wanting to know where the game would lead to. For instance, Jude Law had paused the game when the “special lunch” was being offered and it really made me want to know why it was so special, and I wanted the game to continue. I grasped the concept of the movie at the end – reality vs. perception. Overall, it was cool movie. I liked it.

We also had a brief movie discussion with Ms. Leigh who works at the Career Center at NYIT. We shared our insights about what reality is and what we perceive it to be, and, ultimately, whether reality is different for each individual. She left us with a lot to think about.

I had a great time and I can’t wait for more GAM events!

Sahar Khan
Executive Vice President
Undergraduate Student Government
The City College of New York

Captain's Log: The Path of Ugg

These are the voyages of the GAMship captains. Our second Captain's Log treks back to the second of only three captains to ever command GAM MA to date. Our first captain set a gallant precedent by turning over command of his ship before he graduated to facilitate a smooth transition. He turned his command over to Captain Tasnim Mansur.

Tasnim shares her memories of GAM with us:

Captain Tasnim Mansur, GAM MA Spring 2009

My favorite event was our Valentine Noir Masquerade Ball. We brought together some big organizations in NYIT, which probably had never happened before. My fondest memory of GAM, would be the friendships we stumble across.

Judge Gregorek is a genius, and knows what he wants and how to get it. Under his wings, I learned a lot about life, and how to face situations when they are unexpected. And with GAM, there was always something happening, and some event coming up. It was the best experience of my life. I learned how to time manage myself and others. I also realized at what point I may have too much on my plate, and how to prioritize all events coming up.

The main thing you learn being a part of GAM is that there are opportunities out there, but they will not come to you if you just sit there and wait. You have to be aggressive and you have to go out there and make things happen. GAM is excellent when it comes to teaching you how to network with others, and to collaborate with different organizations toward the same goal. And of course, the hours I spent in the office are simply priceless. Learning from Judge Gregorek was one of the most memorable times of my college career. Thanks Judge!!

Tasnim studied Communication Arts at NYIT and graduated in 2009. She is currently still leading students as an admissions counselor at St. Joseph's College. She is planning to pursue a Master's degree soon. She notes: "Maybe I will open up my own business, which may even have opportunities for GAM."

Captain Tasnim Mansur has a special place in our hearts for which she was awarded the very first Me Hearties pennant--to say how much we would miss her. Bon voyage, Captain Tasnim Mansur

Captain's Log: Where No Student Had Gone Before

These are the voyages of the GAMship captains. Our first Captain's Log treks back to where no student had gone before. To talk about our very first captain, you have to talk about the beginning of GAM.

Captain Harry Baker, GAM MA Fall 2008

Prior to the summer of 2008 a league of eight extraordinary fellows pirated pieces of eight (the eight slices of a pizza) from their lair in Ocho Piso (the eighth floor of our college at Columbus Circle). These were the Pirates of the Eighth Floor. Their leader was future Captain Harry Baker.

During the summer of 2008 a league of thirteen extraordinary fellows convened (at the college across the great seaway known as Broadway) to parlay with the lil mayors ("the keys to the city," the Association of Hotel Concierges). These thirteen were GAMA! And, again, their leader was future Captain Harry Baker.

After the summer of 2008 from these two a ship emerged embarking on a voyage of extraordinary leagues. Welcome aboard GAMship! And at its helm was Captain Harry Baker.

When you tell the story of the beginning of GAM, you had to start with an extraordinary friend, Captain Harry Baker. "I invested my interest into many studies," Harry recounts those days. "The Sciences, Literature, Medical and Law became my hors d'œuvre of learning, while History, Logic and Philosophy became the main dish." Those latter three subjects were taught by fellow pirate, fellow GAMA director, fellow GAM original, your favorite judge, Fleet Admiral Gregorek. It is with great pride that this first Captain's Log is written about true friend, Captain Harry Baker.

"I am currently the Assistant Chief Financial Officer of an organization that battles against homelessness, hunger, substance abuse, and HIV/AIDS." Bon voyage, Captain Harry Baker