Welcome Aboard GAMship

Ahoy ye Mateys,

Time to sign up a whole new crew for our fourth voyage of GAMship. Yes, this is going to be our fourth year: we have collected along the way Emeralds, Rubies, and Sapphires; and this year will be Citrines. By signing the Crew Manifest, you can make sure you are counted among the crew, sharing in the treasures, such as handsome steins, artist-designed t-shirts, engraved rings, and other booty. 

We have two college ports for our (member)ship: NYIT and CCNY. Shipmates are welcome to join adventures at both ports. "Gam" means seafarers mingling to talk business and to socialize. GAM offers educational entertainment, joins other clubs together and invites all majors and interests to participate and share with each other. We have a long list of unique and diverse GAMes, like our Valentine Noir Masquerade Ball, our Now You're International Too cultural celebration, our Come Celebrate New Years going around the world with GAM, and sailing ahead to do so much more.

There are no time or financial obligations. Sail as often or as little as you like. But you cannot share in the booty unless you sign up. So sign aboard.  Everything there is to know about GAMship is on our Wheelhouse (our online electronic clubhouse). We need your help making GAM better.  Take a leadership role, such as Yeoman, Boatswain, Chief Mate or Ambassador, and help steer GAMship for the horizon. 

Beneath this sea of maritime adventure is the indelible letter of marque (your resume with GAM) to come laud your internships, leadership, certificates, awards and other accomplishments.  Join for the companionship, friendship, fellowship, kinship, GAMship!

Welcome aboard GAMship!

For Business Sense and Social Grace,
GAM it!
gam@gamship.net | GAMship.net

GAM Moves The World

"America's abundance was not created by public sacrifices to the common good, but by the productive genius of free men who pursued their own personal interests and the making of their own private fortunes." -- Ayn Rand

GAM’s premier initiation is to read Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand and I was given a copy of this novel to read over the summer. The first thing that stood out to me from this book was not the cover, but the length. As a student who barely enjoys reading textbooks I didn't know how I was going to complete it. The book remained on my desk for a while as I was being showered with guilt: how could an officer lead a club without fulfilling the one basic responsibility? So I braced myself for a task that I believed would take up my entire vacation and I began to read it.

One month later I turned the last page of Atlas Shrugged, a book that was no longer a task to be completed but a guide to follow for the rest of my life. Although this novel is based on a dystopia, it definitely holds many realistic elements. As I was reading I couldn't help myself but reflect upon how the events occurring today and the moral standards being taught were so similar to that of the book: a tanking economy, constant bailouts, and a government that intervenes in every aspect of society. In the book, businessmen were often referred to as “exploiters” and their wealth made by their success were constantly sought to be taken away. But wouldn't those who fight for unearned wealth be the real exploiters? What will those looters do when the businessmen disappear? Or run out of money? How will such people survive then? The real exploiters are those who tell businesses to remain running at a loss. The real exploiters are those who take a company’s profits to help save a business that can’t remain in competition. The real exploiters are those who seek one’s wealth for the use of their social programs.

The attacks made on those who use their minds and skills for success reminded me of the “Robber Barons” of the 19th Century. Nineteenth Century entrepreneurs such as Vanderbilt and Rockefeller built great businesses. They provided goods and services that maximized the public's utility, thereby increasing the total welfare of the country. Moreover, the profits served as incentives for entrepreneurs to take on the inherent risk of operating their own business. These entrepreneurs that were portrayed as ruthless and greedy were a benefit to the society and got paid voluntarily by people who found a benefit in what they do. However, there were individuals who looked down upon Vanderbilt, Rockefeller and others. Instead of owning their own shortcomings, they blame those superior to them. For the most part, Captains of Industry and CEOs are not born; they get there by hard work and thinking outside the box. Blaming others instead of seeking to turn a given situation around is the hallmark of a looter. They are the ones who would complain and label those who are successful as a "Robber Baron."

At the heart of Atlas Shrugged lies Ayn Rand’s philosophy of Objectivism that continues to move our society. Objectivism focuses on being individualistic and logical (rational) – two key characteristics for the pursuit of one’s happiness. Individualism is being independent; it’s thinking, acting for oneself while using reason as your guide. This is opposed to collectivism where everyone is interdependent and living in an altruistic manner. Objectivists, like me, are advocates for Capitalism, a free market with no government intervention – the only true economic system that can help a country prosper. It is such truths underlying Objectivism that can bring our country back to its fundamental principles.

As I was sworn in as GAM’s new Captain for NYiT, I repeated a quote from Atlas Shrugged. However, it wasn't until I finished the book that I completely understood the concept. “I swear by my life, and my love of it, that I will never for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine.” This is my oath and the rule of which I will live the rest of my life by. I will use my mind and my talents to the best of their abilities. My life is mine to deal with, and it is mine to grow and achieve because self-interest is the most powerful motivator for success. Atlas Shrugged moved me, and now I will move the world. Will you?

-C. Y.

GAM-BIT(E)S

Freshmen were urged to SOAR Toward Excellence today (Aug. 2nd). And GAM recommended they Go GAMANAS! 

Picture from June 4th GAMnic in Central Park

(SOAR is a program to welcome new freshman to NYIT. Go GAMANAS! is GAM's initiative to encourage nutritious bites between classes.) GAM joined other clubs at tables set up to greet the new freshman.
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At GAM's table, sandwiched between their friends from the UN TEAM and SGA, GAM offered freshmen free bananas, along with copies of the latest GAMarray Gazette produced in high gloss by our Captain Yosr E. Also at their table greeting freshmen were GAM's Commodore Alyssa D., Commander Elias W. and Crimpee Christopher K. Leading freshmen around NYIT was GAM's Ambassador Bella L.  .
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Captain Yosr bestowed GAM's artist-designed, ocean-blue shirt to Crimpee Chris for his efforts to welcome freshmen at two orientations now. Crimpee Chris is currently working on his initiation by reading Atlas Shrugged and his rank by attending these orientations to earn his citrine class GEM (GAM's Excellence Marque). GAM signed up, with Chris's help, 8 students on July 21st. (See that news in our earlier note: 20,000 GAM-BITS.) Today (Aug. 2nd) GAM signed up 23! Welcome aboard, Crimpees! We have for ye gold ahead, and it began with a golden banana today. Arrrrrrgh!