Captain's Log: Columbus Circle

These are the voyages of the GAMship captains.  Our sixth Captain's Log circles back to Columbus where it all started with our first captain and his first officer.  The very first mate to sign on to GAMship.  The very first officer to be elected.  The longest sailing shipmate of GAM.  The longest commanding officer of GAM.  The most decorated.  The most respected.  This is GAM's very own Columbus:  Captain Christopher Engel.

"[T]he sight of an achievement [is] the greatest gift a human being could offer to others."  [Atlas Shrugged]  Captain Christopher has brought award after award to GAM and his shipmates.

Outstanding New Organization Award, 2008-2009, to GAM 

from NYIT Manhattan Campus Student Government Association

Best GAM Watch Design, in Time For GAM, Fall 2009, to Christopher Engel 

from Frederique Constant

Certificate of Completion, Mentors in Gam and Emprise, 2009-2010, to Christopher Engel 

from NYIT School of Management Professional Enrichment Program

Certificate of Recognition, Career Perks, 2009-2010, to Christopher Engel 

from NYIT School of Management Professional Enrichment Program

Above and Beyond Award, 2009-2010, to Christopher Engel 

from NYIT School of Management Professional Enrichment Program

Certificate of Recognition, 2009-2010, to GAM 

from NYIT School of Management

Certificate of Completion, Internship Certificate Program, Spring 2010, to Christopher Engel 

from NYIT Career Services

Outstanding Student Organization Award, 2009-2010, to GAM 

from NYIT Manhattan Campus Student Government Association

Student Organization of the Year Award, 2009-2010, to GAM 

from NYIT Manhattan Campus Office of Student Activities

Outstanding Club President of the Year Award, 2009-2010, to Chris Engel 

from NYIT Manhattan Campus Student Government Association

Outstanding Student Leader Award, 2009-2010, to Christopher Engel 

from NYIT Manhattan Campus Office of Student Activities

And the countless additional awards that his shipmates have earned through GAM and the programs it supports.

As apparent storms seemed to chase his ship into port to run aground, Captain Christopher sailed against the gales to save the integrity of the ship.

Captain Christopher Engel, GAM MA 2008-2011

“The port would fain give succor; the port is pitiful; in the port is safety, comfort, hearthstone, supper, warm blankets, friends, all that’s kind to our mortalities. But in that gale, the port, the land, is that ship’s direst jeopardy; she must fly all hospitality; one touch of land, though it but graze the keel, would make her shudder through and through. With all her might she crowds all sail off shore; in so doing, fights ‘gainst the very winds that fain would blow her homeward; seeks all the lashed sea’s landlessness again; for refuge’s sake forlornly rushing into peril; her only friend her bitterest foe!”  [Moby Dick].

This Captain Christopher learned at the helm:  that the safest port is into the storm.

"There is a wisdom that is woe; but there is a woe that is madness. And there is a Catskill eagle in some souls that can alike dive down into the blackest gorges, and soar out of them again and become invisible in the sunny spaces. And even if he for ever flies within the gorge, that gorge is in the mountains; so that even in his lowest swoop the mountain eagle is still higher than other birds upon the plain, even though they soar."  [Moby Dick]

In his honor GAM establishes a new award.  In addition to being the third captain to retire with the Me Hearties Pennant, Captain Christopher receives the Take A Bow trophy, which logs his voyage at the helm of GAMship.  And Captain Christopher was first to reach for the brass ring, so we name it after him:  the Columbus Circle.

How befitting that Captain Christopher's last event is to say bon voyage to us.  We come full circle to conclude the Columbian Era by bidding our Captain Columbus the same for the bon voyage he gave us.  Bon Voyage, Captain Christopher Engel

Captain's Log: Voyagers

These are the voyages of the GAMship captains.  Our fifth Captain's Log is about two captains.  This is the voyage of two extraordinary friends, Captain Janneisy "Janeway" Vidals and Captain Luiza "Lulu" Bilt.

GAM has a tradition of officers selflessly switching titles to give each other a chance at the helm. Our original two captains--Captain Ninoska Alvarez (CCNY) and Captain Harry Baker (NYIT)--both switched to give another officer a chance to be captain before they graduated.  In that fine example, Captain Luiza and Commander Janneisy switched titles.  Luiza and Janneisy are great friends, and Luiza wanted her friend to be captain before she graduated.  GAM CCNY is very lucky to have had two great friends leading their ship.  So Captain Luiza offered the helm for a semester to Commander Janneisy.

Captain Janneisy Vidals, GAM CC Fall 2010
Captain Luiza Bilt, GAM CC Spring 2011

Captain Janneisy then guided GAM ahead in an event labeled Go GAManas to combine a message about good nutrition in between classes with the showing of a foreign film that complemented that message.  The timing could not have been more perfect.  Go GAManas was able to support a professor's class project that similarly encouraged marketing students to use their skills to spread a message of good health.

After the two friends switched titles back, Captain Luiza resumed leading GAM ahead in C.C.N.Y. University (a GAMetta Stone series) to combine school pride with GAM's mission to unite students. GAM invited language clubs and other organizations with cultural themes to decorate a table in the style of their most iconic new year celebration to Come Celebrate New Years by sharing the University of the Countless Cultures of New York at C.C.N.Y.

Captain Janneisy recalls:  "I felt very welcomed from the moment I joined as a shipmate.  While I was a shipmate I learned so many life lessons and how to communicate better.  Face it, the world out there is tough and you have to learn how to market yourself.  I learned through challenges how to market myself through GAM."

Captain Luiza recalls her first event before taking the helm of GAM:  "MoMMA was a special and memorable event that not only made me celebrate my mother in pleasant way but also interact and get insights about the other GAM shipmates' lives, pasts, feelings and thoughts, getting to know them better."

Without these two extraordinary friends, the voyages of GAM CCNY would have ended a year ago. Captain Luiza and Captain Janneisy sail out of port soon.  Bon Voyage, Captain Janneisy and Captain Luiza

Captain's Log: Captain Convincing

These are the voyages of the GAMship captains. Our fourth Captain's Log recounts a time when GAM needed a hero to conVINCE shipmates to unite; and one young Kirk beamed up--Captain Vincent Pierotti.

Captain Vince heard the mayday of another GAM ship sailing in choppy seas and came to their aid. The captain donned the red suit and stuck out his knee. But not for Captain Morgan. (Morgan was his commander.) Captain Vince was Santa Claus for a day to celebrate Christmas in Brooklyn Chinatown, distributing toys to the children. His Christmas spirit lifted that one GAM ship out of dry dock, and forged a new spirit of cooperation.

Hi Members of GAM:

Thank you for your support on our Christmas Celebration in Brooklyn Chinatown. I hope you all had a wonderful experience volunteering with us. This event wouldn't be so successful without your help, especially your Santa Claus. I've a link to our photo taken on that day and I hope you can join us in our coming event next year.  I also hope we can start a good partnership with the rest of the NYIT program in the near future. Let me know if your club need the help of our community, we will definitely support you. 

Warren Chan | Executive Director

Asian Community United Society

Captain Vincent Pierotti, GAM CC Fall 2009

When asked to choose his favorite adventure, Captain Vince shared Rolling With GAM. "There are so many good memories to choose from. I think my favorite event was GAM bowling. We realized that Judge Gregorek was a natural, and I realized that I should stick to contact sports."

Captain Vince sailed halfway around the world, and continues his legendary spirit for conVINCing people to unite on himself. "I studied Media and Communication Arts at CCNY. I currently live in Tokyo, Japan. I have been studying the Japanese language, culture, and media for the past year. I plan on working and living here for a long time. It really is a great country and the people are wonderful."

Captain Vince united castaways welcoming them aboard GAMship creating a vibrant crew in the face of troubled waters ahead. Even though his voyage at the helm was short, Captain Vince brought fair winds and following seas to GAM. He was honored with the second Me Hearties pennant. Bon voyage, Captain Vincent Pierotti

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

The Sound of One Hand Clapping

Every Friday GAM invites you to put the MOON ON YER SAIL with a free movie sailing around the intellectual world with us. This week's port is in a trailer by the Pacific Ocean where we learn what the sound of one hand clapping is. If you want to be a First Class Mate in GAM, this event counts as a big chunk of points toward a raise in rank and as your alternative initiation.

GAM's premier initiation is reading Atlas Shrugged, to earn a jump in rank, first class membership and full privileges, writing a one-page reflection on it, and answering questions regarding it satisfactorily to the Captain or Captain's designees. The alternative is a lot easier.

Moon On The Sail this week is an abbreviated event; the movie is only 50 minutes. It's part of GAM's alternative initiation. So instead of the book Atlas Shrugged, you watch the coolest detective ever (who looks like Judge Gregorek's dad), then chat a bit, introduce yourself, and take home a crossword puzzle to solve.

If you are in GAM, and you ought to be; then this is your chance to complete your initiation. It's free. Our new t-shirts are on the way, and more. So make plans to join us. Invite your friends. Anyone can join and get initiated this day. Find yer way this Friday, Feb 25th, to the Career Services Floor, 16 West 61st St., Room 623, at 2:30-5p.

A club is as fun as you make it. Hang around without focus in the hallways (good practice for being a bum), or rally your friends to do cool events that get you prizes, awards and goodwill (aka be genuinely popular!).

Join us for movies every Friday 2:30-5p, and put the Moon On Yer Sail.

For the full movie list, please look here: http://goo.gl/TiPtN

GAM BLACK HISTORY MONTH WITH GLORY

In celebration of Black History Month, students of all different races, ages, genders and clubs gathered around at Moon On The Sail to watch Glory. The movie is about the 54^th Regiment who revolutionized the way African American slaves and soldiers were viewed. The 54^th Regiment demonstrated extraordinary bravery and dignity, which impelled the Union to change their rules, regulations, and hearts to let African Americans serve in the Union army. In this month we celebrate the 180,000 African Americans who turned the tide of the Civil War. The diversity of the people who participated in this event, including both GAM and the UN Team, is a tribute to those men who gave up there lives to defend what is important to us all--liberty.

Gabriel Almonte (GAM) and Nancy Arvizu (UN)

CrimpWord Puzzle for Ye to Solve

If ye have the answers, find yer ship officers to earn yer booty.