For more information about GAMA, contact our State Advisor.

 

Creed

" I believe a Media Assistant should be interested in all phases of media work. I believe a Media  Assistant should be courteous, friendly, conscientious in the line of duty, and have a sympathetic  understanding toward his co-workers and other members of the school. I believe a Media Assistant  should offer full and willing service to the student body, faculty and administration."

Motto

"We serve to further knowledge."

Emblem

Lamp of Knowledge
GAMA has an official pin with emblem, colors and logo.

Flower

Red Carnation

Colors

Red and White

An annual convention is held, usually on a weekend in April, at which time the state-elected GAMA officers preside and carry out the duties of helping to conduct workshops, hold a banquet with an outstanding program, and have judging of media entries such as projects, scrapbooks, posters, bulletin boards, and media productions prepared by member schools.

Since Quality Basic Education guidelines no longer allow student library/media assistants as a class in the library, membership in GAMA comes from those interested in library/media assistance work on a volunteer basis, and those interested in audio-visual services and production.

A scholarship is available to a worthy GAMA member yearly who graduates from high school and makes application for the scholarship. Currently the earnings on the principal set aside for the GAMA scholarship is about $1,200.00 annually.  Other incentives, such as recruitment of new clubs, participation in the GAMA media festival judgings at the state convention, the leadership opportunities provided, and the participation which leads to Honor Club recognition all are challenges for students involved in GAMA.

Basically, the following steps can be followed in organizing and conducting a GAMA Club in schools from grades five through twelve:

1. A media specialist or some designated faculty member must show an interest in having a club and serving as an  adult advisor.

2. Students must be enlisted and a time set for meetings. If the school does not allow a monthly time for club  meetings, then arrangements can be made to meet before or after school or at a break time during the  school day. One meeting per month is required during school months to meet club requirements.

3. Officers are: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Historian, and Reporter. A Parliamentarian is  appointed. Other officers, as needed for the local club, may be elected or appointed.

4. Membership dues for the State GAMA are set yearly by the Executive Board. Currently state dues per  member are $5.00, payable by December 31 of each school year. The membership application form is  submitted to state officers following directions given in the fall packet of GAMA materials sent to  schools.

5. Programs and activities are planned according to the interests of the local club. Meetings should be conducted  using proper parliamentary procedure. The local club should decide on a project for the year to benefit  the media center, the school, or for a service project for the community. It is recommended that projects  be library-media related. A report of the club's "best" project should accompany the Honor Club  Application form if the club wishes to receive Honor Club distinction at the annual convention. Honor  Club reports are due by March 15 of each year to the Activities and Awards chairman in state GAMA.  The fall packet sent to schools designates the various officers of state GAMA and what materials would  be sent to each.

6. When a club organizes in a school, notification should be made immediately to the state advisors representing  the sponsoring organizations, the Georgia Library Association (GLMA) and the Georgia Library  Association (GLA). Interested schools will receive a copy of The Lamppost, GAMA's handbook, which  gives in more detail the organization and operation of GAMA.

The Georgia Library Association and the Georgia Library Media Association invite media specialist throughout Georgia to seriously consider the values and opportunities offered though the student club, the Georgia Association of Media Assistants (GAMA). Quality Basic Education guidelines which prohibit student aides on a class-basis in the library have seriously jeopardized the club's membership in recent years. We invite you to get more information, determine to organize or reorganize a club, and become active in the state organization. You'll benefit and you students will benefit. We need to be cultivating student interest in librarianship as a profession. GAMA is one means of doing this. We sincerely hope that there is an increase in numbers of clubs in schools in Georgia, and an increase in membership with the clubs. Your interest, efforts, and determination will be greatly appreciated.

For more information about how to organize a GAMA Club, please contact our State Advisor