When I was pledging I was not allowed to wear letters or anything relating to the sorority with exception to our pledge pins/ribbons (and bid day shirts which had screen printed letters). That being said, orders for apparel went out while we were pledging and we were allowed to order apparel. Once we were initiated our "moms" presented us with our first set of letters. I believe that my letters are much more special to me because I had to "earn" them. Just my opinion though.

Earn them? It sounds more like your gratification was delayed, thereby making the experience more meaningful for you.

I am a new member of Chi Omega. My chapter allows us to wear letters from bid day on, but encourages us to wait until our new member retreat. We used it as a bonding activity. Our "Owl Pals" (an older girl who left us letters every day for a week, and a gift at the end) gave us a tee shirt and a fabric they thought we would like the night before the new member retreat. Then we made iron on letters. This upcoming Monday is big/little and I will get my first stitched on letters.
I know a lot of other organizations on campus don't let the girls wear letters until initiation. For "All greek letter day" on my campus, some of the older Chi O's lended shirts and sweatshirts to the younger girls so we could feel like we were a part of the group, and because there was a picture. None of us new girls really have stitched letters of our own despite the fact that we can own them, unless they are hiding them in the closet until it is appropriate to wear them. We are all waiting to see what our big gives us! :)
I understand the reasoning behind waiting for initiation. We don't wear a pin or ribbon at all during our new member period, while others make their new members wear one. We are small (the ceiling for sororities on my campus is 35) so we know everyone, and every girl understands what an honor it was to get a bid. I like that I can wear my letters. I have wanted to be in a strong sisterhood like Chi Omega since second grade, when I saw my older cousin join her sorority. To me, even if I don't know what the letters may mean or anything, it already has its own personal meaning. I know that Chi Omegas are strong, successful women, and all the Chi Omegas I have met are sweet, caring, beautiful, intelligent, and to be invited to be a part of that makes me feel great. I will wear my letters with great pride for the rest of my life. Knowing the meaning will only add to what makes them special.

Wow... I think about your original thread, and how you were so full of doubt and unhappiness. You stuck it out; you didn't quit; and, the miracle happened. Worth waiting for, wasn't it?

You Get It. It's not the reputation, it's the true sisterhood that counts. Know and remember this: you can substitute ANY GLO's name for Chi Omega in your post, and that's how each and every one of us here feels about our own sorority. Do your best to live the values, and good things will come to pass.

Mutual respect and panhellenic love to you!

Ditto what AzTheta said! It truly is all about the sisterhood!!:D

I did stick it out, and it was worth waiting for! I wouldn't ever want to leave my sisters. It is all about sisterhood, and not reputation. It took me a while to realize that, because I was caught up in superficial things. And yes, I know a lot of girls in other GLO's who feel that way about theirs. Its about where you fit, and who you get along well with.

Forgive me if I'm being nosy, but I was very close to a few Chi Omega friends in college. Back in the day they had a lovely black enameled oval pledge pin. I'm guessing this has changed these days?

We have a black enamaled new member pin. It is very plain with just our letters on it. I can only really speak for my chapter because I do not know if this is a national rule or not, but we are only allowed to wear our badge in badge attire (business casual). We do not wear them every day. We do still get those pins though! And we have ribbons, we wear them underneath our pin in badge attire.

So you didn't mean that you don't wear them at all in your original post? You meant to say you don't wear them all the time.

We have the same rule re: badge attire for the new member pin.

Yes, I meant that we don't wear them all the time. :) haha sorry!
I made my first letter shirt last night. I thought it was fun, it was a bonding experience, and it was hard work! I am soo excited to wear it Monday for classes.

Whew, I'm glad! I always thought it was so simple and classic, I'd hate to think Chi Omega did away with their lovely New Member pin.

As for kappa alpha theta, as pledges we are not allowed to wear anything that has our letters... on lavaliers, shirts, sweatshirts, backpacks... nothing. the only thing that national lets us have is the word THETA along with our pledge pins.

You can't wear event shirts? What about Bid Day shirts with the letters on it?

No. The ONLY exception is if there is a shirt that is promoting a Panhellenic or Greek Life event and the Greek letters "Kappa Alpha Theta" are on the shirt, along with other GLOS' Greek letters. Otherwise, not. Bid day shirts will say "Theta" or "Kappa Alpha Theta".

We're not the only NPC GLO that restricts wearing letters to initiated members.

This has been covered in other threads on GC, and I'm not feeling like searching :D

ETA: it's Headquarters, not "national" because we are an international fraternity (Canadian chapters).

That's one of the beauties of the NPC. Not everyone has the same personal rules, and you can make an argument for either way. And that's fine. I'm happy that I got to where the greek letters ADP as a pledge, and that our Alphas may also do so, but I'm not going to question another GLO's decision to restrict it.

And we're not "national" either - referring to our Headquarters as "Nationals" is akin to fingernails on the chalkboard to me. It's Headquarters, Memorial Headquarters, or International Officers, not "Nationals".