My story on this subject. . .
 

I agree with the message that family members just don't know what to do with badges. A few years ago, I found a badge engraved with my chapter's initials (meaning they were initiated into my chapter), at a flea market. It was in a tray with a lot of other military insignia. Although I knew what it was, I kept my cool and didn't say anything. I purchased it for $5.00 from the sellers, who really had no idea what it was. They bought it at either an estate sale or an auction in a "lot" (meaning paying one price for a grab bag of items), and then just put it out on their table to sell.

I still have it in a display box in my home. At least I rescued one badge.

However, I have communicated with some of the collectors on eBay. The one's I've talked to are in it for the beauty of the pins (they only go for the jewelled badges) or the profitability of reselling. Non of them are in it to "pose" as a member. The funny thing is, no one I spoke to were trying to be offensive to me. Of course, I didn't really try to argue their points either. I just tried to find out their position on things.

Anyway, that's been my experience.

Yes, I know this thread is old.

Yes, I know it's been beaten to death, and I'll be surprised if anyone reads this message.

HOWEVER

I'm feeling a strong need to make a public service announcement.

The Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity Historian, Mary Silzel, is a member of my alum association. At the last meeting, she and I got into a discussion of badges turning up on Ebay because a) it makes me ill and I still stand by the very first statement I ever made on badge selling, that it is a mean and disrespectful and spiteful thing to do (most of the time, occasionally there is the seller who truly has no idea what he's selling) and b) she is a badge rescuer.

She told me that at least 50 percent, and probably closer to 75 percent, of the Kappa pins that turn up on Ebay have been stolen. Lots of them were stolen more than 10 years ago, and the owners were still in college and didn't file a police report for whatever reason. On more than one occasion, Kappa has been able to get a badge off Ebay because they were able to get a police report that was filed at the time the badge was stolen, and the badges have been returned to their rightful owner. It has also happened that the rightful owner of the badge has emailed the seller, offering proof of identity and asking for its return, and the seller said some, um, not-very-nice things. So please:

If your badge ever goes missing, FILE A POLICE REPORT. That's of course after you check all the usual places for it (how many times has mine been through the wash???). That will prove that the seller is selling stolen property and is the only way you are guaranteed to get it off Ebay unless you have endless amounts of cash.

Write a note, sign it, have 2 witnesses sign it (probably unnecessary in most states, but it can't hurt), and state that in the event of your death, the pin should go to HQ, and leave their full mailing address! or an intended chapter or member. Again, leave their address.

Kappa does occasionally put messages like this in The Key (our magazine), but I know how you all feel about your badges and I care, so I'm writing.

how can you not know?
 

how can one not know what the letters mean? maybe tey wouldn;t know what the letters meant specifically to each GO but wouldnt it be obvious that it belonged to a glo if it contained the letters?

just curious

some other thoughts...
 

Ok this might sound kind of morbid, but what if someone wanted to be buried wearing their badge? Is that allowed or is it a cut and dry "you must return it upon death or termination" sort of thing? Also, I think that we should all take upon ourselves the responsibility of selecting new members whom we know would never do such a tacky and disrespectful thing as to treat their badge like some disposable piece of metal.
Roses,
Heather

Kappa, you make an excellent point! I'd have never even thought to do something like that :D

Chscrew, MOST people cannot tell what organization you belong to by your badge. Many badges don't even have the organization's letters on them. Take the Sigma Nu badge for example. It says (going around the circle)

SNETT

Some badges are more obvious than others though like the ATO Badge (that one just jumps out at me for some reason)..

You'd better believe that my badge is either going to be in my will to be returned to my chapter, HQ or buried with me.

LHT
Kevin
MT #5
University of Central Oklahoma