I'm curious about what fraternity you are in.

the was i see it, as long as I am a member, 21 or 61, I am going to wear my letters!

Lighten up? Moralize? Are you kidding? I wasn't personally attacking you; All I did was make an observation in terms of words which you've been quoted as using by several GCers here, including myself:

I will concede that you didn't actually say that "wearing letters after graduation is wrong" (my apologies for the inexact paraphrase of that post). However, you did imply that the practice of wearing letters (in any circumstance) was, for lack of a better phrase, "not normal" ("We didn't do it that way at my school", the "Nationals=franchise" comment, etc., etc.), and the "third world" comment sealed it for me.

However, your response was a bit salty. Maybe my comment hit a little close to home (however unintentionally). If so, that's a personal issue.

Given your last few posts, you would do well to follow your own advice. Remember that this all started with the "third world" comment.

Ha ha! I have one of those...I also call it an "ego wall!":D
I am proud to wear my badge often. I have a detachable guard so I can wear it as a lapel pin. I wore letters when I was a regional officer and visiting collegiate chapters, but it seems kind of funny for an overweight middle-aged woman to be wearing sorority letters, so I don't! But when I was fresh out of college, I wore them when I could.

Wearing 'nalia...
 

What up Sports Fans?

Hey, I think that people should feel as free as they want to when it comes to wearing their letters, as long as they wear this gear with class. Because ultimately, once we dawn those letters, we represent our organizations, their precepts, and we are the standard bearers for our organizations. Lastly, even when you think no one is looking, someone is always looking. I wear my "greeks" when I'm headed back to the yard for homecoming or what have you, or, I will wear one of my many hats, as often as I like. I have my shingle posted on my office wall, because of my pride, and my ring was passed on to me by one of my uncles. My fraternity, ALPHA PHI ALPHA just celebrated 100 years of distinguished existence, so, my ALPHA Pride is off the chain.
I am also a Mason, and there are certain degrees of modicum that one must follow when it comes to wearing that mighty emblem, but, we all know what fits in each situation.

The 7th Son of Osiris

The only places I don't wear letters are work, the club and bed.:)

The way I see it: I worked hard to get these letters and I will wear them even when I am too old to remember what they mean any longer!

I did not mean to imply that wearing letters was not normal. In fact, in my experience, it is the rule rather than the exception while in school--at least to some degree. At my university, that was not the case and I was just pointing out a difference. I stand by the Nationals=franchise comment. I think that is the case. They want every chapter to be exactly the same and as large as possible to maximize their revenues, in my opinion and have little tolerance for different local traditions.

The "third world" comment was unfortunate, since you seem to reacted more strongly than you really should have had you known the real connotation. At my university 'third world' does not describe less competitive/popular/desirable houses. It describes a group of houses that are far away from the university and most of the other houses and have been called that since they moved there. They are at a big disadvantage during rush (for example they have to provide shuttle buses) and wear letters more to let folks know who they are. I will admit that I was sloppy in the 30 seconds I thought about that post in using a term that someone who did not attend my university would not understand.

Regarding your accusations of being elitist, I think you are going a little bit too far. Every university that I know has houses that are considered better than others and some that are considered not particularly good or at least not at all selective. I suspect you know that as well, if you were honest with yourself. Similarly, many universities are considered better than others. That's life. It may be inaccurate, but you should get used to it. Doesn't mean there are not fine folks in the less well regarded houses or that one can't get a fine education at a second tier school. I never said nor implied that. In fact, I never said that I considered my house to be one of the better ones. All I ever said was that it was uncommon for any chapter at my university to wear letters.

Remember, one persons thinking is that only, one person.

With regard to ethnaticity or region actually does not apply here at all.

This has to do with and only with Alums wearing letters.

I have been wearing letters for 41 years.

Am I proud of what I did and how hard it was to attain them, you bet!:)

If you are not proud enough to wear them, don't!

I acknowledge the point you are trying to get across.

However, I must (again) reiterate a point of clarification: I never "accused" you of being elitist. Rather, I mentioned that your "third world" comment (in and of itself) sounded elitist. An intelligent person can make a "stupid" comment, but that doesn't mean they themselves are stupid. Incidentally, I am not in any way referring to you (just so you know; one misunderstanding at a time is enough).

Given the "world view" connotation of the phrase "third world" (the concept of being "backward", "primitive", "less advanced"), which is much more widely known than the local connotation it has apparently taken on your campus, you can't honestly be surprised at my reaction, or that of any of the other GCers who called you on your use of it.

In short, however, the notion of whether or not fraternal societies are selective is irrelevant in this context; by definition alone, their selectivity is a given.

BTW --- With all due respect, I do recognize and understand that universities are not considered equal by many. I've been around a while and attended institutions of higher learning on both the undergraduate and graduate level, so I know from experience that some schools are considered better than others, and sometimes for very valid reasons. There is nothing earth-shattering about that relevation.

That being said, I think things probably got blown up a little more here than they needed to be, therefore...

...My apologies for any role I may have played in bringing that about. ;)

What about wearing your letters to work or church (like 608 for the people from Lexington, not like Sunday morning services)... I'm not meaning event tshirts but block letter shirts... does anyone else (who is an alumni) feel odd wearing block letter shirts/sweatshirts to work?

I wear event shirts all the time... in fact I'm wearing one now that I "stole" last week from an event I wasn't even in school for. I love wearing those to work (Monday and Fridays... no court!!!), the gym, shopping, and around the house. I wear my badge, letters on necklaces and bracelets. I also have a checkbook cover and keychain... but for some reason, I feel really odd when I wear any block letter shirts/sweatshirts. I guess I think of those as reserved for students only... though I know that isn't true.


As to the lifelong membership dues... AGD has both. We have LMD's that we pay after initiation but we also have optional "alumnae dues" that we can pay if we want to but don't have to stay in good standing. But to be on IHQ-EC you have to pay then. Then each alumnae chapter/club can charge support fees to help with newsletter costs and such. In comparasion with college, these are nothing... maybe they both total $60/year. I feel this is just a small thing that I can do. But as a recent college grad... I understand that money isn't easy to come by but I think that one can make the choice to save $60.00 during the year ($5.00 a month).

Wearing letters does two things.

1. Meet other Greeks.

2. Meet people who may be going to yours or another school and help to promote your group.

As many have said, I worked my rear off to wear My letters, Badge, and Coat of Arms!

I love promoting Greeks!:D

Ladies- Wear your badges this Monday!
 

speaking of letters... just a reminder to those NPC women out there that this Monday, March 5th is NPC badge day!
So remember to wear you pin, and see how many other sorority women you meet during the day!
In Panhellenic Spirit,
Karla

Karla, thanks and is a great idea that is never old:D

If you are not proud of them, do not wear them, if you are, then do!:)
Amazing who you may find to be friends!:)

This week, I found a PKE and a TKE!:cool:

I agree with you Tom...I worked for my letters and I will wear them with pride!!

My roomie and I, both Phi Sigs from the same chapter (I was her membership orientation person...) have a wall between our rooms with all of our paddles and composites and our certificates. We call it the sorority wall!