What you are supposed to do with your badges
 

If any of your GLOs have a policy on what you do with your badges when you pass away, could you reply with your policy? I know some say you should either be buried with it or it should be returned to headquarters. I would mainly like to hear what other fraternities do, but girls if your sorority has a policy post it as well. Thanks!

Brian

Delta Zeta's policy...
 

The badge of an initiated member must either A) be buried with that sister if she so desires or B) be returned to National Headquarters. Our sorority also has a Badge Rescue Fund that is used in order to save badges that have, for whatever reason, fallen into the hands of non-members.

Most NPC groups require that your badge is to be returned (it's 'leased' for your lifetime) to the respective HQ, but there are some variations (see above). AOII's policy is to return the badge.

This is handy so that others members of your family may request your badge when they initiate instead of finding out that it was sold in an estate sale, and is now on e-bay being bought by a non-greek. (so frustrating, wouldn't you all agree?). As well, your badge may be requested to become an 'honour' badge at your home chapter (for New Member of the Year and such), but this is approved by Executive Board.

:D

I am not an AGD but my mom's mentor's wife was and when he (the mentor) died, she saw her badge that he had kept after she dies and gave it to me.

I am honored to have it. I would never sell it or give it someone, except if my daughter/close relative/friend pledged AGD.

I hope I don't get crap for saying this. I think it was really special for my mom to give it to me. Her mentor meant everything to her and his wife meant everything to him so I am happy to have it.

AGD here. We're suppose o either be buried with them or return them to IHQ. We're not even allowed to give our daughters our own badges unless we have two. Kimmy, no one is gonna tell cuz its something special and I see nothing wrong with her giving it to you. IT can be a lil secret ;)

While to my knowledge, LXA has No fast and tried rule on this, I already have it in my will that it is going to my Chapter! It is to be given to the new Pres. to wear for his term and passed to the next one and so forth!

It means as much to me today as when I first got it and had it pinned on! Well maybe more so!:) I just dont get a chance to wear it as much!

I know LXA says do not wear it on Jeans but no patch pocket pants! Well Hell who today does not wear jeans? Therefore, no one wears their Badges or has any? Who wears their colors? They wear beer shirts or whatever else!

It is a different day and age, wear your symbols and letters! It is advertising you are a member of a Greek Organization! We are becoming the minority on campus and need to let people know who we are besides drunks and bums!:( :)

Get off of center and let the GDI's know we are out there doing!

Kappa Kappa Gamma badges are supposed to be sent back to HQ in the case of death or deactivation.

I think most have policies to return to HQ upon death or deactivation-- but in reality-- do you think this actually happens that often?

I respect the reasoning behind it, but my badge will go to my daughter, whether she's a member or not...it is special to me and something I wish to pass on.

As far as I know, it is to be returned to national HQ.

However, I think an even better policy would be to pass those badges on to new sisters of the chapter, especially those who may find it hard to afford their own. Just another reason why everyone should have a will.

I agree with AmyCat. I'm not sure what my national's policy is, but I know that I PAID for my badge, and I will do whatever I da*! well please with it. (Except drink...you know.) I understand that the badges are trademarked and such, but I don't want to give $100 back to national, for nothing!

I don't think AEPhi has a formal policy regarding what happens to your badge when you die. If I have a daughter or granddaughter who joins AEPhi, she gets my badge... otherwise it will probably just end up getting passed down through my family. I do NOT want it ending up on ebay!

If you deactivate, you are supposed to return your badge. It's only really enforced for active sisters who deactivate, though - you return your badge to the chapter and they send it back.

What I'm having trouble figuring out, is what to do with my local sorority's badge. I can't wear it because I'm an AEPhi now, and anyway, the group it represents no longer exists... I don't want to give it away during my lifetime, but who should get it when I pass on?

Same here...if either of my sons become LXA, the badge will become theirs....otherwise, it will go to one of the two chapters I have been involved with.

what about this
 

When we initiate, we get a free badge, but it's a cheapo...like $9 to buy one from [inter]Nat'ls if you want another one. However, for Christmas this year, my mom bought me a jeweled badge. I was thinking about giving my old badge to my last little brother, because [inter]Nat'ls is lagging in getting the new members, from almost a year ago, their badges.

Yep Corbin, The badges I am getting off ebay are going to be sold toBrothers at the cost I bought them at for those that are interested! The ones I have will be donated to the New Broethers wit the stipulation that they are to be passed down to those that do not have theirs yet! The problem is that most of the guys do not wear Badges! I hope to remediey that at the next mentoring meeting! If you do not advertise then why belong if you do not beleive!:o

Our last Pres. did not have a Badge until his parents gave him one! He will Graduate in May! I know I cherish mine and always will and it will go to the Pres. until he gets his and is to be passed down to each new Pres. I paid for it and it is going to where I say it is!!!!!!!:)

Well, this poor Alpha Delta Phi is long past, but his badge is being sold for well over $500 on ebay. Alpha Delta Phi was founded in 1832 and this badge is from 1853, so it is a rare sighting! Check it out if you want:

http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI...tem=1056791116

See ya!

Pi Beta Phi badges
 

Our Fraternity magazine's summer 2001 issue discussed our badges, and here's the scoop:

" Upon the death of its owner, a badge may be buried with its owner, bequeathed to a member of the Fraternity or to a collegiate chapter or alumnae club to be used as an honor badge or sent to Central Office for such disposition as directed by Grand Council."

So, we can actually leave it to others within the fraternity if we so choose, without it returning to Central Office.

In Tri Sigma, a member is supposed to be either buried in her badge or it should be returned to HQ. I just have to say after learning that during pledgeship, seeing it in actual practice is one totally other thing...one of my pledge sisters passed away in 2000 after a 4-year battle with brain cancer (she was 25 at the time) and was buried in her badge. She'd left specific intstructions for her family...she was also buried with her lavalier and a sailboat necklace, as well as a charm bracelet with a sailboat on it from her lil sis!

sailboatgirl, that is such a heart-wrenching story. I nearly cried. It is so awful to lose a sister so young, but is so amazing to be able to see that she held your organization is such high regard. I hope her actions are practiced with more greeks around the world.

In my organization we are to buried with it (which I plan on doing), will it to someone, or return it to Nationals. I think the most important thing you can do to ensure the safelty of your badge is to tell those that are close to you how much it means to you and the signifigance the organization has had on your life. The reason I feel so many badges are on ebay is not because they were stolen or not cared for. I think that the people who took care of the arrangements for the funral, memorial service, etc. overlooked this important wish because they perhaps were not a greek member and did not know that this was such and important request.

Unless non-greeks know how important the badge is to the deceased greeks, they will not take such care to see it go to it's proper place!

As for my GLO, we are to be buried with our badge, leave it to a legacy, or send it back to our Executive Offices.

Zeta Tau Alpha
 

In ZTA we're supposed to do one of the following with our badge:

1) be buried with the it
2) return it to National
3) pass it down to a legacy daughter or grandaughter
4) leave it to a relative who will keep it safely and not sell it