AGD Badge on eBay
 

Hello sisters.

It came to my attention this morning that there is a badge up for auction on eBay. You can find the page here: http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI...tem=1136258261 It is a crown pearl w/ Tiffany pearl badge.

The bidding started today at $40, but unfortunately the seller has set a reserve price. Thankfully, the current bidder is a student from Tarleton, and I know we have a chapter there. I hate seeing our badges fall in wrong hands!

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"Talk doesn't cook rice."--Someone smart

Visit Alpha Gamma Delta-Delta Sigma chapter and help some sisters out!

That makes me soooo mad!!! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/mad.gif I HATE it when that happens. Does IHQ have some sort of reclaimation policy? I know Delta Zeta's natl does. It's gorgeous, I just hope it falls into a sisters hands and not some jerk just trying to get a pretty pin for his 3 year old daughter to play with or some crap!!! GRRRRRRR!!!!!

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Katey, ZA chapter of AGD
"Could I have been anyone other than me?"-Dave Matthews

Hi. I've seen up to five or six AGD badges on e-bay at a time. I wrote to IHQ to tell them and forwarded the ads for the badges as well. Their reply to me was they will send the seller an "official" letter stating the badge is the property of AGD. A few days later I several more badges on ebay for sale. Couldn't we possibably purchace the badges and send them to IHQ? Could IHQ reimburce us for it? I read about other situations like this going on in other greek orgs. Many of the orgs. reimburce their members for sending in lost and found (i.e. ebay) badges in to their headquarters. Anyway, could we possibly do the same? Lisa

[This message has been edited by Lisa Fishman (edited April 19, 2001).]

[This message has been edited by Lisa Fishman (edited April 21, 2001).]

Lisa,

I am all for that idea, and my chapter advisor agrees. My chapter advisor is an eBay addict, and she constantly bids on historic AGD items (i.e. songbooks, Rose Ball dinner programs, etc.), so she is constantly on the prowl for badges also. Her rampant bidding on AGD items prompted an email from Penny Edmonson of IHQ. Penny just wanted to make sure that my advisor was really an AGD!

If I had the finances I'd purchase the badges myself. It's so difficult to determine whether or not the highest bidder is an AGD, but usually if they're not, we can tell by their items in their feedback.

I don't think that IHQ has a policy about reiumbursement. However, now that eBay's becoming a national favorite pastime, I think they should. Sellers these days are just out to make a quick buck. Since badges are the property of fraternities and sororities, I think there should be laws regarding the sales of any fraternity and sorority badges!

Selling badges on ebay does disturb me. One of the things that bothers me is that sellers often do not know what organization the badges come from. See ebay item number 581710919. The seller writes that she thought it was Alpha Delta Rho or Alpha Delta Pi. We should start an e-mail writing campaign to let the sellers know who the badges actually belong to. I'm not really sure how often IHQ looks at ebay. Hope everyone had a great IRD!

Wow! I just saw I'm finally a GC Senior Member! Lisa

OohTeeny, if you noticed, on that particular badge, there wasn't anything engraved so it COULD have been a copy and not necessarily a real AGD badge.

Leslie,

I went back to that link and you're right. There isn't any writing on the back.

My badge doesn't have any writing on it either, just the two cherished symbols. I'm thinking of getting it engraved during Convention since Burr & Patterson will be there.

There is another badge up for auction now, but I'm not too worried about that one. My chapter advisor's been the highest bidder and it's been that way for 4 days now. I'm crossing my fingers that she wins the auction!

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"Stress is toxic. It's a poison that makes me wanna throw up."--Me, on the aftermath of the UHPA Professors' strike

Visit Alpha Gamma Delta-Delta Sigma chapter and help some sisters out!

from the picture, it didn't even look like it had our symbols engraved in it (that's why i said it might be a copy) but it could have just been blurry.

Heads up! Yet another badge up for auction! http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI...tem=1143976252

I just hope that the highest bidder is an AGD. I did a search on the auctions she's won and they're mostly cookbooks...so I'm going to guess that she's not a badge dealer.

What pissed me off big time was how the seller described our badge guards. He called em "charms"...the nerve!!!

Sorry AGD ladies...I found a badge on Ebay today... BOO HISS!! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/frown.gif

The Badge:
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI...tem=1165270314

not sure what this is, but it has the AGD crest on it...
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI...tem=1165907265

Did we ever figure out if IHQ would reimburse us for buying the pin off e-bay and sending it back to them? That makes me so sad to see our badge on E-Bay. Hmm.

LIEP,
Emily

Hey ladies!

When you come across the highest bidder in an auction for and AGD badge, don't hesitate to email them!

Usually, the most avid AGD bidders have "AGD" somewhere in their username to signify membership. If they don't, take advantage of eBay's email system so you can find out if they're really an AGD and if so, where they're from...so you can have some peace of mind. I've met 10+ sisters already who are very into rescuing our badges.

However, there are users who are very rude and obnoxious when it comes to emails. Then there are those who are notorious for bidding on multiple NPC/IFC/NPHC badges (skidmarks, betapifiji). Then there are members of other GLOs that bid on our badges (you can tell by their username or About Me page). Luckily for us, most of them will cancel their bid if we politely ask them to.

As far as IHQ goes, they still haven't come up with a policy regarding badge rescuing. It's unfortunate that money comes out of our members' pockets to rescue these items, but that's the way it is..and it will probably be this way for a while. I know that IHQ makes every effort possible to return rescued badges to their rightful owners whenever possible.

Do remember that IHQ does carefully monitor the auctions!

Thanks for watching the auctions, ladies!

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A single seed...becomes a Rose of incredible beauty.

A single grain of sand...becomes a Pearl of great worth.

A single great idea...becomes a Century of success.

Go Alpha Gam!

Or, they could be AGD mom's!!! My mom buys a lot of vintage AGD stuff, so if you see a cccasagal(or someting like that) she's not AGD, but her daughter is!!
I explained to my mom the whole issue of badges being AGD property, so now she tries to bid(if it doesn't get too high) because even she doesn't want them to fall into the wrong hands! She should have been an AGD!!

Your mom sounds great! Have you and she talked about her becoming an alumnae initiate? She could buy her own badge on ebay (just joking!)

Ebay 1165270314 is from Gamma Rho which is now inactive. I emailed Fran, the Area F Coordinator who lives in Savannah.

I don't want to join ebay right, but I hope IHQ does something about the badges.

I noticed the badge as well today. I would think that IHQ would do something about it. I bid on a song book - and I think all the other bidders are alpha gam, but if not - I want that to stay in the AGD family. It doesn't seem fair going to someone one who doesn't know really what we are all about.

Kristen

I decided to resurrect this old post of mine because I saw something quite astonishing on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI...tem=1032770423

The description says that it includes the "Iota" chapter guard, but chapter guards don't have DIAMONDS & PEARL. So I'm assuming that the badge has the Arc with Diamonds and & Pearl--one of the Honors of Epsilon Pi. Am I correct?

Does our new member ed books have pics of the Honors of EPi jewelry? I remember seeing it somewhere.

Maybe our more "experienced" alums can tell us.

Never seen a "so-jeweled" chapter guard before.

I have something different- a armorial bearing guard...I love being unique.

Sandy, unfortunately I think you may be correct! :mad:

the whole "iota" chapter guard is why i'm bidding on it, i'd actually like to keep the badge, but IHQ deserves to get the arc back and lock it up.

marissa

A little investigation- refering to the fraternity education manual, the "iota" we are looking at is the highest out of the four Arc of Epsilon Pi awards.

"There are presently four Arcs of Epsilon Pi, given for outstanding service to an undergraduate or alumnae chapter, to an alumnae club, to a Province, to the International Fraternity, or a combination of such service.

The Arc requires service of not less than five years. Subsequent Arcs- the Arc with Diamond, the Arc with Diamonds, and the Arc with Diamonds and Pearl- require additional service of at least six years between receipt of the Honors. For example, the Wearer of the Arc with Diamonds and Pearl has given a minimum of twenty three years of service."

Holy Pearls!
 

I would think that VERY FEW ever get that one so it would be easy to track down the "wearer".

I wonder if it was lost, stolen or accidently gotten rid of by heirs.

I know that I was surprised to get my Arc. AGD doesn't publish stats on how many were nominated for the various Honors. Sisters aren't supposed to know if they were even nominated, but it's probably not true in a lot of places, for various reasons.

Even after I got my Arc, I asked to read my nomination and was told, "No Way, lol".

I hope that there is an update here or in the Quarterly about who the badge was issued to and how it ended up on ebay. :)

It looks like it is an Honor of EPi. On ebay it says the badge is engraved Ill. Wesleyn Univ. which is Xi chapter. Univ. of Washington is Iota. It would have a Xi chapter gaurd.

Ok, I know that about IHQ's policy about not buying badges off Ebay but do any of you think they'd make an exception in this case???

I just hope that whoever gets it doesn't have the nerve to actually wear it. :rolleyes: It really belongs to IHQ.

On that new annual membership fee for alumni. . .
I would definetly religiously pay my fee yearly if I knew that part of the proceeds went to get back those badges!

Perhaps this is a success story that the new Exec could do something about.

We should all petition by writing a letter and having it signed by as many sisters as we can get to sign.

I wonder what they procedures are for something like that?

i'm currently winning that stupid auction (for 102.50. ouch) but gosh darn if i didn't check out the seller's other auctions, he's got one heck of a collection of NPC pins that he's selling. i bet we're not the only irked sorority. i just wish i knew who the pin belonged to so that i could find out if she's still alive. ah well. hope i can win this one. it's just wrong having a 23 year achievement being sold. ihq needs that.

marissa

Unfortunately, there are quite a number of people out there that collect NPC and other fraternal pins. Why they would want to is beyond me. Sometimes they resell on ebay or a site. Here's an example:
http://www.vintagefraternitypins.com/

:P

I'm still confused as to why IHQ can't get these pins back, considering that our badges are IHQ's property. I realize actually pursuing lawsuits would be expensive, but you would think that IHQ telling these scumbags that they'll sue would probably scare some of them.

On a side note: when you are planning to bid on something (expensive) on ebay, wait until the auction is in it last few hours...otherwise, you just keep jacking the price up and will end up paying more for the item.

I'd say wait til the last few minutes. Usually when a person gets outbid, they get an email notification from Ebay and they get right back on and bid again.

There is a way to get past sitting there at the last minute and frantically, but I'll save that for a rainy day.

gash darnit. there's another pin for sale on ebay as of this morning. and that person has a big ole collection of NPC and IFC badges too. poopy heads. ehhhh.

I thought you all might be relieved to hear that I was the successful high bidder on ebay for the Alpha Gamma Delta Badge with the Arc with Diamonds and Pearl.

Once received, I will verify the name imprinted on the back and check with IHQ as to whether or not she has entered Chapter Grand. The badge will go to the member if she is still alive or IHQ if she is not.

I regularly "rescue" badges and other Alpha Gam memorabilia on ebay with the plan to first share the older items with my collegiate and alumnae chapters, so they may appreciate some physical items representing the history of our fraternity; and then to forward these items to IHQ, so they rest in the hands of the rightful owner... our Fraternity.

I bid as high as I can afford... this particular badge stretching the budget a bit.... but I couldn't imagine how the badge of a sister receiving such a high honor would find it's way to ebay. My guess was that it was lost or stolen because, if she had passed, surely the family of a sister who has devoted this much of her time to service her fraternity would know what do with her badge... right? I mean, I've only just received my arc, and my entire family knows what to do with me and mine... bury me with it.

Anyway... this is my gift to that special sister... to make sure her badge is in the proper hands.

I'll update you later as to which hands they are.

Loyally,

Mai Ly

@ @

I'm so glad to hear that this particular badge remained in the hands of an Alpha Gam.

BTW, welcome to Greek Chat, Mai Ly! Our little online circle is growing by leaps and bounds! You will love it here. :)

Bunches of roses to you!!

Please let us know what happens.

Aloha Everyone!

Just wanted to update you on the ebay badge with the arc with diamonds and pearl. The badge arrived this morning, and the inscription on the back was Hilda Ragan... 1930... Ill Wesleyan Univ. Using the sister search on our website, I learned that Hilda has entered Chapter Grand. Her badge must have been sold at an estate sale, which is really sad...especially considering she was such an honored sister.

I have contacted IHQ and will be sending them the badge this week.

It will be nice to know it's back "home."

Happy Holidays!

Loyally,
Mai Ly

That is wonderful of you. We were just chatting the other day and wondered what happened!

You're a Rose!:)

I got to see it!
 

Hi again ladies,

Mai Ly was so kind and gracious to bring the Badge w/ the Honors of Epsilon Pi attached to our Senior Farewell tonight. I've only seen the Arc and Arc with Diamond up close, so it was a real treat to be able to see the Arc with Diamonds and Pearl!

The back of the badge was even more of a treat. There was so much history to it...and I can't believe that it was sold to a non-AGD!

That's why I'm thankful to have wonderful sisters like my Chapter Advisor! Mai Ly to the rescue! :D

This is a really old thread, but I thought I'd share an email I received earlier this month regarding this badge:

Date: Dec 8, 2006 3:56 AM
Subject: Mai Ly?
To: info@greekimpressions.com


Hello,

Are you Mai Ly? A few years ago, did you "rescue" an AGD badge from eBay? One that had "Hilda Ragan, 1930?" inscribed on the back?

Hilda was my mother. She was born in 1908, and she died in 1989, in Bloomington, Illinois, where Illinois Wesleyan University is located. She was a proud graduate.

My brother and his wife settled her estate, and the badge must have been part of it. My mother was a loyal Alpha Gam throughout her life. Even as an elderly lady, she went to sorority functions all the time.

I'm very grateful to you for "rescuing" her badge. I came across the Internet site that mentioned what you did just today, by accident.

Thanks very much. It brought a tear to my eye. You too must be a loyal sorority sister.

Kent Gummerman
Austin, Texas

Wow, Mai Ly. That is just the icing on the cake. You must have felt so great after reading that email!

Cool!!

There is a Nu Chapter Founder's badge on ebay. I saw it last night. The starting bid was pretty high although no one had actually bid on it yet, lol