Alumni jewelry
 

How common is it for Alum officers to order jewelry dangles, or is this a collegiate thing? I know there is an alum president hammer for DG, for example, but I also see almus wearing their collegiate dangles, so I'm confused.

Marie

I think it depends upon the organization. In Alpha Phi I was *told* that once you graduate from college you are no longer supposed to wear a chapter guard or any dangles. I don't know that this is a rule per se, but rather is supposed to make it clear to collegiates that alumnae are all part of the same Fraternity, rather than focusing on collegiate chapter.

Laura

It definitely depends on the org...our 50 year members still wear chapter guards and collegiate dangles, if they have them.

Our members still wear their dangels as well. I never had one as a collegiate so aI got one when I become the Alumnae Chapter Pres. It could also be something as simple as not wanting to hassle with removing them. I know a lot of alumnae have guards and I would never remove mine.

Our alumnae are supposed to trade in their chapter guard for an anchor guard when they become alumnae. That is how i understand it anyhow... or maybe they are supposed to have an anchor dangle at least... i dunno that is how it kinda works... :)

A lot of alums don't wear many dangles ... just because they have a lot. I've noticed AXDs out here are less likely to have a chapter guard, whether they are alum or not, then they were back in Ohio.

Our alumnae can continue wearing their chapter guard and officer dangles, although I don't see it very often. Usually, the chapter guard is traded for the Honors of Epsilon Pi when the alumna starts to earn them. (One year down, 4 more to go for my Arc. ;))

What is the Honors of Epsilon Pi? If you can't answer that question, I understand and apologoze for asking. :)

It's recognition for years of service.

No, no, its perfectly fine to ask. :) The Honors of Epsilon Pi are awards given for dedicated and faithful service to Alpha Gam beyond what is properly expected of an alumna. Service can include advising a collegiate chapter, and/or serving as an officer for an alumnae chapter, club, or Junior Circle, and/or giving service to the International Fraternity.

The first honor of Epsilon Pi is the Arc, and you must give a minimum of five years of continuous service to earn it. There are five Arcs--the Arc, the Arc with Diamond, the Arc with Diamonds, the Arc with Diamonds and Pearl, and the Arc with Diamonds and Pearls. An alumna must serve at least six years between receipt of each honor. (For example, an alumna who wears the Arc with Diamonds has given at least 17 YEARS of continuous service.)

Past the Arcs, there are two Crescents given for outstanding service to the International Fraternity. Finally, the highest honor an Alpha Gam can recieve is the Circle of Epsilon Pi. I believe only 20 alumnae have received the Circle in almost 100 years of Alpha Gam's history. Petitions for this Honor must originate with and receive the unanimous approval of International Council and the (still living) Wearers of the Circle.

Whew, aren't you glad you asked? :)

I'm pretty sure we have several alumna on GC who are wearers of some of the Honors of Epsilon Pi.

Marie - When CDCs would come for visits, they would always wear their guards and dangles, but I don't know if they're an exception since they're working for DG and working with collegiate chapters. I've never heard any sort of rule on it though.

I give the concise answer, Maria provides the full detail ;)

Ahhh, the miracles of "cut" and "paste." ;) :D

WOW! I wasn't sure if this information was private so I was reluctant to ask at the risk of offending. I am glad that I asked and you answered. That is so interesting. What an incredible honor it must be to receive the Circle of Epsilon Pi! :)

That is very cool! I wish we did something similar. We do have pins given for years of membership, but they don't require quite as much on the part of the recipients.

FuzzieAlum, we also have pins for 25 and 50 year members. But the Honors of Epsilon Pi are a whole other ball of wax, LOL. Its a really wonderful way to recognize those alumna sisters who are toiling in the trenches to make Alpha Gam better.

And Cream, yes, it is an incredible honor to recieve the Circle. The sisters who wear it are treated like living legends--and to us, they are! Their dedication to Alpha Gam is inspirational.

I really like your honors of Epsilon Pi. We have honor badges based on office and a fifty-year pin. Our Foundation also recently started a program where young alums who donate get a much admired special ivy leaf pin.

Laura

Most of the alums who come to our initiations wear their chapter guards. They have the pretty, expensive pearled kind, too. :) So I guess it's fine to wear them--I plan on doing it. Besides, if I don't have my guard, where am I going to put my Alumna dangle?

There is an alum who wears the Circle of Epsilon Pi - can't remember her name right now - who always comes to our Michigan IRD celebrations...people flock to her like she is a celebrity. She is the sweetest little older lady! :)

I truly truly admire my sisters who wear an Honor! Esp. as you go "higher". I was blessed to receive the Arc a few years ago. I was working with a colllegiate and alumnae group at the same time. Since the nominations are secret, I wasn't allowed to read it, lol. (Darn;)

Since it was supposed to be a surprise, I missed the ceremony meeting b/c I had a 104 temperature. But, thankfully, they gave it to me later.

In Alpha Sigma Phi, the highest award an alumnus can receive is the Delta Beta Xi key. Only ten are awarded each year by the Grand Council, fewer than ten is pretty common. The Distinguised Service Award is pretty much the 'oak leaf cluster' of the Delta Beta Xi as it's only awarded to holders of the DBXi key for continued outstanding service to the fraternity.

Just out of curiousity, is there a place we can see a picture of the Epsilon Pi honors?

I can't speak for all Delta Zetas, but most of us continue to wear our chapter guard and our collegiate dangles. Also, we can get dangles for alumnae chapter offices and National creates new dangles to commemorate (sp?) the biannual Conventions.

Doesn't the word "dangle" look funny after you look at it for awhile?

Most of the Phi Betas I know have chapter guards. And many have dangles & a variety of other pins. I have a badge & chapter guard, but I've chosen not to include any dangels (as I am a minimalist about my jewelry).

I couldn't find any pictures online.

Dangle is a funny word....
 

...but I still wear my chapter guard and I have lots of stuff dangling from it -- you can even buy dangles that look like a paddle and say convention on it -- get one for each convention you attend -- then there is the pres gavel with A on it etc etc...smrtblnd is right in that it is a pain to move your badge and chapter guard etc -- plus I recently was awarded our Merit Roll award and it too is attached to my badge via a dangling chain! So I gots lotsa stuff dangling!:D

Our alum stuff is much more discrete. Could even wear it to the workplace.

http://www.mastersofdesign.com/image...t/img1-745.jpg

I think it really depends on the individual chapter. Mine stressed earning/wearing dangles. Other chapters never even think about it and are amazed when they see mine. My alumnae badge is almost full and I'm still working on it.

Our National Council officers get a torch as a guard to symbolize that they've given up their allegiance to just one chapter and now serve the whole Fraternity. They're allowed to wear it even after they're no longer national officers to show their past service.

I really like the Honors/Arc dangles. That is SO cool! We do have an honor ring that can be earned but you have to serve on some sort of natinoal level to get it and that is not easy to do. I received an alumnae service award last year and the big deal is that I get to wear an extra sticker on my name tag at conventions. Whoo! Some piece of jewelry to go along with that would be a lot more fun. ;)

to the best of my understanding, when KDs graduate, you can still wear your pin and guard but can also get your badge made into another piece of jewlery, such as mounted for a pendant. at alumni weekend, i met a KD who graduated in 1948 and she wears her badge as a ring! our national officers get special pins that have a dagger going through it.

You know I had the same question since I was planning on buying nore dangles when i go to conclave this summer...

AFAIK alum still wear the chapter guard. I do know that some alum still wear dangles too...I know dangles are even available for Alum chapter pres, alum VP, etc, so tehre must be other alum out there who wear dangles, it's just the only ones I remember came from my chapter...