Which one symbol would you choose? HELP!
 

I'm trying to make a little money this next year and decided to use a skill I learned in the summer. In a nutshell, I'm making stones with each organization's greek letters carved into them. But since I'm only in Kappa Kappa Psi, it would be nice to have some other input from other GLO's.

Here's what I have so far...

Kappa Alpha Psi - scroll w/ Phi Nu Pi
Alpha Phi Alpha - Pharoh head
Phi Beta Sigma - Dove
Iota Phi Theta - Centaur
Omega Psi Phi - ? maybe a lamp? or sword? lighting bolt? trying to stay away from the dog though, only because I don't want the stone to look cartoony in any way. But I could draw it differently if that's the only thing any one can think of.

Alpha Kappa Alpha - Ivy Leaf
Delta Sigma Theta - Elephant
Sigma Gamma Rho - Poodle
Zeta Phi Beta - Siamese Cat (suggested by a Sigma)

It would also be nice if other NIC members and NPH members chimed in.

If you go into at least some of the NPC groups, I think that you are going to have to try to get official permission because they have product licensing rules and contracts.

But I don't know for sure.

This holds true for pretty much all organizations. But if he/she is careful about how it is presented and done, it shouldn't be an issue. For example, putting a dove on a stone, not a big deal. Putting a scroll with Phi Nu Pi on a stone ... probably an issue.

I'm not really sure of all the licenseing rules, but my suggestion is to follow DSTRen's advice. Put the symbols on there, but leave the letters off.

Although, I do think it would be appropriate to have examples with all of the symbols and let people know that you can add letters on at their request, and do it on an "order" basis. Like I said, I'm not sure of the licensing rules, but being that we make our own paddles and picture frames, etc with letters, so I don't see how requesting someone put letters on something with your symbol on it would violate that.:confused:

I'm pretty sure that my own org. draws a line at making a profit on the item. So, although any member can make lettered items, even a member shouldn't sell them at a profit to other members without the license.

And we're discouraged from buying items that don't have the official licensing or whatever from IHQ if I remember correctly.

But of course, nobody owns generic images of roses, squirrels, or pearls. But if it's clear that the list is one of Greek organization symbols, it would seem lame and not-quite-above-board to me not to seek the licensing.

confused a little
 

didn't think of the licensing stuff, i'll have to look more into that...

this is the stone i carved already. of course, removing KAY wouldn't be difficult, to avoid licensing issues, but that would sort of take the effect away. should i call the national headquarters? http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/350/photo13tz7.jpg

Nice work.

If you want to sell it at a profit, you probably should.

National/International HQ for each org should have contact info for who to talk to regarding licensing information. Good luck!

(I do think that stones with just the symbols but without the letters would look nice, tho'.)

Nice concept and I like it.:)

Not sure of the license issues with just the name though.

If you do have to, I think it is at least a 10 % fee.

But I am sure if you check, it will give you a better idea of name usage.

But hard to license greek letters. They have been around for a while!:D

okay now back to my original question, are the symbols mentioned at the beginning okay? and what about the omegas?

I would talk to active members of these organizations to be sure of what symbol is most popular or preferred, but for us the poodle (doesn't matter what type, big or small) is definitely the way to go. You could also customize by taking orders. Some members will prefer one symbol over another and I believe that all of the NPHC orgs have other symbols besides the ones that are most popular. Good luck!

The Pharaoh head for Alpha would be just fine.

I had to admit, this is the most unique Greek idea I've seen in quite a long while.

Personally, I like the stone with all the letters on it. Also, personally while I think that by removing Phi Nu Pi off the scroll, it loses an essential aspect of it's "flavor", so to speak, I don't know if the inscription Phi Nu Pi is trademarked. By the same token, I also don't want to see you in a jam over a misunderstanding, so perhaps an inquiry to our IHQ would be the best thing to do, especially if you trying to make $$ off these stones.

Good luck on the sale of your stones.

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/6999/photo22eg9.jpg



http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/7695/photo25py5.jpg

these are two other stones, more are coming, hope an omega sees this thread soon...

Can the stones be painted? A black or gold one would be hottttt.

oh yes i forgot to mention that these are the originals, the actual stones i plan to sell will be made of concrete then painted to coincide with the colors of each organization. painting these is the hardest thing. i want them to look as if they were buried in the ground for a VERY long time. I've been thinking up some ideas for each, i'll keep you guys posted. and who knows? i might give ya'll a discount. :)

I don't know which NPCs you're looking to do, but I have a suggestion if you're looking at doing ASA...

Every vendor (besides eBay where they're trying to sell random junk) uses the ladybug as our symbol. It's not official, and there are some holdout chapters that still don't use it. My suggestion is to go with the palm, phoenix, star and/or four-pointed crown, as on our badge (the 4 point crown looks like it only has three points, because #4 is hidden directly behind the middle point).

For licensing info (including an application for licensing), check out GreekLicensing.com. It seems to provide licensing for many if not most NPC and NIC/former-NIC groups. It would be a good start at least.

Oh, and for Phi Mu Alpha, I would suggest either a lyre (or harp) or an equilateral triangle. A cat is another possibility, but not just any cat design would do. It would have to conform to some of the historic depictions (which I assume are trademarked) for it to be recognizable as the Mystic Cat.

I would suggest a pyramid for Delta. The elephant carving may look kind of funky.

I think the Omegas may like the lightning bolt.


Good luck in getting around the licensing issues. This is really serious so you should proceed with caution.

Gamma Phis might like those too...

After all, we are "Founded Upon a Rock.":)

Ditto. Gamma Phi Beta's symbol would be a crescent moon - waxing, not waning...

can a sister get a Tau Beta Sigma stone? :) I love your work!

Good call!

Exactly...the points of the crescent should be pointing to the left, as seen in our crest:

http://members.aceweb.com/navane/ima...orCrest_lg.jpg

http://www.umaine.edu/greek/database...%20Epsilon.jpg Our founder's badge rocks the house. :] Great work with these stones, I think they look terrific!

yo, instead of the dove for Sigma, do 3 stars. i mean, i just thought it was PBS on the stone and nothing else...i didnt even notice the dove.

1. yeah the dove is much more visible in real life trust me on this.

2. figured out all the licensing stuff. thanks for all your help!

3. to my Frat and Soros out there, ya'll are definitly getting a rock made, I just gotta make it perfect, kinda hard to narrow it down to only one symbol when I am around all of them all the time, but it's coming! AEA!

4. talked to an omega... he said going with the bulldog, in the same style as the pharaoh would sell excellently.

5. he also suggested i put the founding year on each of the stones, I personally think it's overkill, but what do you guys think?

You know what would be kinda cool stylistically? Is to put the founding year as like an exponent for the GLO right next to the end of the name. That way it's subtle, but a nice touch

DAMNNNNNNNNNNN :eek::eek:

Would you be interested in making stones for MGC orgs as well?

It would be really cool to see lambda phi epsilon on a stone with a dragon next to it!! :D
I'd definitely buy it

Given that you want the stones to look like they've been buried " for a VERY long time," I'd leave founding dates off. I think you're probably right, too, that its overkill/clutter.

i like having the founding year on there...but thats my personal opinion...and the 3 stars is what i'd like if i was gettin a stone...the dove is over done...IMHO