Just So Frustrated...!!
 

I know this sentiment has been expressed by greeks in almost every forum here, but I just had to vent. I recently moved and cannot find my pin. I have looked everywhere, but cannot find it, and it was a gorgeous one--emeralds with pearl points. (sigh).

I am now an advisor and active in my alumni association, and have occasions when I want and need to wear a pin---besides, I have had a KD pin since 1974, and just WANT one.

I have been watching and bidding on pins on ebay, but always seem to lose out to deep pockets collectors.

There is now a pin on ebay from my own beloved chapter, and it is an early one--number 332 in a chapter founded in 1919, so I figure it must be from the late 30's. (I was initiated in the mid '70s and was in the high 1200's). I especially love it, not only for its history and connection with my chapter, but because it is the type most of my sisters had--all pearls with emerald points.

I have been waiting till the end to bid, however, it is already very high. The current high bidder's recent purchases include a Sigma Sigma Sigma badge, a Delta Gamma Badge, AOII items, Gamma Phi items.... well, you get the picture. Nothing anyone can do, but it is very frustrating to see a piece of history from my own chapter go to someone who just wants to acquire greek items from a variety of chapters.

Oh well. Bidding ends in three hours, so we will see. Wish me luck!

I hope you get it! However, if you don't, maybe you can find solace in the idea that this person bidding may simply come from a great big Greek family. Maybe he or she is buying pins and memorabilia for his or her daughter, niece, granddaughter, etc. Just a thought... :) Good luck!

Hmm, I have lots to say about this but I don't know where to begin.

Katmandu, I'll just send you a PM so I don't have to edit my thoughts.

I hate to hear about the loss of your pin, Katmandu. Good luck with your search on eBay. I'll PM you with an eBay-er's name you might want to avoid... here's an odd story for you:

A couple years ago I looked to eBay to buy a jeweled pin. Mine is plain, and I'd always wanted one with a little more pizazz to it. I found a beautiful pin on eBay and was the high bidder - yay!

When the package arrived in the mail, I was so excited. I couldn't wait to wear my new pin. I opened it and, instead of a beautiful jeweled KD pin, a Tri Sigma pin was inside the box. I emailed the eBayer I bought it from and explained what had happened. The response, "Uh-oh. I must've sent the KD pin to the purchaser of the Sigma pin. I'll see what I can do."

The person who ended up with the KD pin didn't want to return it. The eBayer offered to pay me back if I returned the pin, but I felt like the Sigma pin deserved a better home than what that eBayer could provide. So, I have a Sigma pin.

I recently got a jeweled KD pin like I had wanted, so the story has a happy ending (for me). I'm still in the process of finding a home for the Sigma pin. Oddly enough, one of my former roommates was a Sigma. I'm hoping she can find it a proper home, but I haven't been able to reach her for a long time. :(

Sorry, but no it's most likely a collector. Recent Gamma Phi badges have only been purchased by either Crescent Catchers returning a badge to IH (and hence the person wouldn't have those other purchases) or collectors who beat us out.

Does Kappa Delta sell refurbished pins to members? That's how I replaced my badge when it was stolen. Check with headquarters.

Hey, I was just trying to be optimistic! :) If you dwell on the negatives, you're just going to get angrier. It stinks that people do this, when individuals from those organizations would love to have those badges.

You should check with your HQ...some of them will reimburse you for the purchase of a pin off of ebay to get it off of ebay.

Oh my Gosh, that's a strange story about the Sigma Badge! I'm sure you will find the right person for it. Perhaps some new member whose finances are tight--it would be a blessing to her!

Thanks for understanding everyone. Didn't mean to sound like a cranky old lady, even though that's pretty much what I am. I did get the badge I was bidding on, but paid entirely too much for it, and in the end, I think I was bidding against another KD, as I believe the collector dropped out, so hope I didn't ruin a sister's dream. However, I am glad I was able to get an early pin from one of my own chapter sisters. She would have been initiated about 950 sisters before me--I think in the late 30s.

On the positive side, collectors and traders prevent these pins from being melted down for scrap, which is good. And, I have to admit, pins from other organizations, especially some of the mysterious locals, are absolutely beautiful. I have drooled over recent listings of vintage AOII and Kappa badges, (one Kappa pin was obviously made by hand, and had size and design differences from modern badges) and there are some amazing Zeta badges out there---turquoise, opal...lovely! So I can certainly understand the lure, especially if someone is panhellenically minded, or as kathykd said, a member of a large greek family.

I still want to get an all emerald badge or one with pearl/diamond points like the one I lost, but now that I have a replacement, perhaps it will turn up!

Happy hunting to all Crescent Catchers and Keepers of the Key and to all who surf ebay and estate sales in the hopes of finding something special!

Katmandu....I also lost my pin. :( But here's to hoping for an upgrade for Christmas! ;-)
(And that your pin shows up) O:)

I don't know...if it's this recent crap that HJGreek's been turning out, I think I'd rather have my pin melted down than in the hands of a collector. My new pin I got from them is pretty much crap. The clasp doesn't work and the enamel doesn't look good. :mad: Now, if it was one of the older ones with the letters, crown and star actually engraved into the badge, I'd rather that not get destroyed.

I have no love of HJGReek. I received my pin (plain one) when Balfour was our official jeweler and was told it was 14K. The next year, they started giving 10K with the initiation dues. I bought a beautiful pin on e-bay in spring with all pearls. It is small, and very old (around the early '30's). My badge backing with the open back are due any day now. Can't wait to see how they look with my antique pin. I did not want the one with the solid back as you have to send you badge to them so that they can fit the holes properly and I don't trust them to get my same badge back.

DaffyKD

There is currently a badge on e-bay - it has 6 days left, so I'm just going to watch it.

you can buy badges from HQ
 

You can buy "used" badges from KD HQ. I did that about 10 years ago. My badge was stolen when my parents' house was burglarized (I was out of the country).

I've also bought a few badges on ebay... & now I have a little collection. But nothing like some of those professional badge collectors have.

What department did you contact?

I never have much luck getting a response to anything.....even when they have me mixed up with another initiate 10 years earlier than me!

I would love to see if there is one that is similar to the one I have lost.

Ooo how do I do this?! I LOVE the all pearl one on eBay right now. I started watching it right after it went up. That's the kind I'm hoping for -- all pearls. Unfortunately, I've yet to stop and buy one brand new. I had the emerald and pearl one that my mom bought me when I initiated, but it was lost during a move over two years ago now. :(

contact HQ
 

Either call HQ at 800-536-1897 or email kappadelta@kappadelta.org. You'll probably do best w/ a phone call.

I believe it's the Foundation who handles the badge reselling, but don't quote me on that.

Can I just say that I'm SO tired of non-KD "collectors" buying KD badges on eBay just to resell at higher prices. It's SO frustrating!!!

I agree with how frustrating it is to see random "collectors" buying something that is so important to me. I have a problem with people selling the pins on ebay in general. I was taught at my chaper that when an initiated member no longer has a need for her pin (death, getting a new pin, etc) she is supposed to send her pin to headquarters. I was browsing on ebay the other day and I found a "pin mold", which was pretty much what the jewlers use to make badges. In the describtion of the item the seller made a point of saying you could use this to make your own badge and that it would work as a stationary stamp. This completely blew my mind. It was so obvious that this seller was not a KD because if they were they would know that the design of the badge can not be used on stationary... ever.
Sometimes it breaks my heart to see an woman's child or relative selling her pin with no reguard for what it might have meant to her. When I was pinned for the first time at my initiation I was pinned with my older sister's badge and it was a great experience. It would be amazing if alumnae would will their pins back to their chapter or to headquarters. Just think of being pinned with your chapter's founding sister's badges, that would be a great moment.

I know it doesn't happen as often as it should, and this mybe a KD "urban legend" but it was my understanding that your pin was to be buried with you or returned to headquarters upon you passing to the Chapter Eternal. I bought a pin from the KD Foundation several years ago to pass down to my "little sister" in a recently colonized chapter in my state. She was to pass it down to her little and so on and on. I know headquarters will help it your search for just the right pin and your helping the Foundation as well.

I was always told that, too. I don't think it's an urban legend. As I recall, I believe it is expressly stated in our bylaws. I'll have to check on that, however. Remember ladies: we have to keep in mind that if these sisters' family members don't know these traditions, they will just sell the pin and other KD memorabilia to the highest bidder, or give it away. We'd like to think that all of our sisters tell everyone they know about how wonderful our sisterhood is, but in reality, sometimes that is not always the case. Many women don't discuss or stay involved with KD after graduation, and that's a true shame.

Side note on the "Badge going back to National Headquarters" at the time of death. Here it is:

"All badges are the property of Kappa Delta Sorority. The national initiation fee shall include payment for a life lease of a plain badge." -Article XIII--Insignia and Customs

So, that tells you that yes, while you payed for your pin, the pin is technically still owned by the sorority, and it should be returned or buried with the member when she dies.

More information about this topic from this month's Angelos:

"When a new member is initiated into Kappa Delta, she receives from the sorority a plain badge, which is hers to wear for a lifetime (as long as she does not resign or have her membership terminated), but the final ownership remains with the sorority. The badge of a deceased member may be buried with her, given to another Kappa Delta in her family, returned to her collegiate chapter to be used as a commemorative badge, or returned to National Headquarters" (20).

The cover story is about the history of our beautiful badge! :)

Kathy,

When did you get your Angelos? I haven't gotten one for a while (figured the Winter one is due anytime now). Have not see anything about the badges.

AOT
DaffyKD

I got mine yesterday! :) It's the Winter 2008 issue. You'll get it soon!!!

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...er20080001.jpg

>>>Look for it! :) Copyright by Kappa Delta Sorority

It arrived today!!!

DaffyKD

Yeah! :)

I still haven't received mine! I really want to read about the history of the badge. Here's hoping it comes soon.

Sad to say, I have lost my jeweled badge somewhere in the move. :(:(:(


I"m hoping it will turn up.

I did call HQ, to ask about replacing my pin, and they referred me to HFJones, along with the lady I'm supposed to speak to.


If anyone has the name of someone at HQ with info about buying the older badges, please let me know.

It's sad, because I really am missing my badge, and I wasn't able to wear it to a chapter event recently.

Yes, that was the answer I received a month or so ago as well. I guess they don't get them in very often.

Good luck.

out of badges!?
 

Trying again & check with the Foundation. Nancy Church is the lady's name..I believe she's still running it. I spoke to her this past summer.