Quick question for Thetas
 

Pardon the crash, but I need some Theta wisdom :p. My sister is a new member of Theta. I'm SUPER excited that she joined and would really like to get her a small gift. However, I wasn't sure if you guys had restrictions on new members wearing letters or anything like that. I'd hate to accidentally get her a gift she can't use yet! Thanks a bunch!

In my day we could not wear letters until initiation. I believe that is still the case. Many new members wear "Theta" spelled out. I am sure that she will love whatever you choose. Congrats to her!

That is still the case.

You can also purchase items for her with "Kappa Alpha Theta" spelled out on it.

There is a great Greek store on Ludlow Avenue called Semesters. You can find them on Facebook. Locally owned and hand made items.

Yep, no letters until initiation. I'm coming across the same practice with my sister joining DG, so I'm buying her letters as an initiation gift.

Glad I asked then! The gift I had picked out (a super cute Theta wallet) has it written out, so I think I'm good! Next question...Would it be appropriate for me to possibly get her a nice jeweled Theta badge for Christmas? I know KD has pricier "blinged-out" badge options, as well as a simple, unadorned option for about $20. When I looked at (what appears to be) Theta's official jewler, it looks like the basic badge is $115. I would hate to buy her a second badge if she's already spent lots of money on her initial badge! So, I'm wondering 1) would it be appropriate and 2) do all newly-initiated members pay $115 for badges or is there a super secret Theta discount that makes them cheaper (and consequently my gift of the "blinged-out" badge much cooler :p) Any guidance you guys have would be greatly appreciated! Thanks a bunch :)

No super secret discount on badges, alas; those are the prices.

Let me check on the initiation badge cost/gold content and get back to you. If memory serves, that badge might be "gold-clad" or something of the sort, rather than 10K gold. The standard badge (listed at $115.00) on the official website is 10K gold, with options to upgrade to white gold or to 14K gold. I believe that the initiation badges are not 10K but I'm checking. I'd be surprised if they were, because the cost of the badge is covered in the initiation fees.

So if I'm understanding correctly, new initiates do not have to pay the full $115 for a badge because it's covered in the initiation fees? It's early and I'm still not totally functioning yet :)

When I was initiated WAYYY back when, the standard badge included in the initiation fee was not the 10K gold badge. It was something called Balclad, I think. The gold badge is much nicer and any additional bling is wonderfuL! I love the large crown badges... makes a really big difference.

i was just initiated and received a standard badge that was included in my initiation fees. i know i would personally love a "blinged out" badge for christmas, so i would think your sister would enjoy the same (:

Initiated ALREADY?! Wow, they do it so much faster than when I was in school at Ole Miss! Congrats!

Good to know! I'll have to start shopping. The Theta badges are so pretty! I love my own badge, but it's so fun to shop for something different once and a while!

ETA: And congrats on your initiation!! Welcome to Greek Sisterhood!

Sorry to crash but could you possibly just tell her that you are going to buy her a badge for Christmas (I know it ruins the surprise) and let her order it as her initiation badge? Although I'd love another badge... if Theta is anything like ADPi she wont have her initiaition badge before Christmas, even if she's already initiated. We initiated in October and got badges in March. So if she wont already have in ititial badge there would be no use for a second would there?

I'm not sure if its like it at all Theta chapters, but we had ours immediately at initiation.

yeah, we got ours at initiation; since they weren't engraved or anything personalized i'm thinking that makes it quicker to get them
& yes, i know, it was so soon! we're the first to finish our new member period out of all the sororities on campus, all the other new members (babies, pledges, whatever you want to call them) are jealous, especially the ones like theta that don't let you wear letters until then. thanks for all the congratulations!