Does anyone else do this??
 

So one night, couldn't sleep, I was online on ebay. I buy and sell a lot of things on ebay but I had never searched Phi Mu on ebay until this night and when I did I found about 5 badges for sale ranging between $70 - $250. Since then it's really been bugging me and I purchased two of them with the intent to return them to headquarters. I've been informed that the museum at headquarters is on a hunt for badges from all chapters, both active and inactive so that only fueled my fire. Has anyone else done this for our lovely Phi Mu?? I know there is a very large organization of Kappa Kappa Gamma's that do this - they are called "The keeper of the keys" and they have gotten press from the New York Times and other newspapers. Am I crazy? Please tell me someone else does this!!

Badges on Auction Sites
 

It is frustrating that badges show up on auction sites. However, the meaning and symbolic importance of the badge ultimately rests with the individual who wears the badge (for any organization). If they chose not to cherish its deeper meanings the same as I would, I would rather see them NOT wear it. Even to badge collectors, it has more meaning than to those would simply sell to the highest bidder.

Our museum is only seeking "significant" badges from all chapters. Ie, chartering years to say 5 years old. Otherwise, we have a few dedicated individuals who "rescue" badges, but not an organized group.

I believe (probably unpopularly) that the money spent doing "every badge rescue" could be better spent being donated to Foundation, through any of its very important works.

The problem with buying the badges on ebay is that it only encourages more people to sell the badges there. Of course, I don't know of any alternative.

I try to buy them if I can afford them. There is a phi pin on ebay right now that i'm trying to get, but it's out of my price range. I also try to buy t-shirts and other Phi Mu stuff just to keep it out of the hands of non Phi Mus.

You could go broke doing this! There's a TON of Phi Mu merchandise on eBay!

I've thought about rescuing badges, but they usually go out of my price range. One thing I would like to have (though I really can't place my finger on why) is an Alpha Delta Theta badge (merged with Phi Mu in 1933, I think--the date is from memory so may not be right).

When I was in college, I did take a weekly stroll through a local thrift store, and I found a plain ol' Alpha Phi badge from the chapter at my college. It was a quarter, so I bought it and returned it to the chapter. Other than that, though, I haven't actually rescued any badges.

I know some women at HQ buy some of the badges. If you go to Fratpin.com they have an Alpha Delta Theta badge. The thing about that place is that it is very expensive. I would love a Phi Mu badge with opals. That is my eventual goal!

Sorry for the hijack, but I would love a ZTA badge with opals! I think opals are just gorgeous!

No, def. don't be sorry. I know, I LOVE-LOVE-LOVE opals, but it is hard to find badges with them and HJ doesn't make badges w/ opals anymore (at least not for Phi Mu). Boo! I love the way opals look with saphires, though.

My mom's badge is opals with a sapphire in each point, fresh from the '60s. One of these days I'll sneak a picture of it to share on here. ;)

They don't make them for ZTA either. :( I also love how opals usually look sort of turquoise, which is one of our colors.

PS - hello from not to far away, Penn Stater! (I'm from Susquehanna)

Hey...my cousin graduated from Susquehanna University! She transferred from WCU. She is a DPhiE.

When did she graduate?