There's more than one way to skin a cat...
Honestly, I cannot fault someone for being a collector. To a serious collector, whether you're a philatelist, a coin collector, etc., it's the history and uniqueness of a piece that gives it its worth (not its monetary worth). I can completely understand being intrigued by the rich history of greek life...I am myself, which is a big reason for participating on greekchat.
Having said that: why are these pins showing up in the first place? I doubt that it's due to desultory negligence on the part of members...but I do think it's because they make no arrangments for properly retaining/disposing of their badges/pins in the even of their passing.
It would take such a tiny, simple step to make sure that one's pin/badge stays within one's fraternity/sorority. Here are a few ideas that came to mind:
(1) Give the pin/badge to your national organization/chapter. A new member would appreciate the gesture.
(2) If there's a legacy in your family (child, grandchild, niece/nephew), consider passing it on to them when they initiate. (My best friend's dad did this...he's a LXA, and when my b.f.'s brother initiated LXA, their dad showed up out of nowhere and passed on his pin (or is it badge? Corbin, please clarify!).
(3) Make arrangments for it in your will, if you plan on keeping it for life.
Of course, all of this is based on the assumption that there aren't any special restrictions/instructions already in one's GLO on how to keep or pass on the pin/badge.
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equeen
A Lioness has her Pride!
@>--;--
Alpha Sigma Kappa - Women in Technical Studies