Aloha GreekChat Gang!
What a great discussion... and I'm so glad to see everyone concerned about their badges and the badges that appear on ebay! It truly is a sad thing to see such a cherished symbol of our Fraternity for sale to the public... especially when they come attached to special honors. It's hard to prevent sisters from dumping their own unwanted badges when they develop "issues" with Alpha Gam. However, keeping in the positive... we can prevent our own precious badges from ending up in estate sales and on ebay by taking the time out to familiarize our loved ones with our Fraternity policy and our wishes.... bury me with it or send it back! Encourage your sisters to do the same!
Being the crazy Alpha Gam that I am... my family is well aware of what I want done with my badge... and I plan to leave them further instructions for all the other Alpha Gam stuff I'm managed to "collect." No estate sales for my stuff. They'll be donated to fellow sisters that will appreciate them as much as I did
As for current sisters purchasing badges off of ebay for their own use... good for you! Few things make me happier than knowing these badges are out of the hands of collectors or non-members and are in new homes with loving sisters. I recently passed on to Sandy one of my ebay rescues. If I'm not mistaken, she is now wearing the pearl badge of a sister initiated back in 1946? Can you think of a more loving sister than our dear oohteenywahine?
Aloha loyally,
Mai Ly