Like Erin said, there isn't a whole lot that you can do about badges ending up on Ebay, other than educate, educate, educate. Lets make sure that our sisters know that when they pass on, their badge is either returned to the Fraternity or buried with them. Lets make sure that we fill out the Badge Disposition Form and that our families know what our wishes are regarding our Badge.
That having been said, I'm going to be controversial now but hear me out. I don't know if I want our alumnae pooling their money to save badges on Ebay. First, Ebay only sells a small fraction of the Alpha Gam badges on the market, so unless we get a national team of women scouring estate sales and pawn shops every week badges will still be out on the market. Second, I personally would rather see all the money spent saving badges go to the Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation where it can do some real good.
I love the badge and I love the fourteen pearls. But if you ask me, Alpha Gamma Delta is about more than a gold pin on your chest. It is about our traditions and ideals. It is about living our Purpose. That's what we should be focusing on.
There are many other truly important issues that we also need to be discussing as a Fraternity and as part of the NPC. Lets not get so bogged down on this one issue that we end up missing the forest for the trees.
Just my 19.04.
