[AOII_LB93]

In response to your question about would it be wrong to wear the AOII badge beside the SAI badge, yes I would agree that that would be wrong inasmuch as our international policy states the following: “If it is worn with another pin, it is to be placed above it and to the right. No other pin, badge, insignia, such as a fraternity pin, Greek letter indicating the name of a chapter or a symbol denoting an office, may be attached to the badge in any way, whether by a chain or by hanging it on the fastener.”

I will try to put this in a way as not to cause controversy, which does not seem likely, but I will try, so here goes...To say that you find it rude/disrespectful that AOII is asking its members to wear their badge above others is in my opinion disrespectful of the organization as a whole and me as a member for you to be criticizing the guidelines of AOII for its members.

I don’t believe that AOII and my pledge to be a member of said organization is to be taken with a grain of salt, nor should a pledge to be in any organization. I am not saying that AOII is more or less important than another organization, just that much like all orgs, AOII has expectations as to how you wear your badge. It is a choice to wear a badge in the first place, and a choice that should not be entered into lightly for anyone. Nowhere on our website does it state that AOII is more important than any other organization, and nowhere does it state that your loyalties must lie only with AOII. Knowing Alpha Omicron Pi international’s guidelines for wearing our badge, I would be inclined to respect the wishes of my organization.

However...this does not negate being in another organization, but Christin (AOIIalum) had the best suggestion of all. Considering the conflicting ways to wear a badge between the two orgs, I would say to do it the way she suggested for SAI functions as then you would be respecting both. As for AOII functions, respect the wishes of AOII, and perhaps just wear a recognition pin for SAI. Not wearing the badge, but wearing the recognition pin still means that you are a member, and a good one that is respecting the guidelines of both of the orgs as a whole. Regardless of how one chooses to wear a badge, in situations like rituals, I would be inclined only to wear the one of the org that was having the ritual out of respect for the ritual, members and org.

Hopefully this is clear, and not too confusing as that was not my intent.

**edited because I found a typo**