Because I am an active alumna, I wear my insignia to work anytime the collegiate chapter is having a function that I am attending. I knew that I would get looks about it (especially since I'm the new girl) so I was pro-active. Both our collegiate and alum chapters support a local shelter for victims of domestic violence. We are always collecting toiletries and toys to send to the house for the ladies and children to use. So I sent an email to the entire company telling them about domestic violence - I gave facts and figures, emphasized the point that these toiletries would be the first possessions of these people in their "new" life, and asked for anyone who travels to collect the toiletries from their hotels and donate them. The response was overwhelming. Not only did I get toiletries, toys, and even cell phones for donations, but a co-worker came to me and revealed that she is a victim of domestic violence and that my email made her realize that she couldn't sit around and wait for him to finally kill her one day. I helped her get the necessary info and helped her get out in less than a week. It broke my heart that someone I see every day had such a horrible secret, but I am so happy that a little act on my part resulted in her being able to get out. I know there are people I work with that don't understand what being greek means, and that they probably couldn't give 2 cents that I am wearing my badge to work, but at least now they cannot say that we aren't doing something for the community.
There will always be idiots out there - that's evident from some of the people who post on here (and I don't just mean differing opinions :-)) it is our job to not tell them why they are wrong, but to show them through our deeds and our Bond to our organization.
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