What do I do if I find a badge on ebay?
If you find a badge on ebay, please contact the Crescent Catchers at the email listed below. If the badge is one that the group is going to bid on, they do not want other Gamma Phi’s bidding on it as well to drive up the price.
How do I get in touch with the Crescent Catchers to contribute to the cause?
The Crescent Catchers can be contacted at
GPhiBBadges-owner@yahoogroups.com. They are always looking for additional contributors to the cause!
Who do I contact if I lost my badge?
Please contact the Crescent Catchers at
GPhiBBadges-owner@yahoogroups.com. Be sure to provide your name, contact information and a brief description of the badge. In addition, if the badge has been stolen be sure to contact your local police department. In the event of a burglary, it is imperative that you keep the police case number (and report) in a secure location where it can be easily located in the event that the badge later turns up on ebay. The official police report will be necessary in order to convince ebay to end the auction.
What do the Crescent Catchers do with the badges that they recover from secondary markets?
The first thing the Crescent Catchers do when they find a badge on ebay is attempt to contact the original owner. If the original owner cannot be found, has passed away, or does not want the badge then we make a decision on whether to bid on the badge or not. Unfortunately, we do not have the resources to purchase every badge that we find on a secondary market so we prioritize our purchases.
The Crescent Catchers bid on those badges that are deemed to be “historically significant” by International Council for donation to the Foundation Museum. The money spent to recover these badges comes from donations by the individual members of the group.
The Foundation will give members an IRS tax receipt for badges donated to the Museum. The value of the badge needs to be determined by the donor and/or donor’s personal tax preparer. The Foundation will give “soft credit” for the amount paid for the badge and it will be credited as an “In Kind Gift” but will not be reflected in the member’s annual giving levels.
What is “historically significant”?
The following are the current criteria of a historical badge as determined by International Council:
• Badges produced prior to 1945
• A collegiate chapter charter member
• All jeweled badges
• Grand Council and International Council badges
If the badge is not produced before 1945 or a Grand Council/IC badge at least two of the above criteria must be met.
I lost my badge and would like to replace it. Do I need to go through our official jeweler to do it?
No, you do not. Replacement badges can be purchased from the stock of badges that International Headquarters has on hand that have been returned by members who have resigned their membership in Gamma Phi Beta. When a member purchases one of these badges, it will be sent to the jeweler to be polished and re-engraved with the member’s name and information. Contact Member Services at International Headquarters for more information. In addition woman who are joining Gamma Phi Beta as Alumna Initiates are eligible to purchase their badge through this process.
I am a new member, can I purchase my initial badge from the stock of returned badges at International Headquarters or in a secondary market like ebay?
No, all new members must purchase their initial badge from the stock of new badges being offered by the official jeweler unless they have received special permission to wear the badge of a relative.
I want to have a Badge PACE for my chapter, where can I get information?
At this time, official information for a PACE program is being developed by the member –at-large department. Once it has been developed, it will be distributed to all chapters for their use. Prior to that time, no PACE program is to be given to the chapter.
My mother/aunt/grandmother/other female relative has passed away, what should I do with her badge?
A member’s badge is to be returned to International Headquarters upon her death, unless it is being kept for a potential legacy.
What should be done with my badge upon my death?
A member’s badge is to be returned to International Headquarters upon her death, unless it is being kept for a potential legacy. All members should have a stipulation to this effect in their will so that their family will know their intentions. The Crescent Catchers have developed a form that can be sent to any member that will very easily list the member’s wishes.
Are members supposed to return their badges upon termination of their membership?
Yes, the badge shall be retained by the member as long as international disciplinary action (international probation, suspension or expulsion) or resignation of membership does not occur. At such time that international disciplinary action or resignation occurs, the badge will be returned to International Headquarters. When a collegiate chapter member resigns, or has her membership terminated, it is imperative that the chapter representatives make all possible efforts to retrieve the badge from the woman.
It is my badge, why can’t I sell it on ebay if I resign from the organization?
Gamma Phi Beta policy states that members are expressly forbidden from selling membership badges at any time through any means, including but not limited to electronic auction houses.
If you have additional question, please contact the Crescent Catchers at
GPhiBBadges-owner@yahoogroups.com