Is collecting GLO pins right or wrong? Discuss.

[wptw]

Maggieaxid,

You may indeed be right in the case of your particular group. AXD does appear much more consistent than other groups when it comes to marking their badges (I almost always see either the name-date-chapter, or the membership code on quills).

I am quite experienced with badges and can always tell the difference between a manufacturer's serial number, a hallmark, a membership number and any esoteric engravings on the backs of badges. Believe me, a LOT of GLO pins have passed through my hands over the years and I would say nearly 50% of them have no identifying marks whatsoever. Especially the newer ones.

Do you know if your alumna sister's pin was given special treatment because of her tragic and untimely death? Do you think this really happens to every badge that gets returned to your HQ? Also, are you sure your HQ only used her badge ID to track her down? Her relatives must have sent it in along with some kind of letter of explanation. And finally (without actually asking a lady her age), how long ago was this? Within the last 10 or 15 years? Was this sister in the computerized database?

If I understood you correctly, the 2 badges you found are on display in your chapter house? That's great that they're being displayed. Now, if you had sent them to your HQ instead, do you still think they would be on display? Sad to say, but the badges at your HQ don't stand much chance of seeing the light of day unless they're particularly unique or historical, or unless they get "recycled" to a new sister.

Why does it annoy you that the ebay sellers don't always get the names right? Most people in the world don't know the greek alphabet or what the various badges look like. Why should they? It's important to you and me, so we expect that it should be important to others. But that's an unrealistic expectation. Do you realize the sheer volume of items that estate dealers have to buy and sell every year to make a decent living? Some just don't have the time or the inclination to research these little beauties properly. Hell, I buy junk pin lots all the time. I pick out the GLO pins and then dump the rest on ebay with little or no research as to what they are or what they mean. Besides, the smart sellers know we're doing a keyword search on "sorority pin" anyway so we'll find it regardless of the description. Anyway, that's just business, and I see no reason to take it personally. These people generally aren't out on some malicious crusade to disrespect greeks. They're just doing their job.

wptw