Is collecting GLO pins right or wrong? Discuss.

FuzzieAlum · #1 07-22-2002, 11:54 AM

OK, every time someone mentions "pins on eBay" or collecting pins, someone comes on this board (usually but not always a one-issue poster) and says, "Collecting isn't bad." And someone (like me) gets hotheaded and into the same old argument with them, and the original thread is completely derailed. I'm sure that's very irritating to the people who wanted to talk about the original thread topic.

So instead of starting from the premise that pin collecting is bad and how can we stop it, this thread asks - is it OK to collect GLO pins? Only your own? Defunct groups? To keep your grandma's pin? To collect any and all GLO pins?

And I'd like to remind everyone of two things: Anti-collectors, many collectors are GLO members themselves. Don't assume they're not. Collectors, many anti-collectors are out there doing more than shouting on GC. Don't assume they're all talk and no action.

Have at it!

sigmagrrl · #2 07-22-2002, 12:08 PM

I think it is ok to collect the badges, if your intention is to collect and own beauty, and not to make a quick profit. As a Greek, I have no issue with another Greek owning a badge that belongs to my sorority, if their intentions are honorable: to own beautiful pieces of history.

BrandiDZ · #3 07-22-2002, 12:14 PM

I used to get really angry about the badge collectors on e-bay. My opinion has changed though. First, we cant stop the badge collectors. Most of them have more money to spend on the badges than many of us. So as long as the collectors arent wearing the badge, then I try not to be bothered by it. Now if someone was buying a badge for the purpose of wearing or posing as a member, I would have a problem with it. These collectors are buying badges for their own personal collections, not using them to defame or do harm to our organizations.

James · #4 07-22-2002, 12:54 PM

Collecting badges is a value neutral activity. We choose to ascribe value to it, often negative, because of our own hang-ups . . . oops opinions.

So to repeat: ITs not right or wrong. It just is.

Eirene_DGP · #5 07-22-2002, 01:02 PM

I agree with SigmaGrrl. The thing that doesn't really make sense to me is why someone would want another orgs. pin. It's not like you know any ritual, and you should know better than to wear it.

IvySpice · #6 07-22-2002, 07:19 PM

I don't think there's anything wrong with collecting pins. I see them, first, as beautiful artworks, and second, as symbols of unity and friendship. You don't need need to know what the letters on someone else's pin stand for to appreciate the sentimental value embodied in the pin.

Of course they are of historical interest to the GLO -- but they are of historical interest to everyone. This isn't just XYZ history, it's American history, ABC University history, and often women's history/African-American history, too. The fact that a pin is owned by a collector rather than a GLO does not mean that its historical importance is not being appreciated, valued, and shared.

I think it's relevant here that most of the pins on ebay and the various dealer's sites are identical to thousands of others that were minted every year. I think the argument is a little different for founder's pins, etc., which are unique and which may communicate information the GLO could not obtain elsewhere. A pin may do more to remind people about brotherhood and create goodwill for a GLO in a collector's display than it would as the seven thousandth identical pin stored in the GLO's headquarters.

Wearing a pin is not under discussion as far as I'm aware; I've never known, or even known of, a collector who was buying pins in order to wear them as fake emblems of membership.

So I think responsible collection (by which I mean storing the pins with care, making any information from unique pins available to the GLO, etc.) is just fine. Just my two cents.

IvySpice

hoosier · #7 07-22-2002, 10:31 PM

This post in another part of GC has been ignored, apparently

katierosman
Junior Member

Registered: Jul 2002
Location:
Posts: 7 GLO Pin Collectors

I am a reporter in New York City working on an article about Greek Letter Organization Pin Collecting--and those who try to thwart non-member ownership of fraternity/sorority pins. (The selling of pins on eBay has made this a growing problem, apparently.) I have been in contact with a KKG alumnus who works very hard to keep auctioned pins "within the family." I'm curious to learn if other organizations are doing the same, etc. etc. etc.

If you have been involved in GLO pin collecting or keeping such pins out of the hands of non-members, I'd love to chat. Please feel free to email me directly.

DeltAlum · #8 07-22-2002, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by James
So to repeat: ITs not right or wrong. It just is.

Damn! Why didn't I think of that?

In theory the Delt Active Badge and The Coat of Arms contain symbolism that only initiated Delt Brothers understand, so nobody else -- even a Delt Pledge -- should have them.

In reality, there's nothing to be done about collectors, family members, etc. from having them, so I choose to ignore the "problem."

sairose · #9 07-24-2002, 10:32 AM

I guess it depends. I love to admire other GLO badges/pins because I find them beautiful. No, I don't know the meaning behind them; but I don't have to know the meaning to know that something is pretty. They're interesting and mysterious, and that would appeal to collectors.

However...I would feel wrong owning a badge to a GLO that I am not a member of. I am an SAI, and therefore I feel I should only own an SAI badge.

The sticky part is...many GLOs have rules about what to do with pins of resigned or dead members. SAI's rule is to have your badge returned to headquarters if you resign or pass away. They are kept there so if later, a decendant of an SAI pledges SAI and wishes to wear her relative's badge, it can be sent to her.

The only time I would buy a badge is if it was an SAI badge. Then, I would send it to nationals where it belongs.

maggieaxid · #10 07-24-2002, 11:49 AM

I believe that all badges have a significant meaning to not only the organization it represents, but also to the member personally. I associate my quill with memories of college, AZD, and the bonds of sisterhood. I would not want anyone else to "collect" my badge. And I would hope that if it ever got misplaced or lost, that it would be returned to nationals or my chapter.

I believe that it's wrong...obviously.

#11 07-24-2002, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sairose
They are kept there so if later, a decendant of an SAI pledges SAI and wishes to wear her relative's badge, it can be sent to her.

Out of curiousity (and I'm not sure if this is public information or not... if it's not, I apologize) - how does nationals know who the badge belonged to? I mean, say I saw an SAI badge at an antique shop, bought it, and sent it to your nationals, and a whole bunch of other people do the same. Then, one day, Lisa Legacy pledges, and wants to wear her grandmother's pin. How does your nationals know who each pin belonged to, if it was bought out of a store? Does that make sense?

maggieaxid · #12 07-24-2002, 01:47 PM

I don't know if it's public knowledge to tell, so i am not going to, but there are ways...secret ways.

wptw · #13 07-24-2002, 03:00 PM

Are there REALLY programs in place whereby you could request the badge of a deceased relative, or is this just wishful thinking? Two things make this seem very unlikely to me.

First of all, very few organizations use a consistent numbering or identification scheme, particularly on the more modern badges. To use SAI as an example, the modern goldfilled badges from this group are seldom inscribed with any indentification whatsoever. The only thing I typically see on newer badges is the maker's mark and possibly a manufacturer's serial number. No name. No chapter. No date. No membership or rollbook number. No chance of tracing it back to the original owner.

Second, knowing what I know about the national HQs of many GLOs, I find it very hard to believe any of them are organizaed well enough and/or have the resources to successfully offer such a program. OK, I'm sure if you made a special request, then one of your sisters or brothers could probably do some digging and maybe come up with something. But as a collector I've tried many many times to get basic information from HQs about particular pins or particular alumni. Sometimes they tell me they aren't allowed to give out that info (OK fine), but most of the time they sigh and admit they just aren't set up to do that kind of research. Their computerized databases only go back to around 1990, and prior to that they only have access to the same published directories as you do. Trouble with the published directories is, they are seldom ever cross referenced by membership number. Even assuming they could match up the number to the member, do they really have storage areas where the badges are all neatly indexed according to membership number so they can be easily found? I seriously doubt it. More likely all these badges are in huge piles on shelves in the basement, never to be seen again.

Please correct me if I'm wrong about this.

IvySpice made a great point (actually I thought her whole post was right on the money):

Quote:

A pin may do more to remind people about brotherhood and create goodwill for a GLO in a collector's display than it would as the seven thousandth identical pin stored in the GLO's headquarters.

Amen to that! These pins have souls and lives of their own. It is much better for them to be viewed and cherished in a collector's case than wasting away in a dark basement.

wptw

maggieaxid · #14 07-24-2002, 03:18 PM

wptw,
I don't think you have all your information exactly correct. I can only speak from my experiences and my GLO.
We had a alum die in a serious car accident while i was in college. Her parents sent National's her Quill. Her Quill, has a record on it of who it belonged to, when, and where the member was intitated, even though it may look like a maker's mark or a serial number to those who don't know any better. That Quill was then forwarded to our chapter house where it is on display with her last composite picture behind it.
Also, when we moved into our current house we came across some old badges and badge guards, we did our research with the help of nationals as to who they would have belonged to and also have them in a display case with ther member's name.
So not all badges are locked away in a basement somewhere.

What really annoys me about people who sell pins, esp. on ebay is 1. They don't know what the letters are...they can't tell the difference between a Sigma or an Epsilon, or a theta and a phi. If they are going to sell a product, they should at least be knowlegeable.

#15 07-24-2002, 04:24 PM

Nevermind... I think I just got my question answered.

For DO, our badges don't have any differentiating information on them whatsoever. No mark, or initiation number, anything like that. Every badge is the same. That's why I didn't understand how you'd know who it belonged to... heck... for us, if you have two DOs living together, it's very likely that at some point your badges will get swapped. Very different than other groups, it sounds like!