NMs in letters.

[VandalSquirrel]

Originally Posted by Alumiyum

I was told the same thing when I was a new member but have since been told there's nothing saying new members can't possess/wear the armorial bearings. I've never checked, so I don't know what the real deal is. But either way, letters are definitely allowed.

I can't imagine that we'd start allowing uninitiated new members to have or wear the Armorial Bearings, and if that change was made I can't find it anywhere. The most recent issue of The Quarterly has an article about the Armorial Bearings, but makes no mention of who can or cannot wear it. In Member Services of our website I only found mention of Initiated Members being eligible to wear the Badge and Armorial Bearings. I did learn something from looking in my New Member Guide, the Armorial Bearings were only supposed to be worn on clothing or jewelry. The few items I have with the Armorial Bearings are neither clothing or jewelry, oops.

The other thing in The Quarterly article that struck me was the opening sentence "Before Alpha Gamma Delta introduced an official
brand (or visual identity), the Armorial Bearings served as the Fraternity’s first visual mark. It appears on many of the Fraternity’s earliest documents as the symbolic image of Alpha Gamma Delta." Same issue highlights events in May 1904, and our Founding Sisters appeared to have designed and ordered our monogram style badge to wear May 30th 107 years ago. I think of our badge as the original brand/visual identity, not only as it was there in 1904, but more sisters will wear it than the Armorial Bearings, and therefore more people will recognize us by our jewelry.

I'm curious about our upcoming roll out of new branding material. Please let it include a squirrel, please, please, please.

[Alumiyum]

Originally Posted by VandalSquirrel

I can't imagine that we'd start allowing uninitiated new members to have or wear the Armorial Bearings, and if that change was made I can't find it anywhere. The most recent issue of The Quarterly has an article about the Armorial Bearings, but makes no mention of who can or cannot wear it. In Member Services of our website I only found mention of Initiated Members being eligible to wear the Badge and Armorial Bearings. I did learn something from looking in my New Member Guide, the Armorial Bearings were only supposed to be worn on clothing or jewelry. The few items I have with the Armorial Bearings are neither clothing or jewelry, oops.

The other thing in The Quarterly article that struck me was the opening sentence "Before Alpha Gamma Delta introduced an official
brand (or visual identity), the Armorial Bearings served as the Fraternity’s first visual mark. It appears on many of the Fraternity’s earliest documents as the symbolic image of Alpha Gamma Delta." Same issue highlights events in May 1904, and our Founding Sisters appeared to have designed and ordered our monogram style badge to wear May 30th 107 years ago. I think of our badge as the original brand/visual identity, not only as it was there in 1904, but more sisters will wear it than the Armorial Bearings, and therefore more people will recognize us by our jewelry.

I'm curious about our upcoming roll out of new branding material. Please let it include a squirrel, please, please, please.

I didn't know any of that...and I can't imagine it would be changed either, just couldn't say for sure.

And I want more squirrels, too. I avoid items with letters for the most part (clothing wise anyway) since I have more than enough already, but I'd love some squirrels.

[VandalSquirrel]

Originally Posted by Alumiyum

I didn't know any of that...and I can't imagine it would be changed either, just couldn't say for sure.

And I want more squirrels, too. I avoid items with letters for the most part (clothing wise anyway) since I have more than enough already, but I'd love some squirrels.

I am curious about the use of Armorial Bearings if it is still limited to clothes and jewelry. I got some stickers, you know the sheets they sell at college bookstores, on clearance a couple of years ago and have more than one Armorial Bearings sticker I never used, the others went on items I carry around. I could put it on my car but I don't think it would be visible and the back window is out since I have massive defrosting lines all over the back window. The other instances are wood, picture frame and another bookstore special, wooden painted sticker crest item.

I'd love a cardigan with the Armorial Bearings as it can be subtle and appropriate for various situations but I can only find American Apparel brand cardigans and it would be heinously ill fitting and not the quality I want for rocking the artistic legacy of Emily Helen Butterfield. The length and width is a no go since they are unisex, and it would make me look a hot mess. I checked all the vendors licensed through IHQ, and it is the same ill fitting Mr. Rogers nightmare.

Oh noes, Vineyard Vines has a tote that has subtle letters , double roses, and a SQUIRREL, we're doomed.

[AOII Angel]

Since AOII does not have a crest, my chapter didn't allow us to have roses before initiation. It's funny since they have absolutely no meaning. Anyway, AOII allows NMs to wear our letters and have anything with roses before initiation. We just don't have many open secrets for our NMs to lust after.

[agzg]

Originally Posted by VandalSquirrel

I am curious about the use of Armorial Bearings if it is still limited to clothes and jewelry.

Hmmm - is this in addition to fraternity materials (books, letters, website, etc etc?).

[VandalSquirrel]

Originally Posted by agzg

Hmmm - is this in addition to fraternity materials (books, letters, website, etc etc?).

I'm guessing using it in official capacity and for Alpha Gam business is a separate situation, than an individual initiated member wearing the crest.

I was looking online, I still would like a mug with the Armorial Bearings, but a tea cup and saucer would be even better. I'm just not finding one through a licensed vendor that fits my visual of my ideal mug.

[ChioLu]

When I went to college, pledges weren't allowed to wear the letters until initiated and knew the meaning. We could wear anything with "Chi O" or "Chi Omega" written out in script. Per our national HQ, this is now considered hazing (because it sets 1 group apart from the rest). I see their point, but it was kind of a big thing to get initiated and finally be able to wear the letters.

We still don't allow non-Chi Os to wear the crest, so that will never be on a date party t-shirt or mom's/dad's day item.

[BemoreLXA]

Originally Posted by ChioLu

When I went to college, pledges weren't allowed to wear the letters until initiated and knew the meaning. We could wear anything with "Chi O" or "Chi Omega" written out in script. Per our national HQ, this is now considered hazing (because it sets 1 group apart from the rest). I see their point, but it was kind of a big thing to get initiated and finally be able to wear the letters.

We still don't allow non-Chi Os to wear the crest, so that will never be on a date party t-shirt or mom's/dad's day item.

yeah. Thats not the rational per say with my HQ I'm not saying its hazing but I am kind of in different about associates wearing letters. I chose to wear my letters and give my little letters after initiation, while others wear them as soon as they associate

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by ChioLu

When I went to college, pledges weren't allowed to wear the letters until initiated and knew the meaning. We could wear anything with "Chi O" or "Chi Omega" written out in script. Per our national HQ, this is now considered hazing (because it sets 1 group apart from the rest).

I know this has been brought up many times at GC, but by this definition, my fraternity mandates hazing in our General Regulations for Chapters, because they provide that only initiated brothers may wear the letters. So obviously, we do not consider it hazing to prohibit probationary members (pledges) from wearing the letters or anything with the coat of arms.

[aephi alum]

Originally Posted by Alumiyum

And I want more squirrels, too. I avoid items with letters for the most part (clothing wise anyway) since I have more than enough already, but I'd love some squirrels.

You can have the ones from my backyard...