NY Times Article About GLO Pins/Collectors

[wptw]

I hate to see the name of Kappa Kappa Gamma attached to this article. I have a lot of friends there and it’s a fine organization, but not very well represented here. Perhaps the most disturbing (and enlightening) quote is:

“But to [Mrs. Silzel] the value of the pins lies not in their history, but in their hard-won exclusivity.”

Is this really why some GLO members so despise having their badges bought and sold by non-members? Exclusivity? Because it’s something YOU were entitled to wear and others WEREN’T? Oh, how I hope this isn’t true. But you know, after listening for a long time to the things some of you say, I suspect this truly is at the heart of the issue. And that’s pretty sad. Not surprising really, but unfortunate nonetheless.

Ugh, I really see why so many people hate us. We truly are our own worst enemy.

wptw

[MysticCat]

Many good points, IvySpice and wptw.

For a different take on badge collecting, check out this article from the Convention 2001 edition of the Beta Theta Pi magazine. (This is a pdf file -- open it and go to page 2). Seems this one fraternity, at least, thinks that badge collecting can be a pretty cool thing.

[Tom Earp]

Just want to say, know a couple of Collectors ( You Know Who You Are ), that collect the Badges for the Beauty of them!

I have had one help me get an item and and one who I have come to respect. There are a couple out there that I do not!

Most good collectors want to have the best of the best which I for one will not fault them! Some will just do it for the turn of the money!

wptw is a collector but always gives good advice to those who listen!

One of my Brothers as well as my self are or were buying them to donate or sell to the Chapter at a reasonable price! What was paid for it! This is usually cheaper than buying from Internationl HDQS!

I wish I had the money to buy the very Beautiful Badges of all The Houses and display them at my chapter!

It would be a Wall of honor to all Greeks!

[MRSMRS]

I'm posting below my unpublished letter to the editor of the NY Times. It illustrates the need for caution in accepting as truth what we read in print. I have asked several attorneys how a mainline newspaper can print a fabricated story that has no corroboration. I am told that articles written by freelancers under a byline are legally viewed as "opinion" of the writer and protected as free speech by the First Amendment. Ms. Rosman was not required by her editor to show validation because what she "reported" was her opinion in a marketable form. I don't want to belabor my unpleasant experience, but I believe that readers should understand that this article is not factual. If you care to wade through them, I will also add some legitimate facts following the letter for your consideration as you choose.

Dear Editor:
Ms. Rosman's article "Oh, Brother (and Sister)..." in the August 11 Style Section goes beyond misrepresentation to outright deceit. I was made a focal point of the article, however Ms. Rosman has never personally met or interviewed me and knows virtually nothing about me. She characterized me based upon unfounded comments reportedly made in Ms. Rosman's presence, by anonymous participants with whom I have never had dialogue, at an event which I have never attended. Apparently that's what it took to sell her story. Some time ago, Ms. Rosman's husband used my assistance to buy a replacement pin on eBay for her mother's lost Kappa Kappa Gamma pin, and she learned of the growing competition on eBay to members of fraternal organizations seeking to buy back their own lost and stolen pins or replacements of the same vintage. The facts are: I do not engage in unpleasantries with eBay sellers, bidders or collectors. I spend less than an hour a week on eBay and, over the past 4-5 years, have purchased at most 14-15 pins for return to their owners, who reimbursed my costs. Few of the pins I have purchased on eBay cost more than $50-$100. The financial resources of serious pin collectors appear to exceed those available to us. Few members can afford to compete with collector-bidders to re-acquire their pins. Ms. Rosman's portrayal of me as an aggressive, hostile, "spying grandmother" was fabricated to market a story which would otherwise appear uninteresting. The true story lies in the accounts of women of all ages who have regained a sentimental treasure because of friendship. Ms. Rosman has done an injustice to the dozens of helpful members of Kappa Kappa Gamma and those of Phi Beta Kappa, P.E.O., Masons, other fraternal orders and the U. S. Armed Services who assist members and their families to retrieve personally identified property which is of sentimental significance. The NY Times should be embarrassed and ashamed to have engaged in such unprofessional reporting and owes me and other dedicated volunteers an apology.
--- Mary R. Silzel

Here are the facts:
1. "Keepers of the Key" is not a function or affiliate of Kappa Kappa Gamma, but a network of 30+/- individuals linked by collegiate or alumna membership in the organization. Members of many other fraternal groups maintain similar online networks.
2. Neither I nor officers of KKG sanctioned the article. Ms. Rosman, a member of KKG, was specifically asked and gave her assurance that the article did not reference me or KKG and was solely about the phenomenon of pin collecting.
3. The $17,000 referenced is a ballpark total spent by more than 100 members over a period of 5 years to buy back their own lost/stolen or replacement pins.
4. Philanthropic services have benefited from this effort. In appreciation, women who were assisted in the return or replacement of pins have made contributions to KKG Foundation which supports scholarships, women's health issues and rehabilitation services internationally. No fraternity or philanthropic funds are expended for the retrieval of pins.
5. I did not make the quoted statement concerning "exclusivity" - I am not certain I even grasp its meaning, however it sounds "snobbish" or "elitist," which I am not.
6. Members have been buying and returning pins for many years, for $10-$25 in pawn shops, flea markets, etc. where lost and stolen jewelry eventually appears. The advent of eBay and affluent collectors of GLO pins have inflated prices beyond what our members can afford to retrieve their lost/stolen pins.
7. The pins I have bought on eBay are returned to their original owners or their descendants. I have been reimbursed any cost to me. I have no sizable investment in Kappa pins. I own four pins, purchased for $12, $65, $75 and $290 - the latter from a collector who outbid me on eBay, then later offered me the pin (identical to my original lost pin) at a profit to him.
8. Keepers of the Key have returned pins to other GLOs and organizations besides KKG. I also try to rescue pins of Phi Beta Kappa (of which I am a member) and Sigma Chi (of which my husband is a member.)
9. We have found no evidence that members sell their pins. In every case of which I am aware, a pin sold on eBay left the hands of the owner or her family unwittingly. Based on my knowledge and experience, fraternal pins are lost, stolen, or sold in estate sales by family members unaware of the significance of the pin and policies regarding its return after death.

I hope this clarifies misrepresentations in the article. Keepers of the Key seek to maintain the pleasant relationship and mutual helpfulness we have always enjoyed with our friends in the Greek community who also try to preserve the integrity and heritage of their badges. I respect the organizations and individuals represented on this site and appreciate the opportunity to add a factual perspective to the article. Thank you -

Mary R. Silzel

[dzrose93]

Mrs. Silzel,

Thanks so much for your post. It clarified many questions that I had from the Times' pin collector article. The "exclusivity" comment definitely raised my eyebrows because I couldn't imagine any Panhellenic woman saying such a thing. I knew there had to be more to it than that! I hope that the NY Times has the gumption to publish your letter at some point. Your real words deserve a chance to be read.

Fraternally,
dzrose93

[superchick]

Has anyone seen this site?

http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/masoni...greek_pins.htm

[FuzzieAlum]

Interersting.

I remember actually seeing that AXD pin on eBay a while back, and having no idea what on earth the chapter guard (looks like a spur) was for. Still don't know!

[M&M]

A Kappa pin, supposedly circa 1910, just sold on ebay for $1,500!!!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...item=713083268

[dzandiloo]

Originally posted by MRSMRS
Dear Editor:
Ms. Rosman's article "Oh, Brother (and Sister)..." in the August 11 Style Section goes beyond misrepresentation to outright deceit. I was made a focal point of the article, however Ms. Rosman has never personally met or interviewed me and knows virtually nothing about me.
....
Mary R. Silzel

Mary-
Thanks for posting that! When Ms. Rosman was writing this article, she called my home, saying that you had referred her to talk to me about DZ's badge collecting efforts. I did not return her call--(1) because I didn't really want to give away the strategy that we use and (2) I didn't think I was authorized to speak to anyone in the press about anything DZ related.

After reading her article, I was puzzled by the impression she gave of you, because it seemed very contrary to what I remembered of our dealings a couple of years ago (re. Kappa badges found in Lubbock pawn shop). Not only am I glad that I did not contribute to her article, but I'm glad you have found this forum to at least try to set the record straight. Best wishes to you in your continued efforts!

Fraternally,
Andi

[adduncan]

Originally posted by FuzzieAlum
I just want to say that although I am against collecting pins, I don't like hearing about collectors receiving threatening or profane letters. Not only does that violate the standards most of us try to uphold as members of GLOs, it does not help the cause, either.

I know I'm resurrecting an old thread, but the posts here, and a recent auction up on Ebay got me thinking. (Someone is trying to sell a TriDelta pin and posted a lengthy epistle regarding the above mentioned "threats", etc)

Here's some food for discussion:

What incentive (aside from or in addition to cash) could Greeks offer pin collectors/dealers to relinquish their pins to their respective organizations? These people dig their heels in when it comes to requests from Greeks to honor their standards for their badges. If they aren't Greek they're not going to give one whit about your standards. So what kind of "carrot" could be offered to change their minds?

Adrienne

[adduncan]

tap..tap..tap...
Is this thing on?

Sorry folks--GC is acting up again and I'm just checking to make sure everything showed up.

Adrienne