Unusual A Phi pin on eBay

[astroAPhi]

Originally posted by lauradav
All of the pins that TyOrgon bids on go to his daughter who is an Alpha Phi. While it is frustrating that he wins so many auctions, another Alpha Phi who's met him before asked me to think of it this way: none of us like that he outbids Phis who would treasure the badges or return them to the Fraternity but he has the money to buy the pins and can outbid anyone he wants. Why not make sure we have a positive relationship with him so that we can pursuade him to let us to have access to some of our historically significant badges that he purchases for his daughter? Isn't it better to at least know where the badges are and that they are with an Alpha Phi rather than have them go to random pin collectors around the world?

The only thing I don't like about that is that it sounds like he wants to start dealing with International and possibly jacking up the prices so that he can make a profit. It's a win-win situation for him.

I'm not as upset about him winning as I would be with some other random person because it will go to his daughter. However, someone did bring up a point that he seems to be hitting other organizations and claiming that he has a daughter who is ___. I wonder how we could confirm something like that.

[a CA in CA]

Oh, I'm sorry that I missed the start of yet another Tyoregon debate. I've been in touch with him in the past and he certainly is a character. All I can say ladies is bid judiciously if you wish but do so with the knowledge that he has very deep pockets and a huge desire to own greek jewelry. His motives are not the same as ours, but then again his motives are not illegal either so I've learned to make peace with it for the most part and spend my energy on more positive things.

Besides, he'll never know AOE my sisters! And no amount of money can buy that.

[a CA in CA]

Originally posted by astroAPhi
I wonder how we could confirm something like that.

By naming names. His daughter is an APhi and so was his mother.

[TechAPhi]

This is a great article from Alpha Xi Delta's website . It was written by a Kappa Kappa Gamma alum.

Tyoregon is mentioned in the article and I think Alpha Xi Delta gives some very wise advice about our precious pins -- advice that every member of a Greek letter organization would be wise to consider.

O Brother (and Sister), Where Art Thy Pins?

Some selections from the Alpha Xi Delta's advice to members regarding their quills (badges):

* Do not ridicule or harass others for selling sorority badges.

While the sale of badges is shocking and appalling, at this time, the only way to stop a sale of a badge is to prove that it was stolen from the "rightful" owner.

* Each initiated member must care for her badge.

Only by specifically providing for your badge can you be reasonably certain that it will end up in the proper hands, and not in a flea market or online auction.

* Make a specific provision in your will as to where your badge should go when you die. If you do not have a will, make your wishes very clear to your heirs.

[Maharet]

This man is a collector....He has a daughter (and his mom) who are Alpha Phi's...Apparently he has another daughter who is a Pi Phi as well...BUT ABOVE ALL ELSE he IS a collector of greek pins of all kinds (among other items he has amassed) ...He has MANY MANY MANY Chi-O's, KKG'S Pi Beta Phi's, AEO's, AZD's and others...and we are talking 6-10 of each and has paid 100's of dollars for some.

Yes, he has a great deal of money - he's a lawyer. I tried explaining very nicely to him what this means to other Phi's and that many find it frustrating that he can outbid so many and that we don't have the disposable cash he has. I also told him I wouldn't bid against him...He turned around and told me I was greedy and from the gutter and there was a legal threat involved. This occured with a Kappa Kappa Gamma in the southeast who he threatened...Ebay can't do a thing and in most cases it is just let go. Yes, he has publically admitted to 'sport bidding' but still little can be done.

Yes, he should be kept on 'our good side' but he has been very rude to one too many people at times and lied about who he is and what he does...I am glad the pins go to his daughter at least...

Yes, he gives them to his daughter and she has visited EO with her collection. It is wonderful that he gives them to her, but that leaves so many wanting a special part of their heritage...(He told me I was greedy at that point).

ANYONE WHO KNOWS ME KNOWS I am not that way and that I think about others. I was scared and hurt by this, but soon got over it. Alpha Phi is special to all involved for very personal reasons. We can only try and hope to get a special pin for ourselves...I have rescued many and even 2 jeweled pins from him which went right back to sisters deserving/special relationships I have had with collegiates and alums...

My underlying philosophy is...He may see it as a collectable (as with other pin collectors...) but no one, other than an Alpha Phi, will see how truly wonderful each pin is and what it actually means in our heads and in our hearts. No one other than an Alpha Phi will know what it feels like to have it pinned on to you during initiation...There is no other way (for me) to think as I look at my pin that way...Aw shucks, pass me a tissue!!!!!

AOE Always, Maharet

[TechAPhi]

I have to add that this quote from the article I mentioned above,* published by the The New York Times Company, August 11, 2002 says a great deal about our foe, tyoregon:

According to tyoregon, the eBay handle of an Oregonian who didn't want his name published because he said he had received one too many threatening e-mail messages from angry sorority sisters, the truth was worse than Ms. Haymond imagined. "I bid her up," tyoregon said, adding that he decided early in the auction that he did not want the pin. "Why not have fun," he asked, adding that he had grown weary of Greek letter organization alumni throwing around terms like sacred. "You're not going to find pins in the Ark of the Covenant," he said.

* Excerpt taken from the article entitled, "O Brother (and Sister), Where Art Thy Pins?"
By KATHERINE ROSMAN
The New York Times Company,
August 11, 2002

[Maharet]

I will give you only one guess who won the latest A-Phi pin on ebay?????

I am trying to be patient. And calm and not get frustrated. Having a great deal of money can be a bad, bad thing.

[Sistermadly]

Originally posted by Maharet

I am trying to be patient. And calm and not get frustrated. Having a great deal of money can be a bad, bad thing.

Only if you use it for evil, instead of for good.

I still want the one he's currently winning, but I have a feeling he's jacked up the bid to about $100 or so. Definitely out of my range.

You know everyone has said to look at it in different way regarding this man's obssession to win these ebay auctions on badges but i am sorry what angers me the most is the fact that if his mother and daughter are both Alpha Phi's as he so claims, then why would they let him jack the prices up on their own sisters and not let them win a few of these auctions. I am all for it being kept within our family,if they are both Alpha Phis and from what others have said they are since EO knows of them, but to hike the going auction price to just get pety and vindictive because someone has angered him in the past is just wrong and i wish ebay could see what these bage collecters are doing.

I myself have been on the end of a bid war with this gentleman. When i think sometimes i am going to win he comes in at the last minute and wins it. I like what LauraDav said regarding someone asking her to think of this situation in another way ,but it is hard when he wins them every time.

It seems even if you have "Deep Pockets" he has it rigged to where you can't outbid him and you never win.

Thats just my 2 cents.

Laura

[a CA in CA]

Originally posted by Sistermadly
Only if you use it for evil, instead of for good.

Right on. The problem is that the pin collectors out there have a different idea than we do of what is good. Their side of the story and an equally plausable viewpoint is that without them out there collecting these pins, the level of awareness among the non-greek as to what a fraternity pin is and what it looks like would not be where it is at today. Before eBay most non-greeks did not know or understand what fraternity pins are and often those pins ended up getting tossed or melted down as scrap gold when an estate jewler or pawn broker couldn't do anything else with them.

So in the minds of the pin collectors, they are a historical preservation group. But then again, and to play on A.B.'s own words, I'm getting weary of this elite circle of historical preservationists. Come on guys, you aren't the Smithsonian Institute. Although you may want to get in touch with them!

Oh, and cutiepatootie, just to clear the air tyoregon's APhi connections are legitimate. His mother joined the Silent Chapter within the last two years and his daughter is a young alumna.