Gifting letters that aren't your own

[SunflowerState]

Hi All, I need to know what to do here. My niece is going to pledge (almost certainly) a GLO that is not my own. Is it appropriate for me to order something for her with her new letters on it as a gift? I'm hesitating because she'll be a pledge, not a full member yet AND I'm not part of that GLO. I'm talking about a tote bag or something along those lines, NOT a membership pin or anything like that.

Can someone tell me what's the proper way to deal with this?
Thanks

[DubaiSis]

You might want to send a private message to a member of that sorority and ask. But I think some sororities (mine included) have gotten much more relaxed about that stuff. Like for instance we weren't allowed to wear our letters until initiation but I think that's a hazing infraction now.

Or you could call the swag store at her campus and find out what is normally given. It seems I've read here that at some schools you buy the gift in advance and on bid day the store gets all the lists and puts together the packages with the appropriate letters. But that's probably not common enough to be really helpful advice.

[PersistentDST]

Originally Posted by SunflowerState

Hi All, I need to know what to do here. My niece is going to pledge (almost certainly) a GLO that is not my own. Is it appropriate for me to order something for her with her new letters on it as a gift? I'm hesitating because she'll be a pledge, not a full member yet AND I'm not part of that GLO. I'm talking about a tote bag or something along those lines, NOT a membership pin or anything like that.

Can someone tell me what's the proper way to deal with this?
Thanks

If it is an NPHC Sorority, she would not be able to wear/have letters until after she is initiated. But as far as buying gifts for other GLO's, I do it all the time for my friends!

[Missouri Ivy]

Tiger Spirit (local store in Columbia) has bid day packages that can be ordered and delivered. And I know my organization has nothing against non members buying letters as gifts.

[33girl]

Stick to things like notepads and such. Some campi have unwritten customs regarding types of letters and when/what can be worn.

[Hartofsec]

Nothing wrong with that! People do it all the time for relatives, friends, and their own daughters.

Might be a good idea to call the local gift shop and ask about items that are popular among new members. I don't know anything about the shops or customary gifts in your area, but sometimes those package deals contain some junky stuff that IMO isn't worth the money.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by PersistentDST

If it is an NPHC Sorority, she would not be able to wear/have letters until after she is initiated. But as far as buying gifts for other GLO's, I do it all the time for my friends!

Indeed!

The 'nalia can be kept in a "treasure box" and once she becomes a real member (whatever that means for the GLO) she will open the "treasure box" and get the treasure.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

A bouquet of her new sorority's flowers is also a safe choice.

[PhiMu_Mom]

A bouqet of flowers representing my daughter's sorority is what we sent also. I wanted to send something else, but they do a week of Big Little gifts and I didn't want to duplicate or interfere with what her future Big might give her . The Bigs spend a lot of the summer gathering and making
Etsy has some great sorority stuff also!

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

A bouquet of her new sorority's flowers is also a safe choice.

This. A shirt, tote bag, or piece of jewelry with one of the sorority's symbols on it would also be a good idea. That way, there's no controversy or question about what's appropriate for her to have/wear.

ETA: For example: