Wear Your Badge and Spark a Conversation

I was having a difficult time coming up with a topic for this month’s blog so I reached out to several sisters for help. As usual, a sister always has your back. In this case it was Kathy Sullivan who wrote part of this one and provided inspiration for several others! This blog will be published just a few days before International Badge Day which is celebrated by all National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) sisters on the first Monday of March. Kathy wrote that this event was started by Nora Ten Broeck, a past National President of Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority and a friend of hers. Here is an excerpt of what Kathy wrote for me:

Nora wrote an article on her experience wearing her badge to work one day titled “A Simple Solution - Wear Your Membership Badge Today” that was featured in her sorority’s magazine, The Phoenix. This celebration of sisterhood has grown since 1997, with campuses and chapters around the globe now participating with women from all sororities celebrating their sisterhood. A few men now even join in with pride in their brotherhood. This year’s 20th anniversary is a true milestone in unity.

Personally, I enjoy wearing my badge and answering questions about it. A senior co-worker always boosted my spirits asking for me to explain about the badge, the guards, and even each dangle. Each year, I attend a city council meeting on NPC International Badge Day and speak during public comment about joining my sisters across the country and around the world in wearing our badges.

For the last several years I have worked at Curves on Mondays so I couldn’t wear badge attire. I chose to honor the spirit of the day by wearing my letters to work. This sparked many conversations with members as I discovered how many of us were Panhellenic sisters. This year I will proudly wear my Theta Phi Alpha badge on Monday, March 6 and I hope all of you will join me. Let’s celebrate with Panhellenic Pride. Theta Phi Alpha will join the other 25 NPC groups in promoting this event on social media and we want you to share as well! Post a picture of yourself wearing your badge, share a story of meeting another Panhellenic sister, or a conversation with someone where you were able to share some of the values we represent.

NPC International Badge Day Resources

International Badge Day is also the start of National Ritual Celebration Week, sponsored by Phi Mu. You can find more information on this celebration at PhiMu.org.