Happy Theta Anniversary!

December – the season of giving! Each year, Theta is pleased to honor our 50- and 75-year members with the gift of anniversary pins. We also recognize our 25-year members with a letter or email. This year, we will recognize 3,700 25-year members, 1,650 50-year members, and about 250 75-year members!

The Fraternity officially starting recognizing 50-year members in 1954 with a Golden Link certificate. These certificates were hand-made on shiny gold foil paper and sent to anniversary members. We only have a few of these in the archive … and one is Bettie Locke Hamilton’s daughter’s certificate! Sometime later, Theta began sending black and gold pansy stick pins to 50-year members, and then the pins we send today.

In 1963, the decision was made to add 75-year members to the recognition list, and Grand Council selected a pansy pin with a gold coat-of-arms in the center.

Many members look forward to receiving these gifts, while others are surprised to see one in their mailbox!

From the archive, a letter from 1987 states: “Dear Theta Sisters, I was amazed, surprised, delighted, and horrified to receive my 50-year Theta pansy pin. Delighted you remembered me, amazed it was 50 years! Horrified the years have passed so swiftly by and surprised I feel and am the same Theta who was so happily pledged at Cal in ’37. I shall wear it with pride and great gratitude for the fun, friendships, and high standards Theta has always meant.” Polly Peters Hutchins Omega/UC Berkeley 1938.

Congratulations to all our members celebrating a milestone anniversary in 2017! We hope these pins and letters invoke many wonderful Theta memories and inspire you to create many more.