We talk a lot on here about Lions Club Pins, Lions Club Patches, Lions Club Coins, and other Lions Club Fundraising ideas, however we have yet to talk about the origins of the Lions Club. I wanted to take a minute to write a little about the Lions Club history, and it’s founder Melvin Jones. Melvin Jones was born on January 13th, 1879, raised in Chicago, and a leader in Chicago’s business elite circle in the 1910’s and 20’s. Upon realizing the scope of his success and potential, Melvin along with fellow business associates decided to turn their ambitions toward civil service for the greater good of their communities, and thus the idea of the Lions Club was born. I encourage you to do a little research on Melvin. His vision and dedication deserve your time. You can also see more in regards to Melvin’s Memorial here.
A few months ago I was reading through one of our publications, S.W.A.T. Magazine, and I ran into an article about one of our newer customers. If you’re in the law enforcement / military field, then you should know the name Tony Blauer is synonymous with combat training. We were thrilled when Tony asked us to create a custom embroidered patch and custom coin for his company’s promotional use. If you’re looking for some top notch combat training you can learn more here about Tony and his highly effective S.P.E.A.R. system. Make sure to attend a seminar and see if you can snag one of his company’s custom coins or custom patches. They are sure to fit in nicely with your other military challenge coin and police challenge coin collections.
Lately we’ve been receiving a lot of requests for custom Masonic pins and challenge coins, and we’ve been happy to oblige. There have been lots of celebrations for new Worshipful Master positions, as well as many Masonic Lodge anniversaries. We would like to thank all the Masons that approached us with an opportunity to create custom pins and custom coins for your occasions. If your Mason’s lodge is due to celebrate an anniversary, if your Worshipful Master is just taking office and wants a custom lapel pin to commemorate, or if your lodge is looking for a custom lapel pin or coin to celebrate achievements and membership please contact us for a free quote.
Thank you all again for these valued opportunities!
A couple years ago we attended the SHOT show down in Orlando and had a great time showing off our custom challenge coins and custom patches. While there we ran into a peculiar cowboy named Boyd with the Single Action Shooting Society and shortly after had the pleasure of creating some quality custom coins and custom awards for his group. If you’re a cowboy at heart, or just an enthusiast of single action shooters, then I encourage checking out the link above, grabbing your alias, and get involved by attending an event near you. While there make sure to check out their custom coin section and add one or two to your collection.
Keep shooting straight, and see you down the trail.
We talk a lot here about our custom Lions pins, custom Lions patches, and custom Lions coins. We tell a few stories about our Lion friends and their Lions pins, we talk about where we’ve been and where we’re going. Now I think it’s time for you guys to talk about your clubs and your lions pins. Let us know about the last pin your Lion club designed and its significance. Tell us about the activities your Lions club is involved with, and how your Lions club keeps growing. We hope to share your story for all Lions to see and learn from.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
The Lions Club is known for having hospitable members, in fact it’s a trait that has made Lions Clubs International synonymous with caring around the world. Lions serve their community with charitable efforts, fundraising successes, and good old fashioned elbow grease when the need arises. But many Lions serve outside of the Lions club as well, and I wanted to make special mention of these folks so they get the praise they deserve. I speak of the Lions who are police officers, soldiers, paramedics, nurses, and the like. These are truly great people we have the pleasure of serving when we make their custom lions pins, lions patches, and lions coins. I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for all your service within the Lions club, and within our communities.
If you know a lion that fits the above description, leave a comment and give them their due praise, we want to hear about it!
Since 1917 Lions from around the world have come together yearly for their biggest convention, and the 2010 International Convention is right around the corner. This year’s International Convention will take place from June 28-July 2 in Sydney, Australia, and the Recognition Services team is glad to be in attendance with our custom Lions product lines. The International Convention and the USA/Canada Forum have always been great opportunities to get to meet you all face to face and share some stories and laughs. Make sure to swing by the booth and meet Steve and Lynn while you’re there. While in the booth check out our custom Lions’ pins, patches, coins, and keychains and let us know if there is anything we can do for you!
For more info on the convention please visit: http://www.lions2010.com/index.cfm.
Hope to see you there!
Recognition Services has been your one stop source for Lions pins, patches, coins and keychains. Now in conjunction with Lions Club Supplies we are happy to help with Friendship Banners for your club. With a low 50 piece minimum, with printing options for single or double sided, we can help you get an affordable custom banner for your club to share with all those who deserve it. If your club needs a Friendship Banner to accompany your pins, patches, and coins, please send over your ideas and we’ll help get it approved for production through LCI. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact Craig or Michael to get started.
Thanks again for all you do and don’t forget to stay Friendly!
Recently we were contacted by Officer Perez from the Laredo Police Department in Texas to create a custom challenge coin for their new fallen officer memorial. We were proud to help with this cause, and were able to rush production to meet their deadline for the unveiling of the memorial, which you can see in the video below. We praise the efforts of the Laredo Police Dept for their continued efforts to honor their fallen. When we created their custom coin, and custom mini badge, we were honored to take part in this noble gesture.
Our best wishes to the family and friends of the Laredo Police Department!
We’ll be hitting the streets again this month for another trade show for that thin blue line crowd we appreciate so much. This time we’re headed off to the one and only Atlantic City for the 2010 Police and Security Expo, taking place June 22 & 23. The show, now in its 24th season, will draw a rather large crowd of over 7000 law enforcement attendees, so please come out. Make sure to swing by Booth 1254 and say hey to Craig. While there you can check out all of our custom coins, patches, badges, mini badges, lapel pins, and more.
Looking forward to seeing you there!
A couple months ago I wrote a blog about a very special woman that I felt the need to share with you. Leslie Hulse was a fantastic lady, an upstanding officer, a caring sister, and a blessing to all she met. Leslie passed from breast cancer on September 28th 2009. Even though her body is gone her spirit remains with all those she knew and even those she never met through her story.
The Leslie Hulse Memorial Fund carries on her spirit with the following mission:
Leslie was passionate about the issue of human trafficking. Her last job with the police department involved identifying victims of human trafficking and helping them out of their situation. She also loved working with children and spent part of her law enforcement career at Hamilton Southeastern School. In an effort to continue her work, our goal is to give a $2,500 scholarship yearly to a student at either Hamilton Southeastern or Fishers High School who is interested in law enforcement, social work or other areas that could work in the area of human trafficking.
Help us raise $100,000.00
Your donations will make this a self-sustaining fund that can make a difference for many years to come.
You can help by purchasing a custom coin made for Leslie in her honor and add to your police challenge coin collection. Also you can sponsor a golfer in the upcoming 100 Holes of Hope which is also dedicated to her memory and mission.
Thanks again and make sure to get involved!
Custom military patches and challenge coins complement one another nicely. Custom patches are a very visible part of all military uniforms as they help identify a particular unit or squadron. Custom military patches are also used to show rank as a certain achievement or rank. In addition to the military’s embroidered patches, they use challenge coins in a similar way.Custom military challenge coins also help identify members of a particular unit and/or rank within that unit. While they cannot be directly sewn on or applied to the military uniform, you never want to be caught without your challenge coin. So essentially, they are an extension of the military uniform as both help identify that particular person.
Both custom military patches and military challenge coins are collected and traded by many. The popularity is growing as the traditions continue to build. People are now looking for very unique, custom pieces and we can help deliver both patches and coins – that is where our 30+ years of experience and free design consultation come into play!
Let us help you put together a nice complementary set of military patches and challenge coins to commemorate your service to our country.
The Indianapolis Fire Department recently celebrated their 150th anniversary and we were fortunate enough to be asked to make custom lapel pins and custom coins for the important occasion. The history of the Indianapolis Fire Department actually dates back to the 1820s when they only had one volunteer department. In those days, they had to use church bells for alarms and only had ladders and leather buckets to fight fires. 150 years later and there are over 1,000 firefighters and 38 fire stations in Indianapolis. They don’t use old fashioned leather buckets anymore to put out fires. In fact, for their 150th anniversary they had their own anniversary website, www.ifd150.com, and even a Facebook page.
How times have changed. Some people may think lapel pins and custom coins are old fashioned, but not the high-tech Indianapolis Fire Department. They trusted custom made lapel pin and challenge coin manufacturer Recognition Services to provide recognition lapel pins and custom challenge coins for the very important anniversary. Happy 150th Indianapolis Fire Department! Thanks for putting out those fires and keeping us safe.
An important piece to a great custom coin collection is the accessories. There are many ways you can show off your custom coins and protect them at the same time. One of our most popular lines of accessories are leather custom coin products.
We offer items such as a leather memobook that allows you to insert your special challenge coin right in the cover. Talk about a great way to show off your coins and keep notes on all your stories about the coin! This one is very popular among military veterans that want to hold on to their service memories for a lifetime.
We also offer a snazzy leather keyfob with custom coin insert. This a simple way to protect your coin while keeping it in a nice presentation style piece that can fit on your keychain.
No matter how you would like to present your challenge coin collection, we can help you find the accessories that suite your needs. Check out our web site for more information on all of our custom coin accessories!
In a previous blog post we discussed law enforcement training academy challenge coins and today we are going to hit on custom patches for the training academy. Not only does every custom coin collection begin with one special coin, but every patch collection must begin with one special patch. For many law enforcement officers, that first patch is the training academy embroidered patch.
An important piece for every law officer is his or her uniform. Earning patches shows their accomplishments and gives them to opportunity to proudly share the stories that go along with each patch. Like the challenge coins presented at the graduation ceremonies, this patch also represents the rite of passage from a student to an official law officer.
We take great pride in producing custom law enforcement patches and challenge coins for officers as we know the importance behind each piece. Contact us today if you are interested in our law enforcement recognition offerings.
Every custom challenge coin we create has some type of meaning behind it. We get the opportunity to produce coins for all different types of people, but it’s always special when you have a client share with you first hand the story behind the custom coin you produce.
Today we wanted to share with you the story behind the Chance Phelps Foundation directly from Chance’s mother. We very much appreciate her giving us the opportunity to support this cause that gives back to veterans.
The Chance Phelps Foundation was founded in 2006, 2 years after the death of my son, LCpl Chance R. Phelps USMC, who died during combat operations in Al Anbar Province, Iraq.
The picture on the face of the coin was originally painted by Chance's dad, artist/sculptor John R. Phelps for the "Faces of the Fallen" exhibit that was on display in Arlington, VA in 2005-2007.
The Chance Phelps Foundation helps veterans from WY and from across the US by assisting them in their endeavors after the rigors of combat. This started as a result of Chance's buddies coming to WY to pay their respects and visit our family shortly after his death. And it continues today. We can also assist in getting here to WY to enjoy our back-country, and also if needed help with continuing education and assistance to and from the VA for routine medical care.
The Chance Phelps Coin is another way to help our Foundation raise funds to help the foundation continue to help our veterans. We currently are planning for one major fund-raiser this summer, and continue this each year. CPF is currently on the Combined Federal Campaign list of non-profit charities that Federal employees can give to as well.
Our thanks to all of the public who have helped CPF and continue to help us reach our goal of helping our vets!
Gretchen Mack, President/Founder of CPF
and mother of LCpl Chance R. Phelps USMC, KIA 9 April 2004
The U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) is one of seven uniformed services of the United States. Each day these fine men and women go to work for our country and we are honored to be able to produce recognition items that honor their efforts. One of the most important pieces of their identity is the uniform. In addition to items such as custom lapel pins, mini-badges and Marine challenge coins; we can also create custom embroidered marine patches to honor your squadron or even the retired marine in your family.
Whether you are a Private or Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, we can create a custom piece that will be made to your liking. We can provide patches for:
- Helicopter Squadrons
- Combat Air Crew
- Fixed Wing Squadrons
- Air Stations
- Marine Bases
- Marine Ships
- Fleet Marine Force
Contact us today for more information on how to get started on your custom marine patch layout.
We had the opportunity to create a custom coin for The North Carolina Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics in 2010. Let’s learn a bit more about the Torch run in the below segment taken from the Special Olympics North Carolina Web site.
The North Carolina Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics unites officers from law enforcement agencies and corrections departments across the state in an effort to raise funds and awareness for Special Olympics North Carolina The Torch Run efforts to raise funds include: collecting corporate sponsorships, T-shirt and hat donations and hosting unique fundraising events such as building sits, polar plunges and golf tournaments.
Each summer, law enforcement officials carry the Flame of Hope across the state in The Torch Run Final Leg, culminating in the lighting of the cauldron to officially open the Special Olympics North Carolina Summer Games in Raleigh. The 2,000-mile, 15-day Torch Run Relay involves more than 2,500 law enforcement officers and personnel representing more than 200 law enforcement agencies across North Carolina.
The Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics is officially endorsed by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the North Carolina Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Sheriff's Association, the North Carolina Sheriff's Association, the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, the NC Department of Corrections and the National Association of School Resource Officers.
As you can see, this is quite the event and its fundraising efforts support a great cause. The custom coin we were able to produce for this event serves as nice collectible and commemorative piece. Its use can extend to those participating in the event, the fans, and even those giving donations as they all can use this custom coin as a piece by which to remember the event for their own reason.
We produce custom coins like this frequently and would love to talk to you about your next event! Contact us for a free quote and design consultation to get started.
We had the opportunity to create a truly unique, detailed piece for the American Snipers 
organization. You may be wondering who exactly makes up the American Snipers. Here is a segment from their Web site, AmericanSnipers.org, with all the basic info:
American Snipers are active and recently retired law enforcement snipers, as well as snipers from various military branches. We are a tight-knit group that believes strongly in supporting our brothers that are deployed to the front lines. In return for that support, they then pass their gained knowledge to us upon their return. We work hard and believe in our missions. We train hard so that when the time comes, we can accomplish our missions to the fullest of our abilities. We are the ones putting our lives on the line to help keep this great country safe and free from terrorism. We are your sons, your brothers, your husbands, your fathers, as well as your friends.
A big part of keeping the American Snipers organization active is fundraising. In order to do that, American Snipers’ members participate in events at trade shows, law enforcement and military conferences, shooting events and other competitions across the country. But one other key piece to the American Snipers’ efforts are the custom patches and custom challenge coins. Each year AmericanSnipers.org releases a commemorative coin for that calendar year. For 2010 we helped American Snipers create the "Skull" coin, in the shape of a skull, which has a bullet hole through it. That coin is pictured below and you can order this coin on the American Snipers Web site here.
We look forward to creating the 2011 custom challenge coin for the American Snipers as well!
A bittersweet moment for us happens when we are able to create the perfect custom coin in celebration of one’s life. Below is a segment from Lisa Schnepp. Lisa is the sister of Leslie Anne Hulse, a police officer whose life was taken by cancer. “Leslie Anne was a daughter, sister, friend, police officer and Christ warrior. She loved life, loved her work and family. Her smile would light up a room. She never met a stranger and was always just a little kid at heart. Leslie was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 32. She endured multiple surgeries as well as chemo therapy. We thought the cancer was gone. But as cancer so often does, it came back stronger than ever. She endured more surgery, more therapy. Leslie continued to work throughout her cancer treatment and didn’t let it get her down. Her faith became even stronger and helped her to fight the good fight. Leslie passed away on September 28th, 2009, surrounded by friends and family.
Leslie taught us all how to really live, to stay strong, and how to give it all to God. In all you do, glorify God. With the help of the Fishers Fire and Police Departments, a memorial fund has been set up in Leslie’s name. Money from the purchase of this coin will go into the fund. Our goal is to create an annual scholarship for a student interested in law enforcement, social work or a related field. Coins can be ordered through the fund website, www.lesliehulse.org. You can also hear Leslie tell her own story, see pictures of her life and learn about our fundraising efforts.”
The Leslie Hulse custom challenge coin is a 1 5/8" die struck Police challenge coin. The front of the memorial coin contains an image of Leslie in her police uniform. Her call sign for ERT is also displayed. The back of the custom coin contains a favorite bible verse and symbols for breast cancer and human trafficking. Each coin comes packaged in a PVC pouch and includes a printed card containing a special message. Coins are $15 each and you can purchase the custom challenge coins here. All proceeds will go to the Leslie Hulse Legacy Fund for a yearly scholarship and other causes important to Leslie.
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