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.
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!
Every once in a while on my lunch break I will head to the McDonald’s down the street. I sit in the same corner booth so I can read in peace and watch the news between bites. The last few times I’ve gone there I have been fortunate enough to look up and see an old friend, and great Indiana Lion, Doug Lozier. I’ll stop by and say hey on my way out, and we’ll talk about his wife and mine, his baby grand daughter and my son, share a laugh over a story and I’ll be on my way. While I am there enjoying my lunch and watching the news, I wonder if anyone else there might know Doug? Might know of his accomplishments as a Lion? That there is a truly selfless- minded man who donates his time for the well being of complete strangers? Well allow me to introduce you to him in case you haven’t met. Check out the attached link about Doug’s life as a Lion, and while you’re there take a look around to see how you can get involved too.
We have created several custom Lions pins over the years, and each one tells a story. We were especially happy when Doug came in the office letting us know he had been elected International Director so that we could tell his story.
Thanks again Doug!
Lions Pins and Arkansas are two things you don’t usually think of together, but we’ve been hearing a lot about both lately. We are currently working with the Arkansas Lions Club to provide Lions Club Pins. The custom Lions Pins will be worn at their yearly parade.We also saw a tweet from our Twitter friends 39DollarGlasses, to a blog post they wrote about an Arkansas Lions Club hosting a benefit for the blind. Proceeds from the 12th Annual Jamie Bray Memorial Golf Classic will go towards providing eyeglasses to the less fortunate and funding donations to several organizations, including Lions World Services for the Blind.
Chairman Lion Marty Faggetti said, "We have been truly blessed here in our community to have great support by local golfers, many very good and some who only play one time each year to help pay for sight-related services.”
More than likely you will see Lions Pins at the Arkansas golf tournament and during the parade. Whatever the type of Lions Pin you need, and no matter what state you live in, we know that Recognition Services can help with your custom Lions Club Pin project.
Lions Club Banners are more important than you might think. Lions Memorial service procedures include a Lions Club Banner and a Lions Club Friendship Banner if available. The American flag is placed on one side of the casket and the Lions Banner on the other side. Smaller Friendship Banners are exchanged when Lions visit another Lions Club. When a Lion accepts a Friendship Banner from a member of a different Lions Club, it represents that they and their Clubs are friends. Lions Club Friendship Banners are also exchanged when two Lions Clubs merge or “twin” together. They sign official paperwork and then exchange Friendship Banners.
With the importance of Lions Banners, banner collecting has become more popular throughout the years. Lions Trading Pins often opens the doors for Lions to become interested in trading banners. Lions Club members will exchange banners with other Lions to fill their collection. Several Lions collectors hang their Lions Pins on the walls and their Lions banners on the ceiling.
We design and manufacture custom Lions Banners for Lions Clubs all over. Whether it’s small Friendship Banners to exchange with other Lions Clubs, or a large Lions Banner for your meeting room, we have been there and hung that. Contact us for Lions Club Banners and Lions Pins made by a company experienced with the Lions Club – Recognition Services.
Lions Club International is known worldwide for helping the blind. From eyeglass donation boxes to free vision screenings, the Lions Club has helped the blind and vision impaired since Helen Keller challenged them in 1925. You have known about the sight programs, but did you know that Lions also help to support and train Lions Pilot Dogs?There are many Lions Clubs in Ohio and elsewhere that have helped Pilot Dogs Incorporated. Lions Clyde R. Tipton and Dwight Swepston, members of the Tri-Village Lions Club, presented a motion in 1960 at the State Convention of Ohio Lions to adopt Pilot Dogs as a state project. This became reality at the 41st Convention and Pilot Dogs was granted permission to be known as “Lions Pilot Dogs” by Lions Club International. Over 500 Lions Clubs now support Pilots Dogs and their services to the blind.
They also have an Alumni Association that meets annually in Columbus, Ohio. Owners of guide dogs that have graduated from Pilot Dogs get together to exchange information, knowledge, experiences and to new learn about new training techniques and technologies.
As member Truie Davis told us, “We try to promote a better understanding among the general public of the value of guide dogs to those who are visually impaired, and to promote the acceptance of persons using guide dogs to all facilities and means of transportation open to the general public.”
We manufacture custom lapel pins for Pilot Dogs Incorporated to present to their alumni association members. They also use the lapel pins to thank Lions Clubs for their support and to anyone else working to support Pilot Dogs Inc. You can support Pilot Dogs here, and then contact us with your idea for a custom made lapel pin.
Custom embroidered patches can be used in a variety of ways. Custom patches make great hand out pieces at events to ensure all attendees have something to take home with them. They also can be worn on virtually any piece of clothing to add a bit of character. From Military uniforms to Lions Club uniforms - no uniform is complete without a custom embroidered patch.
We have also created custom patches for political campaigns, sports teams and paramedic units. One other unique idea is creating a custom patch for letter jackets at high schools. These always go over well with the students as they take great pride in their letter jackets and typically hang onto them after they graduate. We continue to encourage you to challenge us with your unique custom patch idea as we always enjoy taking on new work.
So the next time you are planning an event, playing on a sports team, or launching a new product; Contact us to learn how custom embroidered patches can be used to increase awareness by showing recognition.
Remember the Olympics? One news story that always appears during every Olympics is the trading of commemorative pins. Now, your club or district can join in on the fun. The 93rd Annual Lions Club International Convention is quickly approaching and the best way to stand out down under is to have your group attend fully-armed with unique, collectible and memorable Lions Club Pins.LCI's annual convention is the foremost international event of the year, when Lions and their families from over 100 countries unite for a week of business and fellowship and fun. Highlights of the many activities scheduled during the convention include three inspiring plenary sessions, motivational guest speakers and workshops, the festive International Parade of Nations, and the exciting international show.
But no doubt, one of the most talked about activities will be Lions trading pins. What better way to meet new friends. Since this is as much social as inspirational, the best way to easily strike up a conversation with a fellow Lion is to engage them in conversation about trading and talking about your club’s or district’s unique pins. Order your Lions pins today so your entire club is well represented in Sydney this June.
For those attending, it is a proud statement of who you are and where you are from. For those running for office, what better way to stay in front of voters and the membership than handing out Lions Club Pins. A Lions Pin is the perfect way to share this landmark event for those who can’t make it to Australia. They last a lifetime.
The convention is approaching fast, so now is the time to place your order to ensure everyone who wants and needs a Lions pin can get one. Request a quote and get going now to enjoy this meaningful celebration.
When you think of Lions Club International events, the pancake breakfast and fish fry probably come to mind first. The Millersport Lions Club took the idea of a food event a step further and started a Sweet Corn Festival over 50 years ago. This has become a long and proud tradition for Millersport Lions Club members and the local community.The Sweet Corn Festival is held Wednesday through Saturday before Labor Day at the shady Historic Lions Park in Millersport, Ohio. Since 1947 it has been the annual fundraising project for the Millersport Lions Club. The main attraction is the hot butter flavored sweet corn served fresh on the cob and piping hot. For those who feel guilty afterwards, there is also a 5-K Run, square dancing and strolling around to the many historical exhibits. The children can enjoy the sweet corn guilt free and also watch tractor pulls, farm animals, the grand parade, the large midway and participate in children’s contests.
Friday and Saturday evenings feature performances by Nashville country music stars and a chance to win 10,000 dollars! This four-day community event is a major source of income for over 100 non-profit charitable organizations. Check out their festival website at www.sweetcornfest.com and see if you can attend, or possibly hold a similar fundraising event for your Lions Club. They say it’s ear-resistible!
Wayne Madden is currently running for 2nd Vice President of Lions Club International. We support Wayne as he is from Indiana and encourage you to read about his efforts on the Wayne Madden Lions Club website.
Putting together a campaign for any type of office position is a lot of work. Candidates turn to promotional items such as lapel pins, badges, and custom embroidered patches to help increase awareness as well as votes. In addition to collectible Lions pins, Wayne is also using custom patches as fundraising tools to support his campaign. We wish Wayne and his team our best as he continues his campaign up until election time.
The Lions Club Pin Emporium Website is for new and longtime pin traders that want to know more about Lions Club International Convention pins that have been issued from the 1950's to the present. The website also provides images and information covering other Lions Club International items of interest like attendance, special awards, etc. It has become "the" reference website to learn about LCI pin trading and is even used by antique dealers as a reference. The website was started in 2004 and averages over 500 unique visitors a week with spikes of over a thousand. Page loads fluctuate wildly from 2,000 to 9,000+ per week which generates a lot of informative communications. The website is the primary pastime of retiree Lion Verle Malik. Lion Verle has held all local Club offices with the exception of Secretary and has been Zone Chairman three times in different Districts. Lions and especially pin trading got into his blood about eighteen years ago and has been his main focus since retiring in 2002. Twelve to sixteen hours a day are spent researching and communicating with pin traders around the World. All this effort has produced two handbooks that thoroughly cover USA Multiple Districts pins plus a third covering Countries from all continents (except for Antarctica-not many Lions there). If you are or thinking about becoming a Lions Club pin trader this website is a "must" to subscribe to! Whether you join or not, Lion Verle enjoys talking about Lions trading pins so contact him with your questions at lionverl@comcast.net.
It’s often been said that every custom embroidered patch has a story that goes along with it. For most, patches are earned not given. Boy Scout patches & Lions Club patches are perfect examples of organizations where hours of work are involved in attaining certain patches.
An Eagle Scout patch is considered the ultimate goal for scouts as it typically takes years to attain an Eagle rank. Those that earn this patch have several stories to tell for each patch along the way. The video below is just one example of a Scout’s patch collection on YouTube. Notice how each patch sparks a memory for the narrator and also pay special attention to the pride he takes in his embroidered patch collection. This is not uncommon for Scouts and Lions club members and represents a great example of what a patch can represent to the “average” person.
Our customer testimonials are a great reminder that these Lions Club products are most than just a pin, patch or coin – they are a team building piece that Lions Club members wear and share with pride. Several Lions Club leaders are using these products not only for fundraising, but also to recognize those involved for their extraordinary work. We are especially excited about the tradition our custom Lions Club Coins are creating among members. Below is a testimonial we wanted to share from Jack Weist about a custom coin we created for him to use as an award. “The coins have been a great morale building piece. There are several people who have helped me this last year who definitely deserve the recognition. These key people in my district are given the ‘Jack Weist Award’ and they have been grateful for it. Not many Lion’s are familiar with this tradition so it means something special to them. I would definitely recommend the coin for fellow Lions. It’s a great way to make someone feel appreciated for their hard work.”
Contact us today if you would like to create your own custom Lions Club Coins to use as awards.
Establishing a solid network of other Twitter users will go a long way when it is time to ask for volunteers or donations for the Lions Club International. Developing relationships with your followers by engaging in conversation will increase the likelihood of them helping to spread your message. You spread their message and typically they will do the favor back in return. Thousands of non-profits are using Twitter as a campaign tool to increase their donations online, but most recently it has been celebrities that have stepped up to the plate by using Twitter as a donation tool. In just one day, Wyclef Jean was able to raise over 1 million dollars for Haiti disaster efforts when 200,000 people responded to his number to send a $5 donation text! Granted, Wyclef Jean is a celebrity with a large network of followers, but this still proves that with the RIGHT network the potential for all-time highs in donation dollars exists.
With all of this in mind, why wouldn’t you want to start a Twitter account for your Lions Club? Twitter limits you to 140 characters, so you cannot use lack of time as an excuse. Listen, join in, engage, make relationships and hopefully gain new members and donations for your Lions Club.
Twitter has become one of the best ways to effectively deliver timely news. We recommend setting up a Twitter account just for your local Lions Club to provide the ultimate tool for delivering all of the latest updates. Encourage other Lions members to follow your Lions Club twitter account to find out about meeting schedules and other Lions Club news in your area. Using Twitter as a primary source for news, and encouraging other Lions to share the news among their followers, will go a long way in increasing awareness as well.
Another great tool that will help stream-line communication among existing chapter members are Twitter Lists. This is a relatively new feature that Twitter rolled out to help break down Twitter users into smaller groups. Creating a new Twitter list for all of your Lions connections will be a tremendous help in making sure you do not miss all of the latest updates. Mashable, an online social media guide has a blog post with step by step instructions to get your Twitter list set up. You can also find many Lions Club members on Twitter with the Lions Club International’s own Twitter list.
Once you get things going on Twitter for your Lions Club, remember it’s just like real life. You are there to communicate with others... listen, respond, engage and communicate.
Twitter is a great resource for communicating with potential members to help educate them on the benefits of joining the Lions Club. A good place to start is by conducting a Twitter search for those existing Twitter users talking about the Lions Club International online. To do this, simply go to search.twitter.com and search for “Lions Club” or “lionsclub”. If you are a new Twitter user, you may be surprised by the results. The basic Twitter search can be taken a step further by conducting an advanced Twitter search (http://search.twitter.com/advanced). With the advanced Twitter search features you can narrow down your search to a specific location to help filter your results.
Do not limit yourself to just “lions club” searches. Think about other activities in which Lions Club members are involved and conduct several searches to get a “pulse” for the discussion. Once you have identified Twitter users that seem to be a good fit, engage in conversation and help educate. It's that easy to gain Twitter followers and possible new Lions Club members!
Below is a segment of the speech Helen Keller delivered:
"The American Foundation for the Blind is only four years old. It grew out of the imperative needs of the blind, and was called into existence by the sightless themselves. It is national and international in scope and in importance. It represents the best and most enlightened thought on our subject that has been reached so far. Its object is to make the lives of the blind more worthwhile everywhere by increasing their economic value and giving them the joy of normal activity.Try to imagine how you would feel if you were suddenly stricken blind today. Picture yourself stumbling and groping at noonday as in the night; your work, your independence, gone. In that dark world wouldn't you be glad if a friend took you by the hand and said, "Come with me and I will teach you how to do some of the things you used to do when you could see?" That is just the kind of friend the American Foundation is going to be to all the blind in this country if seeing people will give it the support it must have.
You have heard how through a little word dropped from the fingers of another, a ray of light from another soul touched the darkness of my mind and I found myself, found the world, found God. It is because my teacher learned about me and broke through the dark, silent imprisonment which held me that I am able to work for myself and for others. It is the caring we want more than money. The gift without the sympathy and interest of the giver is empty. If you care, if we can make the people of this great country care, the blind will indeed triumph over blindness.
The opportunity I bring to you, Lions, is this: To foster and sponsor the work of the American Foundation for the Blind. Will you not help me hasten the day when there shall be no preventable blindness; no little deaf, blind child untaught; no blind man or woman unaided? I appeal to you Lions, you who have your sight, your hearing, you who are strong and brave and kind. Will you not constitute yourselves Knights of the Blind in this crusade against darkness?"
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