Lapel Pins, Patches & Coins

It is projected that political parties will spend an estimated $7 billion in the 2012 election year.  Recognition Services is here to help campaign managers and politicians turn that campaign spending into campaign fundraising!  We are proud to introduce the Wipe It Now! Screen Cleaner to as the next great fundraiser for your campaign. 

The Wipe It Now offers your campaign 3 ways to promote your message:

1. The first is fully custom full color imprint on a 1.25 stock rectangle/square/circle shape.  This piece will be attached to the mobile device of your supporters to further generate exposure
   
2. The second is with a custom full color 2 sided packaging card you can use to highlight your campaign platform and agenda.
   
3. The third is using a custom QR code (scan the attached sample with your mobile device to see the results in action). Conveniently printed on the packaging with a link directly back to your campaign website.  This is a great tool to get immediate voter interaction and registration. 
   

This political fundraising program is the complete package.  The Wipe It Now! Screen Cleaner is small and lightweight, so they are very easy to transport from place to place.  No more burden your staff and volunteers to lug around heavy boxes from site to site.  Speaking of volunteers, these are also a great volunteer appreciation gift! 

Let us help you generate campaign publicity and funds today by contacting us for a quote, or clicking on the banner at the top of this page.

It is a rite of passage in my family to be given your first quilt from "Mom".  "Mom" was actually my great-grandmother, but to all members of our family she was simply the matriarch "Mom".  She hand made each member of our family a quilt as we grew up, and each and every one was unique.  I always cherished mine, it was and still is one of the most unique gifts I have ever received.

Quilting was a great hobby for my great-grandmother and she was quite good at it.   It kept her mind sharp and occupied as her husband was gone and fought in WWII, and it kept her busy on those sleepless nights when she worried about her two sons as they served their country (there is a history of service in both the military and law enforcement in my family).  That history of service still lives on in the generation my cousins and I share, and I when I heard of her next quilting project (yup she's still stitching approaching the age of 101) I was glad to know this history would soon have a tangible recording. 

Using the law enforcement patches and military patches our family has acquired over the years, the new quilt will be a 'living tapestry' of our service.  Each unit patch woven into the fabric of this quilt will tell a story of service.  I cannot wait to see this finished product, and to see how it will continue to grow over time as new custom patches will be added to it.

I work with patches every day, and while I may not understand the meaning or purpose for each custom embroidered patch we make, I know that for each of our customers the patch tells a story.  That is what I am happy to be a part of.  If you are looking for a story to be told through a custom patch, please contact us today or click the link above for a free quote.

Earlier this year the community of Boston lost one of their most beloved philanthropists with the passing of Myra Kraft after a long battle with cancer.  Myra will be greatly missed largely due to the fact she was so active in not only in the Boston community, but also in philanthropic missions worldwide.  I encourage you to check out the details of her involvement with the United Way, Boys and Girls Club, and so many other organizations here.

Myra was also the wife of Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, where she was also very active in the team's charitable efforts.  Her passing had such an impact on the team and the NFL community that this season all Patriots players are wearing an embroidered patch on their uniforms in her honor.  However at a recent home game in September the Patriots distributed 70,000 MHK custom lapel pins so that fans also could wear a memento of her legacy.  All remaining pins are now on sale with the proceeds being donated to the charities she cherished most in her honor.  To learn more about these recognition lapel pins please visit this link for more on the story.

This story was a great reminder to me that small tokens such as a pin can carry so much meaning in a simplistic design.  We all have tokens and mementos in our personal lives that connect us to a particular event or person that we cherish and want to remember and I think this story proves that.  

When we are asked to create pieces of such importance we take a certain level of pride and humility with the request.  It is our pleasure to help the remembrance of loved ones, or even just a solemn event.  If you are ever in need of such a token, we are only a click away.

With October here, so is breast cancer awareness month.  For the next four weeks everywhere we turn we will see pink ribbon lapel pins as a reminder of this horrific affliction.  It is a chance for all of us to Stand Up 2 Cancer united as we search for a cure.  However for a handful of faithful workers in Wisconsin, four weeks is just not enough.

The ladies of Choose Hope are some of the hardest workers that I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.  Their commitment to cancer fundraising and awareness is hard to match.  While the rest of us only seem to think about cancer during October, or when it rears its ugly head in our personal lives, these dedicated ladies are on the frontlines of cancer awareness every single day.  Every sale made with Choose Hope generates more funding for cancer research and support.  If you want to see these incredible numbers I encourage you to check out their donations page here.  In September alone they were able to donate an amazing $16,000.00 thanks to the support of their customers. 

If you are looking for a lapel pin to wear this month, I encourage you to check out their stock wholesale lapel pins, and other cancer awareness products here.  Shop knowing that every purchase is helping in the fight against cancer.  They even have some new wristbands that sum up the sentiment quite nicely.

However if you're looking to create your own custom piece, we would be happy to help you as well.  Please just click on the above quote request banner at the top of this page and let us know what you would like to have created.

Thank you again to the ladies of Choose Hope.  Keep up the good work and fight the good fight. 

If you have ever been around a group of Lions Club members for more any length of time, you just can't deny they have a heart for community that is hard to match.  That being said I just wanted to share this video that was first screened at the USA/Canada Lions Leadership Forum in Anchorage a couple of weeks ago.  Check it out and see why the vests mean business.  (It also doesn't hurt to check out all those amazing lions club pins and lions club patches, that's how we like to 'rock the vest'.)



Keep up the great jobs you Lions!  Let's hear that Roar! 

I try as much as possible to give shout outs to our customers that do great things and put on great events.  That is why I wanted to take a minute and talk about the Choir Boys L.E.M.C. group.  We recently created this custom motorcycle pin for an upcomming ride in November, and I like to think it's one of the nicer lapel pins we've created all year.   

Integrity of the pin aside, I think the focus should go on the integrity and character that each member of this motorcycle club brings to the table.  Each member is from a law enforcement background and is dedicated to helping the law enforcement community through their charitable actions. 

If you are local law enforcement in the great American south west, and you only a Harley Davidson, I would stronly suggest meeting up with your fellow blue bloods and enjoy a ride.  Take a look at the Choir Boys site here.

The Naval Special Warfare Group has been in the news a lot lately for their heroic deeds and sacrifices seen around the world.  On May 2, 2011 a group of the elite Navy Seals, a division of under Naval Special Warfare Command, eliminated Osama Bin Laden which thrust the NSWC into the spotlight as the upper echelon of the armed forces.  The world also watched the tragedy of August 6, 2011 when a helicopter crash killed 17 Navy Seals, as well as 8 American and 8 Afghan operatives.  In between these events we were called upon to create a custom challenge coin for the families of the NSWC members stationed in Virginia Beach.  The Virginia Beach outpost of the Naval Special Warfare Command just so happened to be where the families of many fallen soldiers of the August incident lived.

It was a very sobering feeling knowing that just a few weeks before these challenge coins were delivered to the Virginia Beach area that these families were filled with pride for what the Seals had accomplished.  Yet soon after receiving these pocket tokens these families would be filled grief over the loss of their fallen family members.  The coin reads simply "We Also Serve" and outlines the figure of a mother holding an infant, and a little boy saluting the American flag.  The message is simple and powerful, our military families truly serve behind the scenes. 

As much as we as a nation have thanked the troops in all branches of the military for their valiant support and service, I want to take a minute to say thank you to all of the military families out there that also serve.  Thank you for being a support to our heroes.  Thank you to the spouses that endure sleepless nights for the sake of our freedom.  Thank you to the parents of these brave men and women for raising such courageous pillars of humanity.  Finally, thank you to the children of these men and women for carrying the spirit of bravery and justice into generations to come.

If you have taken the time to read this post, I strongly encourage you to leave a message of inspiration to not just the families of the NSWC, but to all families of service men and women so that they might see how much we appreciate them as well.

This past year we have had numerous requests from members of Lions Club International asking for a unique gift that they could give as an award to outstanding Lions or Lions Club supporters.  After quite a bit of design and development, we are pleased to bring to you the Lions Club Etched Medallion Plate!

These awards are a fantastic option when a lapel pin, challenge coin, or certificate simply will not convey enough appreciation.  These plates can be proudly displayed in club entrances, on podiums, and tables as each piece comes with its own satin lined gift box and wooden stand.  Customization options are available for the plates, and the stock design you see above has a low minimum of only one piece!  If you are looking for the perfect gift to let you know your cabinet, sponsors, and volunteers just how special they are then please do not hesitate to contact us today.

Thank you again to all our supporters and customers, we greatly appreciate your business.

Everyday we produce custom coins, custom lapel pins, and custom embroidered patches, each with their own purpose and story.  When our customers tell us their story behind the products they order we know we are helping by creating more than an 'emblem'.  Any time we are able to help our customers and contribute to their stories we are more than happy to do so.

Recently a firefighter in Atlanta whom we've produced custom badges for in the past asked me to pass along his story and ask for our support.  He is working diligently with the Pepsi Refresh program with a goal to open Camp Mai Soli for fostered and adopted children.  I encourage you to read up on his project here and vote for his cause.  As the saying goes, think of the children. 

We want to do more for all of our customers than just create emblems, we want to help create stories of success.  We are only as successful as our customers and their endeavors.  If you are currently working on a project for yourself or your community and you need support and visibility, please do not hesitate to contact us so that we can use these blogs as a podium for your message.  These blogs are visited hundreds of times each week, let us help you spread your message.

Thank you again for your continued support!

Upon returning from an extremely successful Lions Club International Convention in Seattle (by the way a quick thank you to all who stopped by the booth, it was great to meet you!) we received a great bit of news that we are very proud to share.  For the second consecutive year the MD25 Lions Trading Pin we had the pleasure of producing has won the Lions International Trading Pin Club (LITPC) MD pin of the year award.   This was a great surprise and honor coming off the heels of winning the same award last year (as well as winning Lions Club International MD lapel pin of the year).  A big congratulations to our fellow Hoosier Lions in MD25 as they are the real recipients of this honor for the last two years.  A special thank you to Indiana Lion Mike Gutyan and his better half Helen.  They have conceptualized the lapel pin art for the last several years and we have helped them turn their concept into a tangible piece.

Thanks again for all your support and congrats to MD25!  Don't forget to click the quote request link above if you are looking for a custom lapel pin!

During the summer months we are hard at work creating custom biker pins and embroidered patches for clubs doing various events, and whenever possible we like to give credit to the great causes we have the pleasure of being involved with.  
                                            
We recently created a lapel pin for the American Firefighters Motorcycle Club based out of Chicago and I feel they have a story and event lined up that is definitely worth sharing.  This September will mark the 10 year anniversary of 9/11.  To commemorate this event and to honor the heroes and loved ones lost that day, the American Firefighters M/C will be embarking on a ride from Chicago to New York.  The ride will start on September 6th, with stops in Shanksville, Gettysburg, DC, and finally New York.  To learn more about this ride and the travel accommodations being made, please click here to learn more about the American Firefighters M/C 9/11 Ride.

Ahh, the mere mention of these words is sure to stir up a bit of nostalgia for some, and for others the Star Wars universe is a daily part of life.  This iconic franchise has set impressive box office records worldwide, and the icons used throughout the films have easily become some of the most recognized logos in our culture.  With this success has come the rise and reign of some of the most devout fans anyone could ask for.

Around the world these fans will unite and form their own Legion or Garrison, depending on the call from the Light or Dark side of course.  These fans will take their support to the next level by creating their own costumes and replicas from the movies and take their hobby to the streets.  You see these guys around comic shops, in movie theaters, and nearly all comic/gaming conventions you can think of.  But it's not all just for show, these guys do great charity work in the name of fandom, yes even the 'bad guys' too.  However none of these costumes are complete without a set of unit patches. 

Often throughout the year we are contacted by local garrisons and legion posts to help in designing and manufacturing custom embroidered patches for use on costumes, or even for fundraising sales.  It just goes to show that you don't have to be a police officer, or a soldier to don a great embroidered patch. 

If you are part of a garrison or legion post looking to do a custom unit patch please don't hesitate to contact us by clicking the quote request button at the top of this page.

Every month we produce dozens of styles of custom challenge coins, and while each has their own unique story and design, there are a few challenge coins that stand out above the rest.  We recently had the opportunity to work with a police officer out in Albuquerque who was also retired Navy.  Dave wanted a custom coin that would symbolize his Navy pride and tell a story of Navy tradition. He wanted to make sure this coin stood above the rest in terms of size and uniqueness, and his idea of going above and beyond the conventional round coin idea ended up paying off great.  By shaping the mold of the coin to mimic the seal for the United States Navy Recruiting Command logo we were able to create something truly unique and collectible. 

It's this level of uniqueness and creativity that we love to work with.  To create a visually striking custom piece that is the center piece of any collection is what we strive for.  We are always eager to see the most unique coin in your collection as well so leave a comment and tell us what the most striking coin is in your collection, and how you came to own it.

If you are in the market for a unique military challenge coin then look no further. 

The 2012 primaries and elections will be coming upon us soon, and that means we all need to brace for the relentless campaign tours, TV ads, and debates from our favorite hopefuls.  It also means we're bound to see more than one lapel adorned with the American Flag lapel pin.  The Stars and Stripes has been a staple in our country's accessory drawer for many decades now, especially in the political circuit.  However some would say USA flag lapel pins should not be a testament to the legitimacy of a person's patriotism, rather their actions will speak louder than their lapel. 

In any case when it comes to talking about custom lapel pins you are speaking our language.  Whether your a patriotic enthusiast or a campaign promoter, we have lapel pin options for you.

Make sure to contact us today by clicking on quote request link at the top of the page!

It's been a crazy few weeks around here at Recognition Services as we having been preparing our booth for the upcoming Lions Clubs International show in Seattle.  However we are sure our efforts will have a big impact on the exhibitor show hall in the 2400 aisle.  If you are lucky enough to make it out to Seattle please make sure to swing by our booth 2411 and say hello to Craig and Steve, they are very eager to get out there and meet with you all!

This year we will present the best in premiere Lions pins and Lions coins as we always have, but we are also excited to present brand new Lions Club Award and Lions Fundraising idea items.  We will have samples to hand out as always, but quantities will be limited per design so make sure to swing by the booth early to pick up your favorite design!

We hope that those of you who are coming out have a safe and fast trip and enjoy the Seattle atmosphere.  For those of you who are not able to make it out to Seattle we would still be happy to send you out a sample upon request, just submit your information to the link at the top of this page.

With the Special Olympics World Games almost upon us we have had the great opportunity to create many custom lapel pins, custom embroidered patches, and custom challenge coins that have been used to raise awareness and funds for this great organization.  Here at Recognition Services we just wanted to take a minute to say thank you to those of you we have had the pleasure of working with for these events.  More importantly we want to say thank you to all the supporters and sponsors of Special Olympics events around the world. 

Each year people from all walks of life and all corners of society will come together in support of the Special Olympics games and participants.  We have seen local Lions Club Members get involved, law enforcement officials take pride in a traditional torch run, and even bikers organizing fundraiser rides for Special Olympics. 

If you are not already involved with this great organization I encourage you to click on this link to see how you can get involved with a program in your area.  It is always a pleasure working with the members of these organizations and their supporters, their spirit of service and humbleness is truly inspiring.

Be a Fan Today!

In light of recent news of the United States removing one of the world's most notorious terrorists, we have been receiving many requests for American Flag lapel pins.  We have several styles in stock as well as the ability to create a custom awareness lapel pin for your needs.  When you wear an American Flag lapel pin you are stating to the world you are proud of the United States of America.  You are proud of the spirit and tradition the flag embodies.  Most importantly when we all wear our flag we stand together and prove that we are truly: One Nation Under God, Indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for All.  We would be happy to help you show your pride in our country by designing a custom pin for you today. 

Every time we answer the phone here at Recognition Services we don't really know what we will be getting in to, we just know that we are contacted to create the highest quality custom lapel pin, challenge coin, or embroidered patch a person can ask for.  So when the phone rang and I answered Mr. Greg Hess's call yesterday I thought it would be business as usual, but little did I know that Greg was going to open up an amazing opportunity for us.  He introduced himself as a local firefighter with the Indianapolis Fire Department, and he wanted to swing by our office to discuss making a custom challenge coin.  A few hours later he was in our lobby and introduced himself as the founder of Project 911 Indianapolis. 


Through his amazing efforts the city of Indianapolis will have a chance to create a memorial using actual pieces of the WTC towers downtown.  I encourage you to check out the site, especially if you are here in Indy, and support his effort any way you can.  His story is amazing, and I truly enjoyed listening to him recount his time at Ground Zero that fateful day back in 2001.  As we wrapped up our meeting regarding the custom coin and custom patch we will be designing for him he pulled out a little pouch containing a rusted and bent piece of metal and placed it in my hands.  Sitting there holding a piece of our nation's history was sobering and humbling to say the least.  What he has done with Project 911 Indianapolis is truly amazing, and we are truly grateful to have the opportunity to work on this project.  If you are part of a group that is planning on creating a memorial piece for the 10 year anniversary of Sept. 11, we would be honored to help you as well.  Please contact us today.

In the spirit of Good Friday I wanted to make a quick post that honors those who make the ultimate sacrifice for their fellow man.  Unfortunately we have seen many police officers killed in the line of duty this year, and frequently we are called upon by the families and departments involved to create a custom challenge coin in their memory.  The police coin you see with this post was actually created for the Santa Ana Honor Guard, and I carry it around with me as a stark reminder of just how noble and courageous men and women of the thin blue line are.  Our heartfelt thanks here at Recognition Services goes out to our civil servants and guardians, as well as their families for the support they offer.  We wish you the best and blessings this Easter weekend.