In one of our recent blog posts, we discussed new
Lions Club Fundraising Merchandise that we are rolling out in 2010 such as custom Lions Club Coins, Lions Club Patches, Lions Club Pins and even Lions Club Key Chains. We have put our 30 plus years of experience behind our work and have been delivering some truly unique custom designs for Lions Club Fundraising products.
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!
Helen Keller Lions trading pins are the perfect way to remember that historic day in 1925 at the Lions Club International Convention in Cedar Point, Ohio. That was the day Helen Keller delivered a speech requesting that Lions Club members vow to assume the title of the
Knights of the Blind.
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?"
Today, over 85 years later, Lions Club members still keep their commitment to Helen Keller by continuing to advocate the cause behind the
Knights of the Blind title. The Lions Club wants everyone to see a better tomorrow by supporting sight programs and services including vision screenings, eye banks and eyeglass recycling. With March being National Eye Donor month it becomes a priority for Lions Club members to remember and renew their commitment to Helen Keller and the blind. Custom Lions pins can be worn to remind members and the general public about the Lions Club International’s efforts in Helen Keller’s memory.
Without a Tail Twister there would be much less laughter and camaraderie at Lions Club meetings. The official role of the Tail Twister is to creatively promote harmony, good will, fellowship, life and enthusiasm in the Lions meetings through stunts, games and activities, including an imposition of “fines” on club members.
Membership attendance is always higher at a Lions Club with a successful Tail Twister. The “fines” are usually never more than a couple of quarters. A member could be fined for having their hair too long, too short or having no hair at all! It's all good humored in nature and never outright embarrassing. Tail Twisters will fine members for arriving late, spilling their drink, talking out of turn or not talking enough. They can ask Lions to tell a joke on the spot and fine them depending on how much laughter the Lion did or did not receive. A common theme is to also acknowledge a fellow Lion for a birthday, promotion or other special event - and then fine them for it!
The Tail Twister is also important when meetings get too serious or a Lion gets a little out of hand. Every member is usually fined once every couple of meetings so no one feels left out. It is also a great way to get new members involved.
Besides the President, the Tail Twister could arguably be the most important part of Lions Club meetings. A special custom Lions Pin from We-Belong would recognize and publicize their contributions. We hope to feature your favorite Lions Club Tail Twisters and their antics in the future, so feel free to give us nominations!
We are excited to announce new lines of officially licensed Lions Club merchandise for 2010. Many Lions Clubs throughout the world have realized the great potential that promotional items such as Lions Club Pins have for their fundraising efforts. We Belong by Recognition Services is committed to helping you find new ways to raise money for donations to worthwhile Lions causes.
Custom Lions Club Coins are probably the product we are most excited about for Lions Club members. The excitement could be due to the fact that we love designing and making Custom Lions Coins, and have been providing service organizations with coins for 32 years. But we also know how much money can be raised with Lions Club Pins and have seen the same success with our coin customers. Ideas for custom Lions Coins include: acknowledging outstanding effort and contribution; thanking a volunteer; promoting unity between clubs and districts; and celebrating special events like anniversaries or promotions.
Lions club patches are also a new officially licensed Lions Club product for 2010. Yes, we also have many years of experience with designing and producing patches for all types of organizations. From Police Departments to Motorcycle Clubs, we've provided patches as small as one-inch and as large as 20-inches. Lions Club Appliqués are also available, which are typically 1-inch diameter patches with an adhesive backing. Appliqués are a fantastic inexpensive option to hand out at conventions as a means of ‘tagging’ your fellow Lions.
Lions Club Key Chains are another new item for Lions to use to promote their club, auction off for charity or trade with other Lions Clubs. Our custom Lions key chains are available with all the same options you can find with our custom Lions trading pins.
We'll follow up in the next months with fundraising ideas and examples for how you can use Lions Club coins, Lions patches, Lions key chains and Lions Club pins to promote and raise money for your Lions Club.
Lions Trading Pins are very popular with Lions Club members all over the world. Lions Pin collecting and trading provides a whole new way for members to recognize and be involved with other clubs. Lions Pin trading started in the 1950's and an official Lions International Trading Pin Club was formed in 1973. We are proud to have been a part of it as an official Lions Club Licensee for 9 years.
The majority of Lions Club Pins we supply are die struck soft enamel pins because of their exceptional appearance and affordable price. They look a lot more expensive than they cost. The design is stamped with a custom die onto a flat sheet of metal and finished with gold, silver or copper finishes. Enamel paint adds color and definition to the design details. A clear epoxy coating can be added to the surface to give the custom Lions Club pin a shiny look and help prevent scratching. Soft enamel lapels look best with designs that have separated colors.
Litho Lions pins are an exact reproduction of a photo or full color illustration. Because they are printed, Litho Lions pins can include graduated colors. The epoxy dome protects the image from scratching. Litho Lions Club pins have a custom shape and size in a choice of gold or silver metal finish.
3D cast Lions pins have a sculptural appearance with a three dimensional look and feel. A rubber mold with your design is spun at a high speed and filled with molten metal. The metal then cools and each pin is hand painted if required, and then finished with a polishing process. 3D cast Lions Club pins can be made in nearly any size or shape and finished in bright or antiques gold, silver or copper finishes.
You don’t have to make a decision about what process is right for you. Just
contact us with your idea or design and we'll help you choose the best type of Lions Club pin. With over 30 years of providing the finest custom emblematic jewelry, your Lions Club is in good hands with We Belong by Recognition Services.
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