Many GPAA members enjoy collecting memorabilia from their adventures across the country, pins, hats, stickers, etc. They are nice tokens to remember good times with friends. Patches are a fun and inexpensive item that people like to collect. They are also a great way to bring attention to your group.

As a way to bring about chapter and national unity in the GPAA we at the Ohio Buckeye Chapter are hosting a chapter patch contest. To enter the contest get your members to work together for a design to have some patches made then submit one finished patch to the contest, it's that simple. "GPAA" or "Gold Prospectors Association of America" and the name or initials of your chapter are the only required elements.  (*important notice* The GPAA will only allow use of their copyrighted official logos in your chapter's design as long as GPAA official logos are not altered in proportions or elements. Should you have any questions concerning this legal requirement please contact us at the email below.)  The prize will be a 1/10 oz gold eagle coin donated by a generous member of the OBC. Checking the websites mentioned below you will find this coin has a value greater than the cost of having 100- 3" round patches made.

Your patch design will remain your chapter's property to use as you wish. (I recommend using them for your chapter's fund-raising efforts) They can be any shape but it is recommended to keep them a simple one (round, shield, pill, rectangular, etc) to keep manufacturing costs low. It is also a good idea to limit the number of colors for the same reason. Bold contrasting colors with larger-sized lettering will make yours stand out and keep it simple to make the patch easily recognizable so get your crew together and make something great! Patches4less and the studio.com are companies I use because their prices are reasonable, the service is good and the process is simple, there are dozens of companies that make custom patches. 

Email dukedillon@ymail.com for information on how to submit your entry and put "Patch" in the subject line. The winning patch will be voted upon by GPAA national officials and announced at Gold Rush Days in Bellville, Ohio on September 2nd, 2018. This contest is being run solely by the Ohio Buckeye chapter with permission of the GPAA and as the host the OBC is ineligible to enter the contest.