Getting badges made.
 

I know a lot of nationals have their badges done through a company or through their Alpha chapter...but what about us locals? How would one go about ordering badges? Are badges usually the same design as the chrest, or is it different?

Your badge can be your crest or any other design of your choosing. My local had ours made through Masters of Design just like many of the national groups. We were using this other company called Intercollegiate Designs but the stopped making badges with jewels. That's when we switched to Masters of Design. Pollack was also a good company. Just contact the customer service rep. and they can give you the info you need.

ETA: Burr Patterson and Auld is a company that works with locals too or at least they did.

Usually locals get their badges mass-produced from a local jeweler. As for what the badge itself is, that's up to the organization.