About Our Chapter

NCL, Inc., Bayou Villages Chapter is a group of mothers and daughters who have come together in a commitment to community service, leadership development and cultural experiences.
Members shall reside in or attend school in the area bound by the 610 Loop on the north, south and east sides and by Highway 6 on the west side at the time of their nomination into membership. Like all NCL, Inc. Chapters, Bayou Villages aims to foster the mother-daughter relationship by serving its communities together.

Our Bayou Villages Chapter of NCL, Inc. is a nonprofit corporation with the mission to foster mother-daughter relationships in a philanthropic organization committed to the following three pillars:

• Community Service: Assessing what philanthropic needs exist in our community and helping to meet those needs whenever possible.
• Leadership: Enhancing potential leadership skills through team building, problem solving, mentoring, and group dynamics.
• Cultural: Creating an environment that nurtures a positive identity by recognizing and appreciating the value of differences in each other and the world.

Currently, our chapter has approximately 368 members that support more than 20 philanthropies in and around the Houston metropolitan area. Some of the community service areas supported by our chapter include: disadvantaged children’s services, educational organizations, food and clothing pantries, healthcare, children and adults with special needs, elderly, environmental preservation and animal protection organizations.

IN A TYPICAL NCL, INC., BAYOU VILLAGES MEMBERS VOLUNTEER OVER 10,000 MOTHER-DAUGHTER HOURS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

 

THE NCL EXPERIENCE

NCL, Inc. provides opportunities for mothers, known as “Patronesses,” and daughters, known as “Ticktockers,” to cultivate both mother-daughter and peer relationships through service to others.

THE TICKTOCKER EXPERIENCE

The Ticktocker experience is a small group leadership program that allows each young woman to know the joy of helping others, to learn tolerance and kindness, to build confidence and maturity, and to make friends while sharing and participating in service activities.

THE PATRONESS EXPERIENCE

The Patroness experience allows mothers to work alongside their daughters as they broaden their perspective on the world around them. Patronesses also have the satisfaction of working with other talented women to advance the mission of our Bayou Villages Chapter.

Join Our Chapter

Interested in joining our chapter? Membership opportunities are dependent on chapter openings.

If you know someone in our chapter, talk to her about getting started, membership obligations and our membership drive timeline.  If you do not know someone in NCL, you are invited to complete this Membership Inquiry Form.

Membership Inquiry Form

For any questions regarding Membership, requests for transfers or assistance with connecting as a Sustainer, email us.

MEMBERSHIP DRIVE INFORMATION

The Bayou Villages’ membership drive begins in the fall of the 6th-grade year for the daughter(s) of a prospective member. A prospective patroness (new member) must have one sponsor and one co-sponsor who are members of NCL, Inc., Bayou Villages Chapter.

The prospective members will attend an informational meeting where specific details about the membership process and timeline will be provided. After the workshop, the prospective member will discuss with her sponsor and co-sponsor whether she would like to proceed with membership.

A formal application will need to be completed by the sponsor, co-sponsor, and prospective patroness. Once all applications are complete, prospective members will be notified.

CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD NCL, INC. MEMBER

• She will make membership in NCL, Inc. a priority for herself and her daughter(s).
• She is a “team player” and will accept the decision of the majority.
• She is able and willing to be a role model for all members.
• She is willing and able to actively participate in the operation and/or administration of her chapter by holding leadership positions each year, as chapter needs dictate. Each year the provisional will hold a job and have committee responsibilities.
• She understands the importance of all three pillars of NCL, Inc.: philanthropy, leadership, and culture.
• She understands and is willing to commit the time to fulfill the specific attendance, job/committee, philanthropic, league, and committee obligations of her chapter.
• She understands the importance of a positive attitude, professional communication, and constructive problem-solving in all NCL, Inc. matters.
• She is focused on the philosophy of NCL, Inc. rather than any associated prestige or status.
• She fully understands and is willing to meet the financial obligations associated with NCL, Inc. membership.
• She will make an extra effort to become acquainted with all chapter members.
• She understands that by virtue of being a member of a local chapter, she is affiliated with a national federated system, which requires adherence to national standards and policies at all times and mandates belief in the core values of NCL, Inc.

 

Community Service

We understand and serve communities in partnership with local and national nonprofits. Each NCL, Inc. chapter promotes social awareness by considering the local community’s needs and selecting appropriate non-profit organizations to support through different volunteer activities.

We work with the following philanthropies:

• Alzheimer’s Association
• American Heart Association
• American Red Cross
• Belong Kitchen
• Books Between Kids of Houston
• Brookwood Community (Brookshire, TX)
• Carley’s Closet
• Christian Community Services Center of Houston (CCSC)
• Citizens for Animal Protection of Houston (CAP)
• Disaster Response
• Easter Seals of Houston
• Fuente Food Pantry (do not use – use Houston Food Bank)
• Gracewood (Houston, TX)
• Houston Food Bank
• Kids Meals Houston
• MD Anderson Cancer Center and Carley’s Closet (Houston, TX)
• Memorial Assistance Ministries of Houston (MAM)
• National Day of Service – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service – January 15, 2024
• Operation Gratitude
• Project Linus (Houston, TX)
• Spring Branch Family Development Center (Houston, TX)
• Susan G. Komen of Houston
• Texas Children’s Hospital (TCH), Houston
• The River @ TUTSs (Houston, TX)
• The Westview School (Houston, TX)
• TT Leadership Project (Houston, TX)
• Yellowstone Academy of Houston
• Z-Philanthropy Fair (Houston, TX)

• Belong Kitchen
• Books Between Kids
• Brookwood Community
• Christian Community Services Center (CCSC)
• Citizens for Animal Protection (CAP)
• Easter Seals of Houston
• Fuentes Food Pantry
• Gracewood
• Houston Food Bank
• Kids Meals
• MD Anderson Cancer Center and Carly’s Closet
• Memorial Assistance Ministries (MAM)
• Project Linus
• Spring Branch Family Development Center
• Susan G. Komen
• Texas Children’s Hospital (TCH)
• The River @ TUTS
• The Westview School
• Yellowstone Academy

Leadership Development

We build capable, courageous leaders through opportunities to learn, reflect and develop. Our leaders become successful in their education, career and communities by learning the necessary skills during their NCL experience.

Examples of skills developed include:

• Confidence
• Consensus building
• Team building
• Conflict resolution
• Event planning
• Parliamentary procedure

Our Chapter Board of Directors:

• President: Alicia Kimmel
• President Elect: Laura Wolfe
• Secretary: Kacey Riley
• Treasurer: Lori Maddox
  Patti Barletta
• Parliamentarian: Allison Martin
• Vice President Communications: Lori Bethancourt
• Vice President Membership: Meredith Turner
• Vice President Philanthropy: Amy Reeves
• Vice President New Members: Phyllis Rouse
• Vice President Ticktockers: Kellye Gregory
• Vice President Chapter Engagement and Inclusion: Jill Oliver
  Shelley Burrow

Our Bayou Villages Chapter seeks to maximize a Patroness’ and her Ticktocker’s potential to be confident leaders by embracing “who you are,” which empowers their personal sense of purpose and allows them to be advocates for others.

Cultural Experiences

We preserve National Charity League traditions and core values, while appreciating the growth that comes from connecting with different communities and cultures. We continually strive to build stronger ties with our communities and the individuals within them. It is through this understanding that we grow and develop broader worldviews that will shape and support our lives.

• Traditions – We celebrate the richness of our history through traditions that honor the past while serving the future.
• Values – We embrace values that make us strong as an organization of mother-daughter leaders.
• Community Connections – We build connections through experiences that impact our communities.
• Etiquette – We encourage and mentor kind, respectful and gracious social conduct.

NCL, Inc., creates an environment that nurtures positive identity by recognizing and appreciating the value of differences in each other and the world. Exposure to culturally diverse peoples and events broadens perspective, promotes awareness and teaches cultural sensitivity.

Houston boasts over 78 museums and cultural sites and 128 performing arts companies and organizations and is one of the few U.S. cities to offer world class, year-round resident companies in all of the major performing arts – symphony, opera, drama and ballet. Through our cultural experiences, our Bayou Villages Chapter members enthusiastically support Houston’s performing arts, museums, community festivals, historic home and garden tours, and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

Additionally, some time-honored NCL, Inc., traditions included in the six-year curriculum are cultural activities designed to teach members appropriate etiquette, graciousness, self-assuredness in social settings, development of personal and community connections, good manners and respect for others. For example, at our annual Bayou Villages Ticktocker Tea and Style Show held in November, the 9th graders host the tea, the 7th graders serve tea to all members, the 8^th graders address the invitations, and the 12th graders participate in the style show as models, runway coordinators and backstage managers. The six year NCL, Inc. experience culminates in a ceremony for the 12th graders called Senior Recognition held in January. At this event, senior members and their mothers are celebrated for their service and commitment to NCL, Inc. We celebrate our history through traditions that honor the past while serving the future.

Our Chapter History

The Bayou Villages Chapter of NCL, Inc. was organized as a Prospective Chapter in 1999. Our new member orientation was held on Sunday, May 16, 1999 at Westminster United Methodist Church. The 1999-2000 Board of Directors included Lana McDaniel, Susie Smith, Cristi Harvey, Judy Robinson, Patti Hatton, Stephanie Jamison, Sarah Bay, and Odile Tyler.

In 2000, Bayou Villages transitioned to a Provisional Chapter with 146 Patronesses and 164 Ticktockers in grades 7 through 11. On April 21, 2001, the chapter held its first Senior Recognition at the Westin Oaks. Bayou Villages was awarded Chartered Chapter Status  at the NCL, Inc. National Conference in 2011 and was incorporated in the State of Texas as a non-profit corporation and granted 501(c)(3) tax exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code.

Members of the Bayou Villages Chapter live primarily in and around the Memorial Villages. Since its founding, Bayou Villages has grown to become one of the larger and more established chapters in the Houston area with 368 members, 33 Sustainer Members and 18 Life Members that have chosen to remain a part of our Bayou Villages Chapter after their graduation.