About Our Chapter

NCL, Inc., Cherry Blossom 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 Fairfax County, and the surrounding area, including the District of Columbia area. Like all NCL, Inc. Chapters, Cherry Blossom aims to foster the mother-daughter relationship by serving its communities together.

NCL, Inc., Cherry Blossom Chapter is a 501c (3) organization committed to empowering women in making an IMPACT in our local community and in the lives of our members. Through our variety of age-appropriate and meaningful meeting and event programming, leadership, and service opportunities, our mothers and daughters in grades 7-12 become equipped to carry out NCL’s mission, vision and core values.

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 in the Chapter requires a commitment of time and service, and carries a financial responsibility. All members hold a Chapter job each year and actively participate as leaders in the operational success of the Chapter. 

The value of membership in the Cherry Blossom Chapter lasts a lifetime. The NCL experience uniquely draws women and girls together to focus their minds, hearts, and talents towards creating positive change in their communities and the nation.

 

MEMBERSHIP DRIVE – Closed for 2024-2025

Thank you for your interest in joining the National Charity League – Cherry Blossom Chapter. Our membership drive for 2024-2025 is now closed. To apply for membership for 2025-2026 please check back in January 2025.

We look forward to meeting you during our membership drive and sharing what makes being a member of NCL so special. If you have any questions now or throughout this process, please do not hesitate to contact us at membershipcherryblossom@nclonline.org.

Thank you!

Laura Forster and Katie Lonnett
Membership
NCL Cherry Blossom Chapter

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:

• ALS – Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
• Alzheimer’s Association
• American Cancer Society
• American Heart Association
• American Red Cross
• Best Buddies Capital Region
• Children’s Science Center
• Credit Union Cherry Blossom Kids Run
• Disaster Response
• Down Syndrome Association of Northern Virginia (DSANV)
• Fairfax County Park Authority
• Food for Others
• Habitat for Humanity of Northern VA ReStores
• Honor Flight Capital Region
• HOPE in Northern Virginia, Inc.
• Katherine Hanley Family Shelter
• Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
• Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic, Inc.
• Northern Virginia Family Service
• Operation Gratitude
• Operation Homefront
• She Believes In Me
• Special Olympics Virginia (SOVA)
• Transfer Hours
• Wolf Trap Foundation
• Women Giving Back
• Wreaths Across America

As our mission states, the Cherry Blossom Chapter is a philanthropic organization committed to community service. Our chapter actively supports our local community as well as national initiatives. From June 1 2021 – May 31, 2022, our Chapter volunteered 6,845 hours with our partner philanthropies. 

The dedicated and valuable service by our Chapter has earned prestigious community service awards. The U.S. House of Representatives awarded the Chapter the 2010 Shelter House, Inc. Volunteer Award. In 2014, the Chapter was bestowed the Fairfax County Volunteer Service Award in the Youth Volunteer Group category, and in 2017 we received the Women Giving Back Group Volunteer Award from our partner philanthropy, Women Giving Back. 

 

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: Kristen Whitaker
• President Elect: Chantel Shelton
• Secretary: Sheri Siegel
• Treasurer: Beth Arnz
• Parliamentarian: Inna Cook
• Vice President Communications: Katherine Yangas
• Vice President Membership: Laura Forster
• Vice President Philanthropy: Jennie Lucca
• Vice President New Members: Michelle Hawe
• Vice President Ticktockers: Shannon Allen
• Sustainer Liaison: Heather Lim
• Vice President Chapter Engagement and Inclusion: Nicole Nitowski

Our programs assist Ticktockers in building and maximizing their potential to be confident role models by embracing “who they are” which empowers their personal sense of purpose, and increases their ability to be more effective advocates for others. 

The leadership development opportunities afforded to members through their NCL Experience six-year curriculum provide foundational knowledge and tools to improve life skills and leadership such as: 

Conducting Meetings, Organizational Management, Time Management, Parliamentary Procedures, Consensus Building, Following a Budget, Team Building, Health and Fitness, Conflict Resolution, Event Planning, Public Speaking and Effective Communication

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. 

Cultural values and traditions shape the NCL, Inc., role and contribution in our communities. 

Additionally, some time-honored NCL, Inc., traditions are included in the six-year curriculum which 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.