About Our Chapter

NCL, Inc., Heart of Dallas 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 Dallas – North Dallas. Like all NCL, Inc. Chapters, Heart of Dallas aims to foster the mother-daughter relationship by serving its communities together.

The Heart of Dallas Chapter was founded in 2007 to meet a growing desire for NCL experiences in the Dallas area. One of the earliest chapters in North Texas, Heart of Dallas was able to charter without limiting its membership range to a specific zip code as subsequent chapters were required to do. As a result, the Chapter pulls its membership from many public and private schools throughout the area, and the diverse backgrounds and experiences of its members make Heart of Dallas truly unique.

The first Heart of Dallas (2010) graduating class served 3 philanthropies. Today, Heart of Dallas has more than 300 members who contribute several thousand hours a year to 20+ local philanthropies. In a short time, Heart of Dallas has had a big impact on North Texas. 

Membership in NCL gives mothers and daughters unique opportunities to strengthen their bond while growing together, sharing of themselves and improving their communities. It is the only national organization committed to fostering the mother-daughter relationship through community volunteerism, leadership development and cultural experiences together and in peer groups.

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.

Being a member of the Heart of Dallas NCL Chapter offers many benefits through both our local chapter and our national affiliation with NCL, Inc. Applications for membership are submitted annually based on standardized guidelines from the National NCL Chapter. 

Click on the following link for upcoming Prospective Member Meetings Information

2024 Heart of Dallas Prospective Member Meetings

 

You are invited to submit an inquiry to our membership team at membershipheartofdallas@nclonline.org.

An overview of the membership process includes: 

• Timelines: Applications for Membership are accepted during the Annual Membership Drive from January through February each year for daughters in grades 6th and 7th -9th (if class is not already full) at the time of the Membership Drive. This process moves pretty quickly so it’s important to stay on top of the deadlines and process.
• Residence: A Prospective Member in the Heart of Dallas shall reside in private or public schools in North Dallas, Park Cities, Lakewood, Lake Highlands, Preston Hollow and Dallas areas.
• Application: A Prospective Member shall only apply to one Chapter so it’s a good idea to attend as many prospective member meetings as possible if considering more than one 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:

• Alzheimer’s Association
• American Heart Association
• American Red Cross
• Annie’s Place
• Austin Street Center
• Bed Start
• Brookwood Community for Special Adults
• Brother Bills Helping Hand
• Buckner Shoes for Orphan Souls
• Cedar Ridge Preserve
• Children’s Cancer Fund
• Children’s Medical Center
• CitySquare
• Community Partners of Dallas
• Community Programs
• Dallas Arboretum
• Dallas Children’s Theater
• Disaster Response
• Feed My Starving Children
• Friendship Circle
• Meals on Wheels – VNA of Texas
• National Day of Service – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service – January 15, 2024
• New Friends New Life
• North Texas Food Bank
• North Texas Performing Arts
• Operation Gratitude
• Perot Museum
• Project Transformation
• SPARK!
• SPCA of Texas
• The Family Place
• The Kindness Campaign
• The Perot Museum
• Voice of Hope
• Westminister School

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: Kelly Belknap
• President Elect: Lauren Koshkin
• Secretary: Jennifer Koecher
• Treasurer: Robin Brister
• Parliamentarian: Tricia Northam
• Vice President Communications: J Diane Colter
  Melissa McMillian
• Vice President Membership: Jennifer Normile
• Vice President Philanthropy: Seema Tendolkar
• Vice President New Members: Laura Frazure
• Vice President Ticktockers: Cindy Lodewick
  Cynthia Bowen
• Vice President Chapter Engagement and Inclusion: Jody Swartzwelder

Leadership development is an important prong of the NCL experience. Through attending Ticktocker meetings and holding elected and appointment positions each year, Heart of Dallas Ticktockers gain important leadership experience, learn to communicate effectively and build self-confidence.

Their leadership positions, required for each Ticktocker, teach them to listen effectively, gain conflict resolution skills, and engage in public speaking, all of which prepare them for future community involvement and employment. NCL provides its Ticktockers with leadership opportunities that are often difficult for middle school and high school young women to find.

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.

As future leaders, 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 shape and support our lives. We celebrate our history through traditions that honor the past while serving the future.

NCL Inc., creates an environment that nurtures positive identity by recognizing and appreciating the value of differences in each other and the world. Our Heart of Dallas Chapter encourages exposure to culturally diverse people and events that broaden perspective, promote awareness and teach cultural sensitivity through chapter activities centered around:

• Our Annual Tea & Social Events
• Environmental Activies
• Cultural Diversity Programs
• Fine Arts Experiences 
• Health, Safety & Wellbeing Programs

Contact Info

For specific questions or information about the Heart of Dallas Chapter of NCL, please email us at membershipheartofdallas@nclonline.org

We look forward to speaking with you soon!

Our mailing address is:

NCL – Heart of Dallas – P.O. Box 670381, Dallas, TX 75367