About Our Chapter

NCL, Inc., Hill Country 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 Northwest Austin, Cedar Park, or Leander. Like all NCL, Inc. Chapters, Hill Country aims to foster the mother-daughter relationship by serving its communities together.

The Hill Country Chapter is one of 13 chapters currently in the Austin, Texas metro whose members have come together and made a commitment to support the area’s community, foster leadership development and share cultural experiences.

Formed in June 2018, and fully chartered in 2019, the Hill Country Chapter has grown into a dynamic collective of approximately 140 mothers and nearly 175 daughters, who together serve almost 25 local philanthropy organizations and six National philanthropies. We contribute thousands of volunteer hours annually to strengthen and support the Austin community. 

In addition, each year we host two signature events – our Chapter Tea (mandatory) and our Senior Recognition brunch (for our graduating Seniors and their moms) – as well as a Chapter Kick-Off event and a cultural-focused “Home for the Holidays” event.

The National Charity League, Inc. (NCL) has empowered mothers and daughters to serve their communities since its formation as “The Charity League” in 1925 in Los Angeles. In 1936, the daughters of The Charity League members formed their own group called “Ticktockers” – named for watching the clock as they waited for their mothers to finish their charitable work. The Charity League reorganized and all groups united in 1947 to become the nation’s first mother-daughter charity. While the Ticktockers (daughters) kept their name, the mothers chose to name themselves “Patronesses”. What began as an organization of mothers supporting the American Red Cross has grown into a multi-generational movement whose impact covers 32 states with over 300 chapters and 230,000 members & alumni (and counting). Annually, NCL donates close to 3 million hours to over 6,000 charitable organizations in the U.S.

 

 

Join Our Chapter

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

Please complete the Membership Inquiry Form so we can contact you directly. If you know a current chapter member, feel free to reach out to them as well to learn about getting started.

Membership Inquiry Form

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

We hope you will consider joining our fun and engaging Hill Country Chapter, where lasting mother-daughter bonds are strengthened and meaningful connections and traditions are forged. In addition to serving the local community through our philanthropic efforts, our membership – open to mothers and their daughters in grades 7-12 – offers a unique environment for shared leadership growth and cultural experiences. 

Prospective members should apply during their daughter’s 6th grade year, with our annual membership drive running from January 15th through March 1st. 

 

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:

• AGE of Central Texas Williamson County
• ARC of Capital Area
• Austin Humane Society
• Austin Scottish Rite Theater
• Blanton Museum of Art
• Central Texas Food Bank
• Fig Leaf
• Hill Country Community Ministries
• Hope Austin
• Make A Wish Foundation of Central and South Texas
• Micah 6
• Miracle League
• Open Door/ Fig Leaf (UUMC)
• Partners in Hope Lake Travis
• Pop Up Birthday Foundation
• Reveal Resource Center
• Ronald Mcdonald House Charities
• Texas Humane Heroes
• The Contemporary
• Trinity Center
• Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum

We also support local efforts for the following National philanthropies:

• Alzheimer’s Association
• American Heart Association
• American Red Cross
• Feeding America
• Operation Gratitude
• The Kindness Campaign

Hill Country Chapter members are required to volunteer a minimum of 15 hours annually. Each grade has a local and national philanthropy focus that is aligned with NCL, Inc.’s Core Program.

Focus areas include:

• The Arts & Education
• Food-Related Needs
• Disaster Response
• Mature Adults
• Mental Health
• Women and Children

As Ticktockers enter their Senior year (12th grade), they may choose the local community needs they would like to focus on.

 

 

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: Natalie Dean
• President Elect: Nissa Van Etten
• Secretary: Jenny Rusk
• Treasurer: Sara McClelland
  Tracy Miller
• Parliamentarian: Julie Haney
  Katie Corlin
• Vice President Communications: Erin McCleskey
• Vice President Membership: Margaret Hermes
• Vice President Philanthropy: Amy Love
• Vice President New Members: Erin Mancil
• Vice President Ticktockers: Shannon Koebel
• Sustainer Liaison: Taylar Riley
• Vice President Chapter Engagement and Inclusion: Amanda Willis

Hill Country Chapter Ticktockers learn different leadership skills throughout their six years in the NCL Core Program and they are required to earn a minimum of 10 leadership hours annually.

During the first few years, Ticktockers learn the basics of how to conduct meetings, parliamentary procedure, project and event management, communication skills and etiquette, job responsibility, and building a positive self-image. 

As Ticktockers gain confidence and skills, they focus on more detailed meeting coordination, social network etiquette, self-defense and safety, managing stress, and setting personal goals. 

In their final years, Ticktockers plan, execute and lead their meetings with the skills they have learned. They focus on preparing for college, career choices, developing independent living skills, managing personal finance, and paying more attention to women’s health.

 

 

 

 

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.

Cultural activities in the Hill Country Chapter include learning about and experiencing different world cultures and ethnicities through cuisine, dance, architecture, music, art, and holiday celebrations. One of the ways in which our Chapter showcases culture is through our annual “Home for the Holidays” event, where members have the opportunity to experience the diverse holiday traditions of our Patronesses and Ticktockers. Whether it’s learning firsthand about the diversity represented throughout the Austin community or within our very own Chapter, the celebration of culture is important to us and central to our identity as a Chapter.

In the middle school grades (7th-8th), Ticktockers focus on learning about multicultural cuisines and artistic talents while also building their skills in the art of saying thank you, etiquette/manners, creating an inclusive environment, and valuing differences.

Early high school Ticktockers (9th-10th) focus on cultural styles and expression as well as developing skills such as setting goals, professional manners, interview skills and relationship building and belonging.

Our 11th and 12th grade Ticktockers focus on exploring different architectural styles as well as celebrating heritage months. Additional skill building in the areas of appreciating leadership styles, role modeling and accountability, and leading with confidence are all important in empowering and preparing these young ladies for their college years and beyond.