About Our Chapter

NCL, Inc., Jacksonville 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 Duval County and St. Johns County. Like all NCL, Inc. Chapters, Jacksonville aims to foster the mother-daughter relationship by serving its communities together.

 

In the News

National Charity Leage Jacksonville Chapter First Coast News Segment

 

 

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.

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:

• Ainsley’s Angels
• Alzheimer’s Association
• American Heart Association
• American Red Cross
• Angels for Allison
• Blessings In A Backpack
• Disaster Response
• Down Syndrome Association of Jacksonville
• Dreams Come True
• Family Housing Management
• Feeding America
• Feeding Northeast Florida
• Fourth and Gold
• Jacksonville Humane Society
• Kate Amato Foundation
• National Day of Service
• North Florida School of Special Education
• Operation Gratitude
• See The Girl
• St. Johns Riverkeeper
• The Kindness Campaign
• V for Victory

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: Megan Kilis
• President Elect: Ashley Smith
• Secretary: Melanie Sembach
• Treasurer: Melynda Waldron
• Parliamentarian: Nikki Poole
• Vice President Communications: Stacey Gerhardt
• Vice President Membership: Meredith Croft
• Vice President Philanthropy: Megan Weitz
• Vice President New Members: Dana Armstrong
• Vice President Ticktockers: Jean Ross
• Vice President Chapter Engagement and Inclusion: Andrea Simard

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.

Board Members

Megan Kilis: President

Megan Kilis was born in Jacksonville and raised in New Orleans & Houston— she is a dedicated community leader, wife, mother of two, and co-founder of Jacksonville Mom, a resource that has connected and supported families in Northeast Florida since 2012. With a passion for fostering meaningful relationships and creating impactful programs, Megan brings her expertise in communication, event planning, and philanthropy to her role on the National Charity League board. A Jacksonville native with deep ties to the area, Megan is committed to empowering mothers and daughters to serve together and make a positive difference in their communities.

Ashley Smith: President Elect

As President-Elect, Ashley is excited to support the continued growth and success of National Charity League Jacksonville while preparing to lead the chapter in the year ahead. She is passionate about fostering meaningful connections, encouraging servant leadership, and creating an environment where mothers and daughters can thrive together through philanthropy, leadership, and cultural experiences. Professionally, Ashley serves as the Senior Manager of Medical Outreach and Mission Delivery for Dreams Come True of Jacksonville, where she helps bring hope and joy to local children battling life-threatening illnesses. 

Nikki Poole: Parliamentarian

Nikki is originally from South Florida and attended Florida State University and Florida State University College of Law. She has been practicing law for over 24 years and is a partner in a Jacksonville based law firm. Her pride and joy is her family – her husband, two daughters (Frances and Lyla) and of course, her two pups (Stevie and Winston). When she’s not working or volunteering with NCL, you will likely find Nikki supporting her kids on the sidelines of a football game or cheer competition or in the audience of a dance performance.

Melanie Sembach: Secretary

Melanie Sembach has called Jacksonville home for 15 years. Married to her college sweetheart and a proud mom of three, she serves as lead Clinical Audiologist at the Naval Medical Readiness and Training Center, supporting the health and readiness of service members and their families. Passionate about service and connection, Melanie is active in her community and especially dedicated to empowering mothers and daughters to build relationships and make a positive impact through the National Charity League.

Mindy Waldron: Treasurer

A Jacksonville native, Mindy graduated from Fletcher High School and the University of North Florida, where she met her husband, Scott. She has worked for FordDirect in Dearborn, Michigan, for the past 18 years, leading technology teams that support automotive retailing. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, live music, leading a Girl Scout troop, and supporting her daughters in the Fletcher Marching Band. She has two Ticktockers, Alyssa (11th) and Raelyn (9th), and looks forward to serving as Treasurer alongside other NCL members.

Andrea Simard: Vice President Chapter Engagement and Inclusion

Originally from New Hampshire, Andrea now calls Florida home. After discovering a profound love for nonprofits during the Susan G. Komen Boston 3-Day — a 60-mile walk raising funds for breast cancer — she was inspired to foster the same spirit of giving in her family. Andrea participates in the National Charity League alongside her daughter Soleil, a rising 10th grader, while her older daughter Maia transitions to the program as a Sustaining Member during her first year of college.

A Senior Product Manager by profession, Andrea holds a BA in Journalism from the University of New Hampshire. Her journalistic background allows her to connect deeply with diverse individuals and support those in need. When she’s not volunteering or working, she enjoys reading, walking her neighborhood, and spending time with her family and dogs — dedicated to making Florida a better place, one event at a time.

 
Stacey Gerhardt: Vice President Communications

Born and raised in Hickory, North Carolina, Stacey has called Florida home for the past 18 years. With a 26-year career in nursing, including six years of service as a U.S. Army nurse with deployments to Kosovo and Iraq, she brings both dedication and resilience to everything she does.

Stacey is a proud mom to two children—her 18-year-old son (Gabe) and 15-year-old daughter (Annabel)—and an active community volunteer. She currently serves as Vice President of Communications for the Beachside PTSO and is excited to continue to bring her experience and enthusiasm to her role with the National Charity League.

Meredith Croft: Vice President Membership

Meredith is a born-and-bred seventh generation Floridian, raised in South Florida. She and her husband jumped at the opportunity to return to the Sunshine State in 2020 from Atlanta with their two daughters, Caitlin and Ansley. After working 25+ years in the television news industry, Meredith currently spends time volunteering for NCL along with many organizations in the Jacksonville area. In her spare time you’ll find her at the gym, on the beach, or chasing down redfish on their boat.

 
Dana Armstrong: Vice President New Members

Originally from New Jersey, Dana spent 20 years on the West Coast before calling Florida home five years ago. A former educator, she remains passionate about service and is an active volunteer with Scouting America. She enjoys playing tennis, reading, swapping recipes, and meeting new people. Dana and her husband have two children, ages 18 and 14. She is excited to be part of NCL and looks forward to connecting with other families in the community.

Megan Weitz: Vice President Philanthropy

Megan moved from Texas to Florida two years ago and is excited to serve as Vice President of Philanthropy. A former educator, she previously volunteered with the National Charity League alongside her daughter and Young Men’s Service League with her son. Having relocated several times with her family, she values building community through service and is passionate about supporting local organizations in fulfilling their missions. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, tennis, mahjong, reading, and walking her two Labradors on the beach with her family.

 
Jean Ross: Vice President Ticktockers

Jean Ross has called Florida home since 2018 and is the proud mom of a ninth-grade Ticktocker. After building a career in information technology, she transitioned into Talent Management, where she is passionate about helping individuals grow and reach their potential.

When she’s not working or volunteering, Jean enjoys getting lost in a good book, cheering from the sidelines as a softball mom to her younger daughter, spending time at the beach, and cooking. She is excited to be part of National Charity League for year two and to share meaningful service experiences with her daughter while building lasting connections within the community.