Lawrence

About Our Chapter

NCL, Inc., Lawrence Chapter is a group of mothers and daughters who have come together in a commitment to community service, leadership development and cultural experiences.
Members reside in or attend school in Douglas or Shawnee County. Like all NCL, Inc. Chapters, Lawrence aims to foster the mother-daughter relationship by serving its communities together.

Our 2026-27 Membership Drive has reopened for a limited time. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis for all girls in grades 6-8 and their moms. 

View the online information session recording: 

NCL 2026 Membership Drive Info Session Recording

*Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis after April 15 and will close early if we reach our maximum class size. Don’t miss out!*

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The Lawrence Chapter was formed in 2019 and our membership is comprised of girls in grades seven through twelve and their mothers. New members can join when girls are rising 7th, 8th, or 9th graders. 

 

 

A Brief Introduction to NCL

NCL, Inc. started in 1925, in Los Angeles, California. A group of women led by Gladys Bernice Wilkinson came together to make layettes for the American Red Cross and assemble food baskets for the hungry. They called themselves the “Patronesses”. While serving the community, they often brought their daughters who would watch the clock waiting for their mothers – the “Ticktockers”. The hands-on volunteering soon caught on and Ticktockers soon began filling baskets of their own. NCL now has more than 250 chapters nationally its members donate close to three million service hours to over 6,000 nonprofit organizations annually. 

The NCL, Inc. Lawrence Chapter, which was opened in 2019, is committed to the development of mothers and daughters as leaders and improving our community through hands-on volunteerism. The NCL experience inspires and empowers women to succeed as confident, well-rounded, and socially aware contributors to society. 

Hear from our 2026 Ticktockers: 

 

The NCL Program

Mothers (Patronesses) and daughters (Ticktockers) participate in a six-year program focusing on three core pillars:

  • Philanthropy – Understanding and serving communities in partnership with local and national nonprofits, leadership, and culture; the active effort to promote human welfare
  • Leadership – Building capable, courageous leaders through opportunities to learn, reflect, and develop
  • Culture – Preserving National Charity League traditions and core values while appreciating the growth that comes from connecting with different communities and cultures

This framework is based on our core values:

  • Strengthening the mother-daughter bond
  • Empowering women with the skills and confidence to mentor and lead
  • Inspiring a legacy of social awareness and compassion
  • Providing depth of support in local communities
  • Honoring a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion
  • Modeling integrity, graciousness, and excellence

Since the chapter was first established it has been our goal at NCL Lawrence to work diligently to adhere to the three pillars to ensure that members receive a well-rounded experience. We are intentional about how we spend our time and resources. We consider it a privilege to be able to spend quality time with our daughters while we serve in our communities and experience growth through well-organized meetings and leadership opportunities.

Members who continue their affiliation with the organization after high school graduation are welcomed throughout their lives as Sustainers.

 

 

Visit our Facebook page or Instagram pages for more information on our Chapter

         

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.

APPLY HERE starting April 15!

We are currently accepting applications for the 2026-27 year, which begins June 1, and will accept applications on a rolling basis until our classes are full or May 15. If you’re looking for meaningful ways to serve your community, strengthen your mother-daughter bond, build lasting friendships, and grow as a leader, we invite you to consider joining.

Who: Mothers and their middle school daughters who reside or go to school in Douglas or Shawnee Counties. (New members can begin their NCL journey when daughters are rising 7th, 8th, or 9th graders/current middle schoolers).

When: Our membership drive reopened on April 15 for the year beginning June 1. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and will close when the class is full.

What: NCL’s Annual Membership Drive – a period of time when we can accept applications from moms and daughters who are interested in joining. If we have more applicants than spaces available, we will hold a random drawing in March.

How: Learn more about NCL by viewing our recorded information session, reading through our website, browsing our social media pages, or talking to current members and then apply online after April 15. Applications will close no later than May 15 or when we reach our maximum class size.  

Contact VP of Membership Candice Mickle with questions by emailing membershiplawrence@nclonline.org.

 

Member Requirements

 
 

 

Mothers and their daughters (grades 7-12) participate in a program that embraces:

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
  • Ballard Community Center
  • Bert Nash Center
  • Community Children’s Center
  • Douglas County CASA
  • Douglas County Visiting Nurses Association
  • Heartland Community Health Center
  • Honor Moon
  • Just Food
  • L.I.N.K Lawrence Interdenominational Nutrition Kitchen
  • Lawrence Community Shelter
  • Lawrence Farmers’ Market
  • National Day of Service
  • Operation Gratitude

Since the Chapter was established in 2019 our members have invested over 13,000 hours of their time in the community working with local philanthropy partners. Our activities vary from year to year based on the needs of our philanthropy partners.

Here are a few examples of how we support our community:

We also help at annual local events such as Bo’s Hog-Wild Benefit Event “Kidsfest” for CASA, the Walk to end Alzheimer’s, MLK Book Drive for Lawrence Community Children’s Center & Bike MS.

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: Melisa Courtney
  • President Elect: Lindsay Roesler
  • Secretary: Stacia Griffith
  • Treasurer: Sarah Tsoflias
  • Parliamentarian: Stephanie Schmidt
  • Vice President Communications: Mindy Collmeyer
  • Vice President Membership: Candice Mickle
  • Vice President Philanthropy: Casey Wallace
  • Vice President New Members: Colleen Gerrish
  • Vice President Ticktockers: Michelle Walter
  • Vice President Chapter Engagement and Inclusion: Carrie Allton

We offer a variety of leadership roles, resources, and approaches to equip mothers and daughters as leaders. Working with a group to accomplish common goals is incredibly rewarding, and also develops leadership skills as you work alongside others. Members have opportunities to engage in experiences that build essential skills, such as confidence, consensus and team building, event planning, conflict resolution and parliamentary procedure. These skills help you to grow as a leader whether you are a mother or daughter.

 Leadership roles for mothers include serving on the Chapter Board, as a philanthropy partner liaison, working directly with a grade of Ticktockers, as a committee chair, or committee member. 

 Leadership roles available to daughters include serving as a class officer, committee chair and committee member.

We work with members to find the right job for you at the right time. In addition, we offer job specific training for most leadership roles. Leadership training for members is provided in the Chapter through one-on-one meetings, peer interaction, on-demand resources, and occasional workshops. In addition, there is training available at the District and National level as your area of responsibility increases.

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.

The Lawrence Chapter defines cultural enrichment as creating an environment that nurtures positive identity by recognizing and appreciating the value of differences in each other and the world. We celebrate our community and organizational history through traditions that honor the past while serving the future. As mentors of future leaders, our Chapter continually strives to build stronger ties with our communities and the individuals within them. It is through this understanding that members grow and develop broader world views that will shape and enrich our lives.

 Like all NCL, Inc. Chapters, we hold a mother-daughter Tea annually. This is a fun social get together which teaches etiquette, how to host an event, how to be a good guest, and develops leadership skills. This Chapter-wide event is planned by our grade level classes in partnership with a group of mothers. Planning for this event provides the opportunity to learn to work as a group to select a theme, invitations, menu, and speaker while staying within budget.

 The annual Tea also includes our Senior Recognition event which honors our graduating Senior class; it is also a tradition across NCL, Inc. Chapters. This event is an opportunity to celebrate the values of friendship, the growth of the mother-daughter relationship, and reflect on your NCL experience.

 

 

 We explore culture through the arts. We offer mothers and daughters the opportunity to attend cultural events in our community. These cultural activities include musicals, dance performances, museum tours, and cultural festivals. They offer unique opportunities to spend time together as mother and daughter as well as with friends in the Chapter.

 Finally, we strive to embrace and teach values such as kindness, courtesy, thoughtfulness, respect, self-respect, empathy, and generosity. These values provide a foundation which makes us strong as an organization and as leaders as we reach out into our community. They are values which allow us to develop healthy relationships and bonds with all people.