Mercer Island

About Our Chapter

NCL, Inc., Mercer Island 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 within the City of Mercer Island. In the event there are additional spaces available, the chapter may also consider new members from the Greater Seattle area. Like all NCL, Inc. Chapters, Mercer Island aims to foster the mother-daughter relationship by serving its communities together.

The NCL Experience

National Charity League (NCL) inspires and empowers mothers (Patronesses) and daughters (Ticktockers) to build meaningful relationships and make a difference in their communities. Through the NCL experience, members develop confidence, leadership skills, and a deeper understanding of the world around them.

The NCL experience focuses on three pillars:

Community Service: Understanding and addressing philanthropic needs to create a meaningful impact.
Leadership: Building potential through team building, problem-solving, mentoring, and collaboration.
Cultural: Promoting a positive identity by appreciating diversity and broadening perspectives.

The Ticktocker Experience

Between 7th and 12th grades, Ticktockers engage in a small-group leadership program designed to inspire charitable endeavors and foster the mother-daughter bond. Guided by the motto, “We search for charity within ourselves and strive for the graciousness to share it with others,” the program empowers young women to grow into confident, compassionate, and socially aware individuals.

This experience provides opportunities to:

  • Experience the joy of helping others.
  • Develop empathy and kindness.
  • Build confidence and maturity.
  • Form meaningful friendships in a safe, supportive, and age-appropriate environment.

The Patroness Experience

Patronesses engage in meaningful work alongside their daughters as they grow and gain a broader perspective on the world. They also find fulfillment in collaborating with other talented women to support and strengthen the Chapter’s mission and initiatives.

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.

Our Member Drive for the 2026–27 NCL year is now closed. Registration will reopen in January 2027.

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:

  • Angelines Center/YWCA of Seattle
  • Asian Counseling & Referral Services
  • Birthday Dreams
  • Breakthrough T1D – Pacific Northwest Chapter
  • City of Mercer Island – Parks and Recreation
  • Colorectal Cancer Alliance
  • Encompass
  • Food Lifeline
  • Fred Hutch / Obliteride
  • Friendship Circle
  • Grace Place/Imagine Housing
  • Jewish Family Services
  • Kindering Center
  • Listen and Talk
  • Mary’s Place
  • MEOW Cat Rescue
  • Mercer Island Boys and Girls Club
  • Mercer Island Chinese Association
  • Mercer Island Farmers Market
  • Mercer Island Preschool Association
  • Mercer Island Schools Foundation
  • Mercer Island Visual Arts League
  • Mercer Island Youth & Family Services (MIYFS) / Thrift Shop
  • Northwest Harvest
  • Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation
  • Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (formerly Rivkin Center)
  • Pasado’s Safe Haven
  • Seattle Childrens Hospital
  • Seattle Humane Society
  • Sound Foundations NW
  • Swim Across America
  • Team Ewan Guild
  • Tilth Alliance
  • Treehouse
  • Youth Theatre Northwest
  • YouthCare

 

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: Harmony Long
  • President Elect: Stephanie Beers
  • Secretary: Corrie Walters
  • Treasurer: Ariane Justus
  • Parliamentarian: Helen McFarland
  • Vice President Communications: Shannon Schell
    Tiffany Holland
  • Vice President Membership: Olivia Lippens
  • Vice President Philanthropy: Keira Weller
    Sarah DuBois
  • Vice President New Members: Allison Switaj
  • Vice President Ticktockers: Lindsay Goode
  • Vice President Chapter Engagement and Inclusion: Kimberly Kamolz

Patroness Leadership Opportunities

Patronesses serve a total of two years in leadership roles such as Board Officer, Committee Chair, or Grade Level Advisor. These positions offer meaningful ways to create a lasting impact on the broader community while building strong relationships with other inspiring women.

Ticktocker Leadership Opportunities

Ticktockers serve two years in a leadership role as a Grade Level Officer, such as President, Treasurer, Recording Secretary, and more. For many, this is their first opportunity to take on a leadership position, building confidence and developing management skills early on.

Each year, officers are elected through self-nominations, trained in their roles, and introduced to parliamentary procedure. Officers conduct their own meetings and lead grade-level meetings with support from Grade Level Advisors. They also organize philanthropy projects for their class and, at times, for the entire chapter to participate in.

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.

In addition to the annual Mother-Daughter Tea held in the spring, our chapter offers a variety of cultural experiences, including:

  • Theater
  • International Foods and Cooking Class
  • Dance Class or Performance
  • Music Concert or Musical Theater
  • Museums
  • Architectural Tour or Garden Event