Newport

About Our Chapter

NCL, Inc., Newport 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 the Newport Chapter area which is served by the Newport-Mesa Unified School District, including Balboa, Balboa Island, Corona del Mar, Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, portions of Newport Coast and Santa Ana Heights. Like all NCL, Inc. Chapters, Newport aims to foster the mother-daughter relationship by serving its communities together.

 

The Newport Chapter is a vibrant group of women and their daughters in grades 7-12.  We are unique among the other NCL, Inc. Chapters in that we own a thrift shop, we host an annual debutante ball, and we have an active Juniors group as well as four active Sustainer groups.  Today our Chapter has over 900 Provisional, Active and Sustaining Patronesses and Ticktocker members.

The Newport Chapter of NCL has a rich history, starting with the story of our founding in 1957. It all began when a founding Los Angeles Chapter member, who had moved to Newport Beach, brought a group of women together at the Balboa Bay Club with the intention of forming a Newport Chapter. At the end of that first year, a Chapter Tea was held on May 22, 1958, starting a tradition that has been honored every year since. We were the 5th Chapter to form (after the Los Angeles, Glendale, San Fernando Valley and Foothill Chapters) and are now one of 279 Chapters in 29 states.

Our Ticktocker Thrift Shop opened its doors in 1959. It moved to its present location, 540 W. 19th Street, Costa Mesa, in 1971. The Thrift Shop is completely volunteer staffed by our members and their daughters.  In addition to benefitting from the proceeds, patrons of our many philanthropies are welcomed shoppers at the store.

Our first Debutante Ball was held on November 25, 1961 at the Newport Harbor Yacht Club. That year 12 debutantes were honored. We continue the tradition today as we honor our High School Seniors as debutantes and celebrate the many hours they have volunteered for organizations in their community.

Our Patronesses may join one of four Sustainer groups after their last Ticktocker has graduated from high school in order to remain connected to NCL Newport.  We currently have over 300 active Sustainers.

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.

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 Cancer Society
  • American Heart Association
  • American Red Cross
  • Back Bay Therapeutic Riding Club
  • California Hands and Voices
  • CHOC
  • College Educational Scholarships
  • Council on Aging OC
  • Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)
  • Disaster Response
  • Environmental Nature Center (ENC)
  • Foster Love
  • Friendship Circle
  • Girls, Inc.
  • Harry & Grace Steele Childrens Center @OCC
  • Hoag Hospital
  • Human Options
  • National League of Young Men
  • NCL National Education Fund
  • Newport Beach Fire Dept.
  • Newport Beach Public Library
  • Oasis Senior Center
  • Operation Gratitude
  • Orangewood Foundation
  • Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation (PCRF)
  • Project Hope Alliance
  • RAD Camp
  • Robyne’s Nest
  • S.O.S. – Share Our Selves
  • S.P.I.N. – Serving People in Need
  • Second Harvest Food Bank
  • Second Step – Human Options
  • Shea Therapeutic Riding Center
  • Someone Cares Soup Kitchen
  • Special Camps for Special Kids
  • Surfrider Foundation
  • Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation (Race for the Cure)
  • Talking About Curing Autism (TACA)
  • Thomas House

 The Newport Chapter serves 28 philanthropies in Orange County, with over 50 events each year. Collectively our mothers and daughters volunteer close to 20,000 hours each year. Proceeds from our Ticktocker Thrift Shop support our NCL mission of fostering mother-daughter relationships in a philanthropic organization committed to community service, leadership development and cultural experiences and provide many resources for our philanthropies.

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: Jennifer Krogh
    Kim Riker
  • President Elect: Courtney Blackburn
    Jennifer Krogh
  • Secretary: Cathy Nelson
    Kelly Foster
  • Treasurer: Cari Head
    Cathy Nelson
  • Parliamentarian: Catherine Anderson
    Melissa Meehan
  • Vice President Communications: Courtney Blackburn
    Melissa Meehan
  • Vice President Membership: Margie Sullivan
    Marisa Hakala
  • Vice President Philanthropy: Alison Harris
    Alison Harris
  • Vice President New Members: Cathy Nelson
    Rebecca Bethell
  • Vice President Ticktockers: Heidi Eadie
    Kelley Switz
  • Sustainer Liaison: Molly Carlos
    Molly Carlos
  • Vice President Chapter Engagement and Inclusion: Rita Birchard
    Rita Birchard

Mothers and daughters have the opportunity to take on leadership roles throughout their time in NCL. Ticktockers are encouraged to run for a grade level office at least once in their six years, with most holding an office two or three times. Ticktocker officers are trained and mentored by Patroness Board Members, and guided throughout the year by grade level advisors. They prepare agendas, run meetings, and provide reports on a monthly basis.

Our Patronesses have opportunities to hold one of 24 Board and leadership positions, with training provided by our NCL, Inc. and chapter mentors. Our President and President-Elect attend annual training meetings with nearly 300 National Charity League, Inc. Chapters.

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.

Thrift Shop

TICKTOCKER THRIFT SHOP

Located at 540 West 19th Street, Costa Mesa where Patronesses and Ticktockers work to raise the majority of the funds we donate to our philanthropies.

The Thrift Shop Means so much to our members and our community:

It’s having a central place that is home for all NCL Newport Members to meet and connect

It’s having the opportunity to get to know and form friendships with other NCL Newport Members

It’s getting to know the Ticktockers from other classes and talking with them about their experiences to help us better understand our own daughters

It’s teaching our daughters the value of volunteering

It’s having our daughters learn first hand about those less fortunate and recognizing the blessing of having mothers who care so much about them

It’s discovering that we have talents we never knew we had, to run a successful business by being Treasurers, Schedulers, Purchasers, Managers and Creative Problem Solvers!

It’s earning a profit from our efforts

It’s learning how our funds are donated to our Philanthropies

It’s understanding how much we help deserving students through our scholarships

It’s coming to the realization that the Thrift Shop is so much more than just a store. It is the heart of our NCL Newport Chapter and experience.

THRIFT SHOP VP WAYS & MEANS

Stephany Hurley

 

 

Awarded Honorable Mention for the Circle of Excellence Award in 2024-2025

Our chapter has received an honorable mention for the Circle of Excellence Award for the 2024-2025 year. This award is meaningful, as it recognizes NCL chapters for excellence in community service, leadership, and membership engagement. Our President for this term, Michelle Barto, was especially encouraging to her Board of Directors and Membership to be leaders in our community and emphasized inclusion within our chapter. Congratulations to Michelle and the Newport Chapter for achieving this level of excellence!