About Our Chapter

NCL, Inc., Northeast Atlanta 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 the area surrounding the Highway 141 Corridor, including South Forsyth, Gwinnett County, North Fulton County, Johns Creek and North Norcross area. Like all NCL, Inc. Chapters, Northeast Atlanta aims to foster the mother-daughter relationship by serving its communities together.

The Northeast Atlanta Chapter of National Charity League, Inc.’s mission is to foster mother-daughter relationships in a philanthropic organization committed to community service, leadership development, and cultural experiences.

Year 2020 marked the 10th anniversary of the Northeast Atlanta (NEA) chapter. NCL NEA was established in 2010 and chartered in 2012. We were the 162nd chapter in the United States and 5th in the Atlanta area. The membership for the current 2023-2024 period includes 200 Patronesses and Ticktockers. We also have Sustainer Patronesses & Ticktockers who have completed the program and choose to stay involved.

As a 100% volunteer organization, membership in NCL NEA requires a commitment of time and service and carries a financial responsibility. All Patronesses hold a chapter job each year and actively participate as leaders in the operational success of the chapter. All Ticktockers also hold jobs and are expected to carry out their roles to their best effort. Our chapter is supported by NCL Inc. with many resources to help guide us along the way.

Throughout our chapter’s history, it has been our goal at NCL NEA to work diligently to adhere to the 3 pillars that the 6-year program is based on 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. Our chapter serves over 20 philanthropies including environmental & animal, elderly, military & community, families & housing + food, children & youth, and health.

 

 

 

NCL NEA is an award winning chapter that has received The Blue Rose Award multiple years.  This is the highest honor an NCL Chapter could receive by attending NCL, Inc. Annual Meetings and Leadership Conference, running the TT NCL Experience 6-year program, conducting an annual Mother/Daughter Tea and Senior Recognition Program, participating in the National Philanthropy Program, #Givingtuesday, and conducting a Sustainer Event. The value of membership in the Northeast Atlanta chapter lasts a lifetime. The NCL experience uniquely draws women and girls together to focus their minds, hearts and talents towards creating positive change in their communities and the world in which they live. 

Please visit the Join Our Chapter page to submit the Membership Inquiry form. 

Join Our Chapter

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

If you know someone in our chapter, talk to her about getting started, membership obligations and our membership drive timeline.  If you do not know someone in NCL, you are invited to complete this Membership Inquiry Form.

Membership Inquiry Form

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

Our chapter offers a program for members to grow as leaders, mentors, and friends while making a difference in our community through hands-on volunteering.

The membership drive runs from January 15 to March 1. Please see below the important dates:

January 5 – Legacy Forms due
January 15 – Start of drive, prospective member packets and applications available, prospective member information meetings begin
March 1 – Prospective member applications due
April 1 – Letters of acceptance are distributed
April/May – New Member Orientation
June 1 – New members start, Chapter Year Begins

Timeline: Applications for membership are accepted during the Annual Membership Drive from January-March each year for mothers or female guardians and their daughters in 6th grade at the time of the Membership Drive. 

Residence: A Prospective Member shall reside in or attend school in the areas surrounding the Highway 141 Corridor, including South Forsyth, Gwinnett County, North Fulton County, Johns Creek, North Norcross, and Peachtree Corners.

Application:  The application process is now closed for the 2024-2025 Member Year. Check back in January 2025 for information about the 2025-2026 Member Year.

Visit our chapter’s social media pages to learn more about NCL Northeast Atlanta

       

                                         

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:

• About Face USA
• Alzheimer’s Association
• American Heart Association
• American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA)
• American Red Cross
• Atlanta Ronald McDonald House
• Blessings in a Backpack – FAM (Fulton, Alpharetta, Milton)
• Camp Twin Lakes
• Chattahoochee Nature Center
• CURE
• Disaster Response
• FOCUS
• Foster Care Support Foundation, Inc.
• FurKids
• Homeless Period Project
• Jesse’s House
• Meals By Grace
• North Fulton Community Charities
• Operation Gratitude
• Rainbow Village
• Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of Atlanta
• Strive for Girls
• Sunrise Senior Living
• The Kindness Campaign
• The Sandwich Project

Our NEA chapter categorizes our philanthropies into multiple groups, and each class has a grade-level focus. Categories include environmental, animal, elderly, military, families & housing, children & youth, and health.

Each year members are required to meet a minimum number of service (philanthropy) hours and a minimum number of leadership hours. The NCL NEA chapter is an active experience with all members committed to working for our philanthropies and our own organization.

• Ticktockers and Patronesses are required to serve a minimum of 15 Philanthropy Hours and 10 Leadership hours.
• Ticktockers are required to attend 6 meetings.
• Patronesses are required to attend 5 meetings.

Each year NCL NEA celebrates our accomplishments by awarding individual achievement, class performance, and mother-daughter conquests. Please visit the Annual Events page to learn more about award ceremonies.

NEA 2022-2023 period highlights include: 

• 8700 philanthropy hours served and 41 Mother-Daughter teams served 25 hours or more together.

 

  

 

 

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: Kara Byrd
  Trisha Vollandt
• President Elect: Kara Byrd
  Michelle Maddix-Sovero
• Secretary: Elizabeth Warren
• Treasurer: Janet Harrison
• Parliamentarian: Elizabeth Cook
  Michelle Maddix-Sovero
• Vice President Communications: Terri Davis
• Vice President Membership: Nicole Trowbridge
  Nicole Trowbridge
• Vice President Philanthropy: Elizabeth Moncrieff
  Melissa DeBow
• Vice President New Members: Amy Hughes
  Susan Carroll
• Vice President Ticktockers: Tiffany Batiste
  Tracy Swift
• Sustainer Liaison: Amanda Griffin
• Vice President Chapter Engagement and Inclusion: Larissa Conley
  Mandy Personette

LEADERSHIP SERVICE OBLIGATIONS: 

Every Patroness and Ticktocker will serve in a chapter position each year. There are many positions to choose from and our chapter works hard to pair each member with a role that suits their strengths or is requested by the member.  A Patroness shall serve as a Board member or Grade Level Advisor at least once as an Active member. A Ticktocker shall serve in a leadership position at least once, as well, during grades 7 – 12 of her membership.

The Board of Directors is made up of Patronesses. The roles for Ticktockers are similar to the BOD but also include roles such as:

• Inspiration
• Ice Breaker
• Recording Secretary
• Corresponding Secretary
• Secret Sister
• Sunshine
• Etiquette
• Social Media / Photography Representative
• Senior Recognition Representative
• Ticktocker Council Representative

       

As a 100% volunteer organization, it is up to all members to work together to provide the best leadership experience possible for each other and our daughters. Our chapter is supported by NCL Inc with many resources to help guide us along the way. 

A quote from a Grade Level Advisor, Joy Evans:

“I have thoroughly enjoyed being a GLA. My favorite parts of being a mentor have been developing a personal relationship with the girls and watching them build leadership skills as they take on more responsibilities. I am so proud of the young ladies that they have become!”

INSPIRATIONAL SPEAKERS

Additionally, members are exposed to inspirational and educational leaders in other areas of our community. Some of our keynote speakers over the years have included: John Trautwein – Will to Live; Lauren Cook – Sunny Girl; Jennifer Keitt – The Keitt Institute; Cindy Martin, LMFT – Relationship Recovery Center; and Rory Pan – Miss GA Outstanding Teen 2018.

  

 

 

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.

ANNUAL EVENTS:

NCL 101

In April/May new chapter members are invited to participate in NCL 101 where they will learn all about the chapter and what to expect. This is a great time to hear about all of the different Philanthropies that our chapter serves and to meet your Grade Level Advisors.

KICK-OFF

In August, our chapter holds its annual Kick-Off including the highlight, our service awards from the prior year!

TICKTOCKER DAY

In January, our chapter holds its annual Ticktocker Day. The Annual Ticktocker Day is planned with the needs of the Ticktockers in mind to give them the tools needed to continue building on the skills being taught through the NCL six-year program as well as give updates on chapter news.  The Ticktocker Advisory Council and the Patronesses on the Ticktocker Day committee work hard to make this time together educational and enjoyable. The themed day usually includes a guest speaker and a philanthropy activity as well as a fun experience for all who attend.

   

SENIOR RECOGNITION

Senior Recognition is a time-honored tradition in National Charity League, Inc. It is a celebration honoring the twelfth-grade Ticktockers upon completion of the six-year program. Senior Recognition is a rite of passage from our daughters’ teen years to the wonderful future that lies ahead of them. The seniors dress in long white gowns and after being escorted, are presented to the audience by her father in an honoring and emotional speech with her mother close by.  Our chapter’s junior class plays a role in this event as they take on the task of planning and preparing to make this a very special night for our seniors.

    

MOTHER-DAUGHTER TEA 

In the spring, our mothers and daughters gather to celebrate their bond at a tea. The Mother Daughter Tea is a mandatory event and is a time-honored tradition in National Charity League, Inc. NCL NEA has each Ticktocker class participate in the Tea planning and execution.  They learn addressing invitations, building centerpieces, setting a table, coordinating logistics and timelines, and a wide variety of other tasks a hostess will perform. The cultural significance for the Patroness and Ticktocker is a unique chance to participate in a long-standing tradition and teaches our daughters to be gracious young women. 

   

SENIOR TEA

Prior to the Senior Recognition, a Senior Tea is held for mothers and daughters of our senior class to present awards.

  

 

Northeast Atlanta Special Philanthropy Partners

CURE Picnic

Our Northeast Atlanta chapter has been serving the annual CURE Picnic and Lauren’s Run since 2011.  At the picnic, each of our grades set up a unique and elaborate themed, carnival-style station with fun games, prizes and activities for the attendees to participate in. It is a big part of the picnic and we are the only local NCL chapter dedicated to serve in this way. Participants include those who do the run, as well as families diagnosed with childhood cancer. The annual picnic is a reunion for CURE families and a special and fun day for all!

 

HEART WALK

American Heart Association and National Charity League, Inc. have formed a strategic partnership called our National Philanthropy Initiative. Our chapter supports this initiative by walking in the American Heart Association Heart Walk in Marietta.  In 2019 we partnered with six Atlanta-area chapters to walk as one!  

  

 

  

Our chapter will be forever grateful to the initial, small group of big-hearted, caring moms who willingly met in 2010 to learn about NCL, Inc. for the first time.  They took the lead in understanding its importance in a community and began to spread the word.  Thanks to the collaborative efforts of these first amazing ladies and their daughters, the awareness, momentum and interest in joining NCL, Inc. continued to build, allowing for the successful formation of our Northeast Atlanta Chapter.  Many of these same moms stepped-up for roles on the Founding Board of Directors and continue to play a role in our Chapter.

List of Chapter Presidents:

2010-2011 Christi Cantu

2011-2012 Christi Cantu

2012-2013 Lynn Floum

2013-2014 Julie Rhinehart

2014-2015 Christy Pincheon

2015-2016 Erica McCurdy

2016-2017 Patricia Rainey

2017-2018 Dawn Dickey

2018-2019 Jen Freyer

2019-2020 Joan Barker

2020-2021 Tomika Hargett

2021-2022 Zonya Barfield

2022-2023 Vanessa Lowe

2023-2024 Trisha Vollandt

 

 

  

Photo of our Chapter’s first Board of Directors and first graduating class of Ticktockers.