North Woods

About Our Chapter

NCL, Inc., North Woods 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 Maple Grove, Plymouth, Wayzata, and the area northwest of Minneapolis. Like all NCL, Inc. Chapters, North Woods aims to foster the mother-daughter relationship by serving its communities together.

Our History:

NCL North Woods was formed in 2017, thanks to the initiative and energy of our first Chapter President, Lori Anne Emlong. After moving to Minnesota from Colorado, Lori Anne pooled a group of incredibly capable women to form the founding board of NCL North Woods, serving the western suburbs of Minneapolis.  Together, these amazing women shared the benefits and joys of NCL with their friends, joining together to form the 239th chapter of the NCL network. Since that time, our membership and our philanthropy partners have grown exponentially, and we are excited to continue grow the chapter to its capacity. 

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 annual membership drive begins in January of each year and extends until early March. For any questions regarding this timing, membership, requests for transfers, or assistance with connecting as a Sustainer, email us at nclnw.membership@gmail.com 

If you would like to see our members in action, please follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Membership is available for mothers and their daughters (grades 7-12). Prospective members ideally should apply in their daughter’s 6th grade year, although there may be room for membership in older grades (depending on space available) through the 10th grade. 

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
  • CROSS Services
  • Disaster Response
  • Folkestone
  • Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners
  • Mobile Hope
  • National Day of Service – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service – January 15, 2024
  • Operation Gratitude
  • Ronald McDonald House Charities – Upper Midwest
  • Senior Community Services
  • Special Olympics of Minnesota
  • The Green Crew
  • The Kindness Campaign
  • Warrior Dog Rescue
  • Y Adventure Lab (Formerly CycleHealth)

National Philanthropies:

  • Alzheimer’s Assocation
  • American Heart Association
  • American Red Cross

 

Local Philanthropies:

  • CROSS Services
  • CycleHealth Kid Powered Fitness
  • Disaster Response
  • Folkestone Senior Living
  • Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners
  • Mobile Hope
  • Operation Gratitude
  • Ronald McDonald House Charities – Upper Midwest
  • Senior Community Services
  • Special Olympics Minnesota
  • The Green Crew
  • The Kindness Campaign
  • Warrior Dog Rescue

Each philanthropy provides a variety of opportunities for mothers and daughters to work together to support their community. The time spent together while helping others is often cited as one of the most impactful legacies of NCL membership.

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: Nikki Kietzer
  • President Elect: Alicia Amling
  • Secretary: Gretchen Nelson
  • Treasurer: Lindsay Backer
  • Parliamentarian: Gretchen Nelson
  • Vice President Communications: Jennifer Alstead
  • Vice President Membership: Anne Davidman
  • Vice President Philanthropy: Jill Kieser
  • Vice President New Members: Sara Swenson
  • Vice President Ticktockers: Jessi Grajczyk
  • Vice President Chapter Engagement and Inclusion: Caryne Kinne

Each NCL Chapter is committed to nurturing confidence through opportunities to learn and grow, while also building problem-solving skills through a supportive environment of healthy relationships.

 

 

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.