About Our Chapter

NCL, Inc., Wilmette 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 Wilmette or Kenilworth. Like all NCL, Inc. Chapters, Wilmette aims to foster the mother-daughter relationship by serving its communities together.

 

NCL National Notes

Our chapter has received the White Rose Chapter Award for the 2020-2021 year. We have completed our annual requirements, and went above and beyond for our community.

 

OUR THREE PILLARS

The three pillars of our six year (7th-12th grade) NCL experience for mothers and daughters are Philanthropy, Culture and Leadership.  To gain a better understanding of how the members of our organization support numerous partners within our community, please visit our NCL Wilmette SmugMug photo website.

THE TICKTOCKER EXPERIENCE

We are dedicated to providing our daughters, “Ticktockers”, with a developmental program that provides opportunities for each young woman to learn the joy of serving others, to grow aware of and respect a wide array of cultural traditions, to develop life skills, maturity, confidence and compassion, and to make friends while engaging in chapter activities in a safe, comfortable, and age-appropriate environment. We believe that this well-rounded “NCL, Inc. Experience” will inspire and empower our young women to succeed as confident and socially aware contributors in their communities. Ticktockers are divided into classes based on their year of high school graduation.  Ticktockers are given increasing autonomy in deciding on their meeting programming, the focus of their philanthropy efforts, and the execution of their class leadership roles. Senior Ticktockers are given the opportunity to receive a comprehensive letter of recommendation that outlines their philanthropy and leadership accomplishments for use in the post-high school application process.

THE PATRONESS EXPERIENCE

We are dedicated to deepening the mother-daughter bond and spending time with our daughters while watching them grow into strong, capable and compassionate women, through shared philanthropic service. Our mothers, “Patronesses”, will know the satisfaction of working with other talented women who value serving the community and who want their daughters to do so as well. Rich and diverse programming is provided to Patronesses through their monthly meetings.

MEETINGS AND EVENTS

Monthly Meetings

The Wilmette Chapter plans monthly meetings from September through May for both Ticktockers and Patronesses. The majority of meetings for Ticktockers and Patronesses are conducted separately and there are three all-chapter events held annually. Ticktocker meetings address topics in our chapter’s core program and may include guest speakers, hands-on activities and philanthropy projects. Each class year of Ticktockers meets separately on a monthly basis and all Ticktockers meet together, once a year.

Philanthropy Events

Ticktockers and Patronesses must fulfill an annual philanthropy hours requirement by attending volunteer events scheduled with the Wilmette chapter’s approved philanthropy partners.

Annual Tea & Awards Ceremony

The mother-daughter Annual Tea & Awards Awards Ceremony is an NCL, Inc. tradition that all members are required to attend. Ticktockers and Patronesses collaborate for planning this annual event, and in the process learn planning and organizational skills, budgeting, as well as contemporary etiquette. The Tea is a great opportunity for the Ticktockers and Patronesses to spend time with members from other classes in a fun environment.

Senior Recognition

Senior Recognition is an annual tradition where the Senior Class Patronesses and Ticktockers come together for a culminating last event to share their special NCL stories in a memorable celebration and ceremony.

Mini Convention

Mini Convention is an annual event that kicks off our new chapter year.  At this high-energy event, our new Board of Directors and new Grade Level Advisors are introduced, as well as new philanthropies and other nation-wide NCL initiatives for the year. Training for new league roles also takes place, and initial planning for the upcoming chapter year begins for each Ticktocker class.  All members are required to attend Mini Convention.

Father (Father Figure)-Daughter Event

Each Ticktocker class plans, organizes and hosts its own Father (Father Figure)-Daughter event.  Activities range from philanthropy projects, to snow tubing, to cooking classes, to sports outings.  This is a fun annual event that everyone loves!

 

OUR CHAPTER HISTORY

When Laura Templin moved from Oregon back to Wilmette, Illinois in 2016, she and her rising seventh grade daughter reluctantly relinquished a coveted membership in a well-established and vibrant NCL, Inc. chapter. Unfortunately, there were no NCL, Inc. chapters in all of Cook County. By sharing her NCL, Inc. experience and vision, she inspired a small group of women to establish an NCL, Inc. chapter open to mothers and daughters who lived in or attended a school in Wilmette or Kenilworth. After publicizing their efforts, they held their first information meeting on August 22, 2016.

Their recruitment efforts culminated on October 21, 2016, when the Wilmette chapter was formed with fifty mothers and fifty-one daughters. Since formation, the founding chapter has established relationships with philanthropy partners, developed a curriculum that includes service, leadership development and cultural experiences, and implemented the leadership and organizational systems critical to an effective and efficient chapter.

The Wilmette chapter is the first NCL, Inc. chapter in Cook County and the third NCL, Inc. chapter in Illinois. The other Illinois chapters are the Greater Naperville chapter and the Hinsdale-Clarendon Hills chapter.

 

FOUNDING OFFICERS

President – Laura Templin

VP Membership – Giselle Mosnaim Buyer

VP Ticktockers – Sophia Kondos

VP Philanthropy – Stacy Hillyer

VP Patroness Activities – Maggie Burton

VP Communications – Mary Kaczmarek

VP Provisionals – Jenny Hall Fink

Secretary – Darcy Powers

Treasurer – Heidi Bucklew

Parliamentarian – Jennifer Braun

 

2016 Founding Officers (left to right):  Stacy Hillyer, Heidi Bucklew, Laura Templin, Jennifer Braun, Mary Kaczmarek, Giselle Mosnaim Buyer

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.

 

NEW MEMBER INFORMATION SESSIONS

Our upcoming Membership Drive will be kicking off in January 2024 and we’ll be accepting applications for the Class of 2030. 

To be considered for membership, prospective members will need to attend one session. Please RSVP HERE!

• January 18, 7:00 PM, A. Perry Homes, 1220 Washington Ave, Wilmette
• January 31, 7:00 PM, A. Perry Homes, 1220 Washington Ave, Wilmette
• February 6, 9:00 AM, Michigan Shores Club, 911 Michigan Ave, Wilmette
• February 12, 7:00 PM, Zoom (link coming soon)

 

REQUIREMENTS

PATRONESSES

• 25 total hours
• 15 Philanthropy and 10 Leadership hours
• 5 meetings

TICKTOCKERS

• 25 total hours
• 15 Philanthropy and 10 Leadership hours
• 6 meetings

 Requirements for Patronesses and Ticktockers are measured from 6/1 of given year to 5/31 of following year. 

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:

• National Day of Service – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service – January 15, 2024

• A collaborative, community organization that supports and guides families and educators to nurture the healthy, well-rounded development of children from birth to eight years old.

 

• Works to provide Alzheimer’s care and support research.

 

• The AHA has been around for nearly 100 years and has grown into the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke.

 

• supports urgent humanitarian needs across the country

  

 

•  Sources, processes and distributes quality children’s books to significantly increase book ownership among at-risk infants, toddlers and school-age children throughout Chicagoland.

 

     

• A volunteer organization composed of golfers, neighbors and community members dedicated to preserving and improving a unique and special green space.

 

• The mission of Cancer Wellness Center is to address both the physical and emotional components of distress associated with a cancer diagnosis.

 

• delivers essential services to people facing homelessness and housing insecurity

 

• Provides children from birth through age 12, living in homeless or low-income situations, with the essential items they need to thrive – at home, at school and at play.

 

   

• Provides the highest quality and most accessible equine therapy programs and services for special needs children and adults.

 

     

• Provides nutritious meals to children worldwide. Volunteers hand-pack rice, soy, dried vegetables & a blend of vitamins and minerals into bags which are sealed, boxed, placed on pallets & shipped to reach the neediest children.

 

 

• Friends of Green Bay Trail was founded in 2010  to improve a portion of the trail. Today, that small group has expanded into a volunteer-managed 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that has raised over a half-million dollars to improve the trail running between Scott and South Avenue.

 

 

• GiGi’s Playhouse Down Syndrome Achievement Center’s mission is to change the way the world views Down syndrome through national campaigns, educational programs, and by empowering individuals with Down syndrome, their families and the community. We offer free therapeutic and educational programming to individuals with Down syndrome and their families.

  

• Glenview Youth Services believes every child should grow up happy, healthy and hopeful.  Their mission is to foster the social and emotional well-being of children and youth.  Throughout the school year, children come to GYS for homework and academic support through their Study Buddies program.  NCL members help prep and serve dinner to these children.

  

• Go Green Wilmette’s mission is to raise environmental awareness, inspire people to take action, and create a more sustainable community.  Members of the Wilmette community work together as stewards of our shared environment, ensuring clean air, clean water, and natural green spaces for the health and well-being of generations to come.

 

• helps families and communities achieve strength, stability, and self-reliance through housing, beautification, and development projects

 

 

• Keeping Families Covered (formerly Twice as Nice Mother & Child) provides help and hope to families in crisis by distributing diapers and other basic needs at no cost through agency partnerships as well as direct service, while raising awareness about diaper need and working to build a sustainable diaper program in Lake County.

 

 

• provides support, purpose, and joy to people of all abilities

• Military support organization helping local active duty, veterans and military families.

  

    

• To empower local community programs to improve the health and quality of life of the seniors they serve so that no one is left hungry or isolated.

 

•  sharing life with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities

 

 

• Provides housing, health care, outreach, and social services to adults and youth who struggle with homelessness.  Volunteers bake cookies that are included in meal kits that are given to homeless in Chicago.

 

  

• Variety of programs that address the critical problem of generational poverty, including a food pantry, after school programming, summer camp opportunities and more.

 

• Nourishing Hope’s tagline is “Food for Today, Hope for Tomorrow.” Their mission statement is: “Nourishing Hope, formerly known as Lakeview Pantry, is a dynamic social services organization providing food, mental wellness counseling and other social services, such as job and housing assistance, to our Chicago neighbors in need. Founded in 1970, we strive to serve the needs of the whole person — with respect and dignity, always.”

 

• Forging strong bonds between Americans and Military & First Responders through volunteer service projects, acts of gratitude, and meaningful engagements.

• The mission is to collect, purchase and ship humanitarian goods and medical supplies to cities in the Ukraine.

 

• Provides necessary donations of food and essential household items to thousands of families living in low-income, food- and housing-insecure communities in Chicago and its northern suburbs.

 

 

• Impacts children’s lives during the first five years of life by providing low income families with the essentials needed to thrive.

 

 

• Special Olympics offers 30-plus Olympic-style individual and team sports that provide meaningful training and competition opportunities for persons with intellectual disabilities.

 

   

• St Thomas of Canterbury Soup Kitchen.  Prepares and serves dinner to homeless and others in need.

 

  

• With the help of our birthday enthusiasts (that’s you!) we host monthly birthday parties at homeless and transitional living facilities across the country. We celebrate all children (ages 1-21) that have a birthday that month, and we invite all children and family members staying at the agency to join us for the party.

 

 

• Health care services provided by the University of Illinois at Chicago

 

 

• Volunteers help our village with community events such as the annual Summerfest celebration.

 

     

• The Wilmette Food Pantry helps organize, process, and distribute food that will be made available to local food-insecure Wilmette residents (many of whom are seniors living on a fixed income).

 

• Volunteers help with PTA-sponsored events that need help such as school carnivals.

 

• Provides housing, health care, outreach, spiritual care, and social services to adults and youth who struggle with homelessness, poverty, and loneliness.

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: Karen Holmberg
• President Elect: Rebecca Guryan
• Secretary: Eileen Hart
• Treasurer: Annie O’Brien
• Parliamentarian: Jennifer Throm
• Vice President Communications: Peggy Rogers
• Vice President Membership: Megan Gemp
• Vice President Philanthropy: Amanda Myers
  Julie Howie
• Vice President New Members: Ashley Krupski
• Vice President Ticktockers: Erika Blake
  Tiffany Laczkowski
• Vice President Chapter Engagement and Inclusion: Kay Slaven

TICKTOCKER LEADERSHIP

Each Ticktocker class has Board Officers and Committee Members. The Ticktockers are trained in parliamentary procedure and conduct their own meetings, with the support of Patronesses known as Grade Level Advisors (GLA’s).  Ticktockers are required to serve in at least one Board position during their time in NCL.

Ticktockers not serving on the Board are also responsible for a job within their class. Examples of class jobs include planning a cultural outing or event, social media development, and planning icebreakers for meetings.

Each Ticktocker class year will focus on a different area of leadership development, such as conducting meetings, organization skills, goal setting, public speaking, career building, and personal finance management. Leadership areas of our Chapter include:

7th grade – Friendship & Etiquette
8th grade – High School Preparation
9th grade – Establishing Identity
10th grade – Interpersonal Relationships
11th grade – College & Career Choices
12th grade – Transition & Leaving Home

PATRONESS LEADERSHIP

Each Patroness has opportunities to serve on the Board or in a leadership position, such as a Grade Level Advisor (GLA) or Event Lead. Patronesses will also serve on committees to perform tasks and projects for the chapter. All Patronesses are required to serve in at least one Board, Webmaster or GLA role during their time in NCL.

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.

WE LEARN TOGETHER

Our Chapter also participates in numerous cultural activities together throughout the year including:

• Viewing dance or music performances
• Taking a dance or music class
• Visiting museums
• Touring architecturally significant buildings and gardens
• Cooking classes featuring world cuisines
• Art classes
• Theater outings

 Grade Level Cultural Events focus:

• 7th grade:  Dance and Music
• 8th grade:  Art
• 9th grade:  Discovering New Cuisines
• 10th grade: Visual Fine Arts
• 11th grade: Theater
• 12th grade: Senior Choice

In The News