If you're on Chicago Avenue on a Friday night and notice throngs of middle schoolers gathered around the Woman's Club of Evanston, you might wonder, "What gives?"

This is Nicole Marks' second year running the Fortnightly Program for the North End Mothers' Club…and she's definitely an Evanstonian you ought to know. 

The 2010-2011 school year marks the 99^th year of the North End Mothers' Club, and while you might assume it's a quiet, lovely little establishment of ladies, this powerhouse of Evanstonians has been making a difference Around Town since 1911.

According to its website's history:

The North End Mothers' Club traces its history back to the spring of 1911 when a group of women interested in children and youth met to plan the organization and draw up a constitution. The club was initially called the Mothers' Club of Central School. Located at Central Street and Stewart, it was the only school in North Evanston at the time. The site is now a city park. In the early years the club focused on activities such as collecting and donating books to libraries, providing moving picture equipment, free textbooks and rental musical instruments to improve the lives of Evanston school children. In 1922 the club planned and organized the first Evanston 4th of July parade and fireworks. In 1926 it helped bring the post office to North Evanston. More recently the club has focused on the three scholarships it gives annually to graduating ETHS seniors, The NEMC Senior Girl's Award, the Nursing Scholarship and the Joanne Murphy Trautwein Music Award, and on donating money to local organizations.

The club's objective: "To promote acquaintance, to make a united effort toward the development of friendly community service and to benefit youth wherever possible" continues and thrives thanks to the dedicated mothers who had such a vision back in 1911.

Though called the North End Mother's Club by virtue of its North Evanston roots, the club is open to all Evanston women and supports organizations throughout the city of Evanston.

Patch question to Nicole Marks:  How did you become involved?

Nicole Marks:  I participated in Fortnightly as a middle schooler here in Evanston 30 years ago and while I have memories of being awkward and nervous, I enjoyed it tremendously. Part of raising kids in the same town you grew up in allows you to have them do the things that made an impact on you as a child. When my oldest was going into 6th grade a few years ago I offered to join the committee that the woman running the program had formed. I started volunteering at all the lessons and joined the North End Mothers' Club who governs Fortnightly.

The following year that woman decided not to continue and I offered to run it on behalf of the NEMC. I saw some things that I could change and wanted to give it a shot. This is the second year that I have run the program.

Patch:  How many students are enrolled?

Nicole Marks:  We have openings for 100 girls and 100 boys in each grade (6th and 7th). We are currently full for every group except 7th grade boys.

Patch:  What are the goals of the program?

Nicole Marks:  From my perspective, the goals are two-fold.

First, Fortnightly is a fundraiser, which most people don't realize. We have very low expenses and therefore the majority of the money we earn from participation and donations goes back out into the Evanston community.

In keeping with the club's goal of providing financial assistance to Evanston youth focused organizations, checks totaling $27,000 were delivered to twelve Evanston groups. This amount is $3,000 more than we were able to contribute in 2009, and a full $10,000 more than 2008. This level of community support is made possible by the continued success of our major fundraiser, Fortnightly, smaller events such as the raffle at the spring fashion show and the fall membership cocktail party and, of course, the donations we receive from our membership.

We are particularly happy to be able to increase our level of donations this year given the additional economic hardship many of our community organizations are feeling due to the economy.

Donations were made to:

• Evanston 4^th of July Association     
• McGaw YMCA
• Infant Welfare Society
• YWCA Women's Shelter
• Child Care Center of Evanston
• Keep Evanston Beautiful
• ETHS After Midnight
• Kids and School Supplies (KASS)
• Evanston School Children's Clothing Association (ESCCA)
• Evanston Public Library Friends
• TED Fund
• Evanston In School Music Association (EISMA)]

Second, Fortnightly gives preteens/teens a safe place to socialize, learn how to be comfortable with classmates of all sexes and learn some basic etiquette. It, of course, also teaches some dancing basics so that students are comfortable at any events (weddings, etc.) they may attend with family or friends.

Patch:  How many folks help you?

Nicole Marks:  I do all the registration and planning myself. I have parent chaperones help each Friday night. We need sixto eight parents at each lesson to help with crowd control and check in.

Patch:  What are the costs?

Nicole Marks:  We charge $100 per student. Lessons are 1 1/2 hours long on six Friday nights throughout the fall.