Chel Domer
Tri Kappa’s very own adoption specialist loves her job.
“I love the fact that everyone claps at the final adoption hearings,” attorney Michelle “Chel” Domer says. “Before, when I was practicing family law, there weren’t many happy endings.”
Chel falls in the middle of a Tri Kappa trio – her mother, Sue Berry, and her daughter, Riley, are both members of the Alpha chapter. She likes sharing her Tri Kappa time with Riley.
“I like the fact that when I can get her there, it gets her out of her rut to meet other people and do other things,” Chel says. “She loves making cheeseballs; she loves Dirty Santa; she loves Blingo.”
Except for four years of undergraduate study at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and one year of law school at Valparaiso, Chel has been a lifelong Bloomington resident. She finished studying law at Indiana University and started working with her attorney dad immediately.
The 1985 Bloomington North graduate also has a son, Luke, and a much-loved dog, Bogey.
Chel was active for years in the Alpha chapter, where she served as president in 2003-04. She went Alpha Plus for a while and then became inactive.
“Amanda (Burnham) started telling me in 2015 that I needed to come back to Tri Kappa,” Chel laughs. “She said, ‘We have so much fun now!’”
Chel says Tri Kappa has really changed through the years.
“It was so different,” Chel says. “You were on a committee, but only the committee chairs ever did anything. We had a craft show at one time. Prior to that, we had a fair where we had to make things to sell. Tri Kappa was OK, but it wasn’t phenomenal! Now it’s phenomenal — and the ‘work’ is fun!”
Chel’s favorite Tri Kappa activity is Blingo. She’s excited to be a part of the Grants Committee, so she can help choose recipients in the spring.
“Prior to the grants program, the money we gave away to charities didn’t make much of an impact.” Chel says. “I feel like we make a difference now. I feel like we care.”
More About Chel:
She makes her own dog food for Bogey (and dog cookies!)
She’s participated in the Spartan and Tough Mudder competitions
Her favorite travel buddy is Amanda Burnham
On Thursday evenings, she can be found at the Alley Bar with friends
Her son, Luke, is named after Luke Skywalker