DAR dissolves Texas chapter after bylaws violation ruling

The Daughters of the American Revolution’s National Board of Management voted on October 10 to terminate the Martha Laird Chapter in Texas, invoking a two-thirds majority resolution under Article XIX, Section 4 of the bylaws. Organizing Secretary General Marguerite Hogan Fritsch announced that the chapter’s leadership had employed its authority and communications to further an external advocacy organization, which the board deemed discrediting to the Society.

The board clarified that the dissolution was unrelated to the chapter’s opposition to transgender women joining the DAR. The Texas chapter, founded in 1942, had previously challenged DAR leadership on membership policy and sought a bylaw amendment defining eligibility based on biological sex. Individual members will retain their DAR status and may transfer to other chapters, with dues to be refunded. The move follows recent congressional proposals to restrict DAR membership to biological women.