The current proposal to amend the National Bylaws, Article III, Section 2 – Admissions was duly adopted by the Martha Laird Chapter on February 22, 2025.
Article XXI of the National Bylaws states:
These Bylaws may be amended… provided further that the amendment has been proposed by the National Board of Management, or by a chapter, or by a committee authorized by the Continental Congress. In case the amendment is proposed by a chapter, it shall be endorsed by at least nine other chapters, the ten chapters being located in at least five different states. (NSDAR Bylaws, Article XXI, Section 1(a))
***UPDATED 5/1/2025*** As of the date of this publication, there are nineteen endorsing chapters for the current proposal, representing thirteen different states.
Russellville Chapter, Kentucky
Harmony Mission Chapter, Missouri
Algonquin Chapter, Michigan
Meyongo Chapter, Missouri
Daniel Witcher Chapter, Texas
Liberty Bell Chapter, Pennsylvania
Cricket Hill Chapter, Virginia
Sullivan-Dunklin Chapter, South Carolina
Lohmann’s Ford Chapter, Texas
Siskiyou Chapter, California
Lady Banksia Chapter, Tombstone, Arizona
Whiteside Station Chapter, Illinois
General Marion’s Brigade Chapter, South Carolina
Fort Churchill Chapter, Nevada
White Sands, New Mexico
Taneycomo Chapter, Missouri
St. Joseph Bay Chapter, Florida
Linares Chapter, California
Chapter, Arizona – this chapter in Arizona has a recording secretary that is refusing to sign the endorsement – they have asked not to be named publicly until they can sort this out.
In 2023, the Nevada Sagebrush Chapter in Nevada proposed an amendment to the National Bylaws Article IIII, Section 1 – Eligibility and Section 2 – Admissions. This proposal received eleven chapter endorsements representing nine different states.
The proposal was rejected by the National Board of Management in a letter dated February 10, 2024 stating “The National Board of Management, in a ballot vote on Saturday, February 10, 2024, found the proposed amendments not to be suitable subject matter for inclusion in the bylaws and not to be in the best interests of the Society. The Board rejected the proposed amendments in their entirety. The proposed amendments will not be forwarded to the 133rd Continental Congress.”
The Minutes of the National Board of Management Meeting reflect a vote of 80 NO votes and 1 YES vote.
The endorsing chapters were:
Dardanelle Rock Chapter, Arkansas
Heirome Gaines Chapter, Louisiana
Koussinoc Chapter, Maine
Mount Desert Isle Chapter, Maine
Anna Keyes Powers Chapter, New Hampshire
Battle Born Chapter, Nevada
Otway Burns Chapter, North Carolina
General Richard Butler Chapter, Pennsylvania
Liberty Bell Chapter, Pennsylvania
William Capers Chapter, South Carolina
The Crab-Orchard Chapter, Tennessee
In 2024, the Martha Laird Chapter in Texas proposed an amendment to the National Bylaws Article IIII, Section 1 – Eligibility and Section 2 – Admissions. This proposal received twelve* chapter endorsements representing eight* different states.
The proposal was rejected by the National Board of Management in a letter dated February 8, 2025 stating “The National Board of Management, in a ballot vote on Saturday, February 8, 2025, found the proposed amendments not to be suitable subject matter for inclusion in the bylaws and not to be in the best interests of the Society. The Board rejected the proposed amendments in their entirety. The proposed amendments will not be forwarded to the 134th Continental Congress.“
The Minutes of the National Board of Management Meeting reflect 76 NO votes and 4 YES votes for Motion #1 On the question of Definition of a Woman.
The Minutes reflect 78 NO votes and 2 YES votes on Motion #2 On the question of Remove Antidiscrimination.
The Minutes reflect 78 NO votes and 2 YES votes on Motion #3 On the question to Require DNA Test or Notarized/Sworn Statement of Birth Documentation.
The endorsing chapters were:
Molly Goodnight Chapter, Texas
Princess Sehoy Chapter, Alabama
Harmony Mission Chapter, Missouri
Meyongo Chapter, Missouri
Otway Burns Chapter, North Carolina
Fort Churchill Chapter, Nevada
Liberty Bell Chapter, Pennsylvania
John Everett Chapter, Texas
Robert Rankin Chapter, Texas
Head of Elk Chapter, Maryland
Neches River, Texas
Charles Carroll Chapter, Indiana
*It should be noted for the record that the Taneycomo Chapter in Missouri and the Umpqua Chapter in Oregon adopted the motion to endorse a similar proposal that would have required a DNA test (Section 2) and did not provide an option for a sworn statement. This proposal was adopted by the Martha Laird Chapter, but failed to receive the requisite number of chapter endorsements.
It should also be noted that the proposing chapters from 2023 and 2024 did not start gathering endorsements until late in the year (August or later) and were still able to receive the requisite number of chapter endorsements by the October 1st Deadline.