In March 2016, Gila Butte Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) elected new officers and thanked the outgoing Board of Management for its service during the past two years. Lesley Baran has succeeded Barbara Hugus as regent of the chapter.

Gila Butte was founded in 2002 with 22 members and has met in Sun Lakes for the past 14 years. In that time, the chapter has grown to 120 Daughters and is headed toward its 2016 goal of 125 members. Although most members live in the immediate area, there are also chapter members from around the Valley and the nation. Each member has been assigned her own permanent national number.

The DAR National Society was founded 125 years ago by four enterprising women who envisioned a society based on service and dedicated to historic preservation, education and patriotism. The four founders included educators and civil servants, one a lawyer and another an author, who adjusted their schedules to include the establishment of the fledgling service organization. Today, there are chapters in every state in the Union and the District of Columbia, as well as 14 units overseas, including Japan and Australia.

Arizona State Society DAR was founded in 1902, 10 years before Arizona was admitted to the Union. There are now 41 chapters around the state. For the past two years, Arizona DAR has been led by State Regent Gillian Morse, a Sun Lakes resident.

Gila Butte Chapter welcomes all eligible women who want to serve their community and their nation in DAR. Those eligible are women 18 and older who can prove lineal bloodline descent from a patriot of the American Revolution. For information please call 602-430-6048 or go to the Gila Butte chapter website gilabutte.arizonadar.org.