A Heartfelt Thanks to
Outgoing President Dave Scharett
On Saturday January 14th at 0930 the Saint Faustina Vincentians gathered to swear in John Needham as the acting President of the conference, filling the remainder of Dave Scharett's term.
This decision was entirely Dave's and was prompted by a continued deterioration of his health. Dave embodies the meaning of a servant leader and will be truly missed by everyone in the conference. His unwavering commitment to our neighbors-in-need and love of God and country has been an inspiration for our conference and beyond.
Dave will be active as he is able, please continue to lift him in your prayers.
If you scroll down below the photo gallery you will see the full text of the farewell speech Conference Vice President Laura Morris gave for Dave, it was wonderful and I encourage you to read it.
Click on a photo to expand the views.
St. Faustina Conference SVdP
Farewell Speech for President Dave Scharett
January 14, 2023
Dear Vincentians,
It is my pleasure and honor to recognize Dave Scharett for his many outstanding achievements while serving as President of the St. Faustina Conference. Dave has earned a widespread reputation in our community as a caring and compassionate champion of poor and needy families. In the four years that I have known him, David has consistently spent over 40 hours every week volunteering as a case worker for the Saint Faustina Conference of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul at St. Matthew Catholic Church and St. Patrick Catholic Church in Spotsylvania County, VA. He has provided food, aid, and comfort to countless families, orphans, single mothers, students, undocumented aliens, and elderly people. For the past two years, he has served as the elected President and has raised over $400,000 dollars to help the poor and needy. He obtained tens of thousands of dollars in grants and donations to support others. Dave led a determined effort to bring communities together to provide charitable aid. He formed coalitions by writing letters and meeting with the leaders of churches, veteran organizations, fire departments, schools, Catholic Charities, the St. Lucy Project, and civic organizations to locate the neediest families and children in our community. He established a youth ministry and created scholarships for high school students to attend vocational schools.
Most notably, while performing his duties as our President, David continued to serve as a volunteer case worker conducting home visitations to needy families, identifying their financial needs, assessing their other needs, processing the requisite documentation for meeting their needs, and providing them with assistance to end the systemic generational cycle of poverty in poor families. Dave has grown the membership in the St. Faustina Conference from 16 to 42 members. He inspired the Vincentians to embrace a vision to end systemic poverty. There are many additional ministries and events that Dave Scharett has successfully initiated and implemented but the ones I have identified should convey my point that Dave is a tireless and highly effective leader who is dedicated to helping the poor and needy in our community.
Dave is a gentleman and a perfect model of servant leadership. He is humble, caring, and highly effective in leading volunteers to help bring an end to generational poverty. He provides joy and hope for needy people of all age groups, races, and faiths by providing them with food, clothing, home essentials, financial assistance, job opportunities, and most importantly, a renewed sense of worth and self-esteem. His actions demonstrate his genuine love for all of God’s people.
Most inspiring to everyone is Dave’s ability to achieve so much to help others while enduring intense pain and suffering from his fight with blood cancer and from injuries sustained while serving our country as an F4 Phantom fighter jet pilot and Top Gun instructor in the US Air Force. Dave uses his zeal to help needy people to distract him from his pain and the negative side effects of his medication. Despite his suffering, Dave continued his mission and pursued his vision to provide hope and to help bring an end generational and systemic poverty.
Dave, on behalf of Father Eversole, our spiritual advisor, and the entire St. Faustina Conference membership, it is my distinct honor to present you with this plaque of appreciation which reads,” In gratitude for your exemplary service, genuine friendship, and spiritual leadership.” Thank you for serving as our President from October 1, 2020, to January 1, 2023.
God Bless you always, Dave.
Laura R. Morris
Vice President
St. Faustina Conference
Society of St. Vincent de Paul