League of Women Voters of White Plains to Honor Dorothy Schere
The League of Women Voters of White Plains will honor Dorothy Schere at its annual Dinner Party on Sunday, Jan. 31. The party will be held at the home of Janice Abbott and Richard Bernstein from 3 to 5 p.m. at 177 Soundview Ave. in White Plains.
The LWVWP has referred to Dorothy Schere as the consummate volunteer, giving countless hours of her time and her many talents to White Plains organizations. She is quoted as saying that her favorite activities are those that involve working with children and helping our local community.
A native of Abington, PA, Dorothy majored in Psychology at Chestnut Hill College and moved to New York to work as a social worker. She met her husband Jonathan, an engineer, in New York City, where they had three children before moving to Hartsdale in 1968, where she first joined the League of Women Voters. Dorothy and Jonathan then moved to White Plains in 1971. One of her first major volunteer roles was to serve as President of Meals on Wheels from 1978-83.
While raising their children, Dorothy started her long career of service to the White Plains School District. Among her many roles, she was President of the Post Road School PTA, the Eastview Middle School PTA, and PTA Council. Later on, she was elected to the White Plains Board of Education, serving from 1987 to 2006, and served as School Board President from 2005-2006. She was also the School Board’s delegate to the Community Committee to Combat Drugs. She is very proud to have been involved when the District moved to the School Choice Program, a successful model of student diversification that remains in place today. Dorothy also was gratified to know the schools’ staff and students over the years, and loved attending graduations.
Dorothy has been engaged in many other aspects of education. She was certified as a mediator and trainer for the Westchester Mediation Center in 1992, and worked as a community mediator in the schools for many years. She volunteered in the Parent Child Program for preschoolers, and was involved in Family Services of Westchester’s Reading Buddies program. Dorothy began volunteering in the classroom at Post Road School in 1980, where you can still find her to this day.
Dorothy is a long-time member of the League of Women Voters of White Plains, working on many different projects, such as voter registration, election night reporting, the voter’s guide, immigration court, and of course, hosting the wonderful annual picnic at her home. And as anyone who has attended the picnics will attest, Dorothy is a passionate and talented gardener. She has been on the board of the White Plains Beautification Foundation since 1986, and served as its President from 2005-2007. She was named a Master Gardener by the Cornell Cooperative Extension in 2002.
Other local organizations have been fortunate to count Dorothy as an active participant. She is a past member of the Foundation for Public Education in White Plains and the Council of Neighborhood Associations, and a current member of the White Plains Woman’s Club and the Youth Board. She was a founding member and past Vice President of the Community that Cares.
Dorothy’s generous spirit extends to friends and family. Her family now includes three grandchildren and four step-grandchildren, and she hosts large gatherings during the holidays. She and Jonathan enjoy traveling, including two trips with Rotary Club, of which Jonathan is a member, to South Africa and Ecuador. On the trip to Ecuador, the Scheres met a young man who moved to the US and lived with them for eight years while he pursued his education.
All are welcome to attend this event. The cost is of the dinner is $30 per person/$45 for two in advance/ $35 per person at the door. Make checks payable to LWVWP and send to PO Box 2032, White Plains, NY 10602-2032.
Examiner Media – Keeping you informed with professionally-reported local news, features, and sports coverage.