Vote for Jo Ann O'Toole at the 2021 Jacksonville International Convention!

My favorite projects

The club is the "heart and soul" of Civitan. My favorite times in Civitan have been while working projects at the club level.

Rock Creek School

This is perhaps my favorite project of all time. This is one of the first reasons I became a Civitan member. My club has done this project for almost 60 years. The Rock Creek School hosts children with the most special of needs and this was my very first project with the club. Each year, we purchase gifts for every student and Santa delivers the gifts. There is a dollar limit on the gifts and the kids put together a wish list. I have never forgotten that look on Michael's face when he opened up the small gift of a pack of ABC refrigerator magnets that was on his wish list that I had picked. He jumped up and down and I had tears streaming down my face. That joy; that wonderful feeling; that's why I'm a Civitan.

Frederick Challenger Little League

Our club has supported the Frederick Challenger Little League for many years through supporting the Civitan team to offset expenses. We have also donated toward their annual banquet where they honor the league players. This league is for children with disabilities through age 21 (although I believe they do not deny anyone who wants to play). I was lucky enough to be contacted while I was President of the Frederick Civitan Club in 2005 about the league, and of course that was so perfectly aligned with our club's mission, I didn't think twice and brought the idea of supporting them to the club.

One of the highlights of my Civitan career was being included with the Frederick Challenger Civitan team when they were invited to the White House to play on the South Lawn in front of President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura. It was such an honor to be sitting next to the President of the United States, meeting Willie Mays, and to be photographed with the first lady. I have always cherished my photo with Laura Bush.

Market Street Masters

I was first introduced to Civitan when I was asked to speak to the Frederick Civitan club about a possible new fundraising project for them; a basket bingo. I was a representative for a well-known basket company and local groups were beginning to have bingos where baskets would be given as prizes instead of cash. These types of fundraisers were very successful for a few years, but the novelty wore off, and the club needed to find a new major fundraiser. Fellow club member, Denise Phelps, brought the indoor golf tournament idea back to the club after the 2006 Civitan International convention in Orlando. She and another Frederick club member, Jenny Burd Rogers, got it off the ground, and I truly got involved in their third year. We make a great team and the tournament has really evolved with the use of electronic scoring which I created. Our players look forward to spending a winter afternoon in downtown Frederick, MD going from one watering hole to another playing a specially designed mini-golf hole at each bar. The tournament has carried our club through some tough times because of the revenue it provides, and the players really missed it this year because of COVID-19.

Thanks to our friend "COVID," many community projects were stalled over the past year.

I look forward to getting back to work with the heart and soul of Civitan and seeing the joy in those we help!

Contact me at:

joann.otoole@comcast.net

301-606-0542

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