Rotarian wins John Conlan award

The Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks has named Maria Prescott as this year's recipient of the John Conlan award. The prize was established by the club 10 years ago to commemorate Conlan's contributions to administrative governance and charitable causes in the Conejo Valley and Ventura County.

In 1974 Prescott began working for the city of Thousand Oaks and held various positions until her retirement in 2005 when she became executive director of Hospice of the Conejo.

During the 1980s she served on the Conejo Recreation and Park District's Therapeutic Advisory Council, which developed programs and recreational activities for developmentally disabled youth and young adults. She joined the board of directors of Hospice of the Conejo in 1992, serving six years on the board, including two years as president in 1995 and 1996.

Because of term limits she left the Hospice board and joined the board of the Ventura County Association for Retarded Citizens, acting as

vice president and representative for the Conejo Valley from 1998 to 2000. In each of her board affiliations, Prescott was a leader in organizing and implementing fundraising activities.

She ran for grand marshall of Conejo Valley Days in 1994, which helped to raise more than $20,000 for Hospice.

In 1997 Prescott was honored for her work on behalf of local charities and her work for the city of Thousand Oaks as the Chamber of Commerce Woman of the Year.

In 1998 she received the Annual Community Conscience award for her "dedicated service in fostering courtesy, respect and dignity in the public dealings of basic assistance agencies," and in 2004 the Conejo Valley Historical Society honored her for her community service.

Prescott's husband, John, is director of community development for Thousand Oaks.

John Conlan, a Ventura County supervisor from 1967 to 1975, served more than 30 years as chairman or board member for more than 30 governmental entities and charitable organizations.