NEW FACES—Conejo Valley Days (CVD) organizers are looking for young volunteers to help service clubs and charities raise money during CVD. During a meeting last week, CVD general chair Frank Akrey’s children, James, 23, and Sarah,16, shared ideas on capturing the interest of local youth. James suggested a skateboarding competition. Sarah will promote CVD on Facebook, MySpace and Twitter. A new group in town is working together with old-timers to update Conejo Valley Days while honoring its traditions.

CVD began more than 50 years ago with a group of friends and neighbors gathering to create an event that would promote community spirit and raise money for local charities.

As the years passed, those organizers—including Donna “Conejo” Fargo—took their places in local history, and other community stalwarts expanded the festivities to include activities families would look forward to every year: picnics, parades, grand marshal races, beauty contests, carnivals, games of skill and chance, barbecue dinners and even awards for people with the most CVD badges or best whiskers.

With an eye toward planning this year’s event, a group of service club officials and other interested parties, under the leadership of local businessman Frank Akrey, were invited to a private meeting Jan. 7 at Four Friends Hall on Thousand Oaks Boulevard.

Akrey, a 44-year-resident of Thousand Oaks, moved to the city when he was 9. He grew up here, went to Thousand Oaks High School, raised his children locally and ran a lighting company.

Along the way he became a California motocross champion, performed in musical bands, created the lighting for the Grammys and the Academy Awards and found time to take his children to Conejo Valley Days.

“Years ago I saw the entertainment area had people sitting on hay bales. Then I noticed the stage needed better lighting, so I volunteered to provide it,” he said.

Next thing he knew, he’d been the entertainment chair for 10 years, beginning in the mid-’80s.

Now he finds himself CVD general chair with only a short time to pull the event together. Still, he envisions a parade, a five-day carnival and a Special Kids Day. He said he hopes the Conejo Valley Activities Corporation, the parent organization that oversees CVD festivities, will become a larger umbrella and provide year-round events, not just a seasonal one.

“I want CVD to always exist. It’s a gift to our children and community,” he said.

To do that it needs to change its business style while remaining true to its home-style roots, Akrey said.

At the meeting the group talked about the importance of several entities, including equestrian events, even if they’re offsite or don’t coincide with the carnival. Young people attending the meeting offered to promote CVD through online networking services, such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter. They also suggested a skateboarding event and using lots of neon colors.

“We’re looking for young talent who want to partner up and help nonprofits,” Akrey said.

After the meeting Akrey spoke of a possible all-faith CVD walk with flashlights from Newbury Park through Lake Sherwood to Westlake Village. He said he’d like to see the parade this year be a nighttime event.

That would be a far cry from the 1958 Conejo Valley Days parade, led by actor Ward Bond and his wagon train. And with Jungleland a thing of the past, there probably won’t be any more CVD camel races.

But as long as there’s a dedicated group willing to work hard and volunteer time, the Conejo Valley Days that represents the spirit of the community may still be alive.