THOUSAND OAKS : Social Service Agency Chief Steps Down

After a decade at the helm of Thousand Oaks’ most far-reaching social service agency, activist Fred Wilson has stepped down from the presidency of Community Conscience.

Wilson, 66, retired from the agency’s board of directors this month after new rules took effect limiting board presidents to two three-year terms. He will continue to raise money and guide policy for Community Conscience from his post on the agency’s executive committee.

A certified public accountant, Wilson co-founded Community Conscience in 1981 and led the long campaign to build the Human Services Center for nonprofit counseling and care groups.

“Some people told us we had to be out of our mind to even think about it, but we decided to go for it,” Wilson said.

His determination to help local nonprofit groups was sparked by the budget-cutting frenzy of the Reagan Administration, when the federal government slashed funding for many social service programs. After establishing an endowment fund, Wilson began to lobby corporations, private citizens and city governments for money to help struggling local agencies.

With Thousand Oaks’ donation of land, Wilson and his colleagues eventually raised enough money to build the Human Services Center--also known as Under One Roof--at 80 Hillcrest Drive.

The Human Services Center houses nearly two dozen agencies ranging from a thrift shop run by senior citizens to a clinic offering free legal advice.

Those in need can get counseling on how to avoid child abuse, how to apply for jobs, how to balance a checkbook and how to set a budget. They can seek aid from Catholic Charities, Lutheran Social Services, the Jewish Federation Council or several nondenominational agencies.

Community Conscience offers free space to these tenants. But to ensure that the no-rent policy will continue, the agency needs to raise about $750,000 to pay off the rest of the mortgage on the Human Services Center.

With Wilson retired, Community Conscience’s new president, Eugene Dowd, will take over the “Prevent Rent” fund-raising campaign. He’s enthusiastic, optimistic--and slightly daunted.

“I think it’s fantastic that Fred had the foresight, vision and tenacity to get this thing going and rally people around,” said Dowd, who has retired from the manufacturing business. “I don’t know how the heck I’m going to fill his shoes or follow his giant footsteps. He’s a tough act to follow.”

Community Conscience’s next fund-raising event will be the annual Mardi Gras ball and auction Feb. 15 at Lake Sherwood Country Club.