2 Heart Association Chapters Merge

The Conejo Valley division of the American Heart Assn. has joined forces with the Las Virgenes chapter.

The decision to merge the boards of directors of the divisions came last month, after the two conducted a fund-raiser, the Heartwalk, which drew more than 800 walkers and raised more than $50,000, said Joan Brock-Plassmeyer, one of the co-presidents of the newly formed board. The success of that effort prompted both governing boards to vote to combine the two groups.

The Conejo Valley/Las Virgenes Division of the nationwide American Heart Assn., which raises funds for research into heart aliments, now has one board co-chaired by a member of each former division, Brock-Plassmeyer said. The board will meet once a month through January in order to complete the transition, then will meet every two months, she said.

The merged organization will continue to conduct educational activities, such as sending representatives to schools and work sites to teach about heart disease and how to prevent it.

The organization’s next planned fund-raiser is the Sweethearts Ball at the Westlake Hyatt Plaza in Westlake Village in February. Tickets will go on sale in January, but reservations are being accepted now.

For more information or to volunteer for the association, call (805) 445-7050.