Every year in the fall, CGJA holds an Annual Conference/Membership Meeting at a different location. The conference provides an opportunity for members and civil grand jurors to meet and discuss experiences, ask questions, and otherwise engage in activities to enhance everyone’s understanding of the civil grand jury system in order to contribute to CGJA’s role in protecting and enhancing California’s county civil grand jury system.

We are pleased to announce that the 2024 CGJA Annual Conference will be held at the Embassy Suites by Hilton – Monterey, Monterey County on October 20 and 21, 2024. The theme for this years’ conference is Harnessing the Power of Civic Engagement. We have a set of very exciting speakers and panels and believe you will find them enlightening, inspiring, and challenging.  Festivities will include a dinner on the evening of October 20 where we can socialize and renew acquaintances before and during dinner.

There will also be a silent auction where many interesting items will be available for your careful consideration.  Chapters and Associations are encouraged to donate a basket containing items representing bounty from their county for this event.  Individual donations of auction items will also be graciously received, with advance notification to annualconference@cgja.org so that requisite auction materials can be prepared.  All proceeds will be used to reduce conference registration fees.

This conference will open Sunday afternoon at 1:00 PM, and will feature a keynote address by Dr. Michael Karch, M.D., Orthopedic Surgeon and Author who will provide his perspective on the use of artificial intelligence for the everyday person.

CGJA President Gary Cooper will update us on the state of the Association and other CGJA activities.  We will also be introduced to the newly elected CGJA officers and directors, and the winners of the Excellence in Reporting Awards.  There will then be two sessions of breakout discussions. Breakout Session #1 will feature the topics Strategies for Recruiting Members, Creating a Local Chapter of CGJA, and Grand Jury Orientation Provided by Local Outreach. Breakout Session #2 will include Improving Grand Jury and Court Relations and Fundraising to Support Local Outreach. Finally, at our dinner on the evening of October 20, the recipient of the 2024 Angelo Rolando Service Award will be announced.

The conference will reconvene at 9:00 AM on October 21, where we hear from CGJA committee chairs on committee objectives and volunteer opportunities and an informative panel will be led by the Training Committee to receive an update on our annual training program. Finally, there will be time for member comments, a Q&A session and closing remarks from our new CGJA President, who will be named at the conference.

 

41^st Annual 2024 CGJA Annual Conference

Harnessing the Power of Civic Engagement

Embassy Suites, Monterey, California

 

Sunday, October 20, 2024

Laguna Grande Ballroom (E, F, & G)

1:00 – 1:15 PM:    Conference and silent auction opens:  Pledge of Allegiance and opening remarks

Lloyd Bell, Annual Conference Chair

1:15 – 2:15PM:      Keynote Address:  Artificial Intelligence for the Everyday Person

Dr. Michael Karch, M.D., Orthopedic Surgeon, and Author

 2:15 – 2:30PM:      CGJA President’s Report on CGJA Activities and the State of the Association

Gary Cooper, CGJA President

2:30 – 2:40 PM:     Election results

Karen Deeming, Chair, Nominations-Elections Committee

Swearing in Officers and Directors

     Officiating TBD

2:40 – 3:00 PM:     Presentation of Best Report and Media Awards

     Officiating TBD

3:00 – 3:15 PM:     Break  (reassemble at breakout session location after break)

3:15 – 3:55 PM:     Breakout session #1

1. Strategies for Recruiting Members
2. Creating a Local Chapter of CGJA
3. Grand Jury Orientation Provided by Local Chapters.

3:55 – 4:05 PM:     Move to breakout session #2

4:05 – 4:50 PM:     Breakout session #2

1. Strategies for Recruiting Members
2. Improving Grand Jury and Court Relations
3. Fundraising to Support Local Outreach

4:50 – 5:00 PM:     Stretch break; reassemble in Laguna Grand Ballroom

5:00 – 5:25 PM:     Report out from breakout session leaders

5:25 – 5:30 PM:     Wrap up by breakout session moderator

5:30 PM:                  CGJA Annual Conference recesses

6:30 PM:                  CGJA Annual Conference Dinner

Seaside Ballroom

Angelo Rolando Service Award presentation

Chair, Angelo Rolando Service Award Subcommittee

8:00 PM:                  Silent Auction closes

Live Auction commences (Monterey Chapter)

 

Monday, October 21, 2024

Laguna Grande Ballroom

9:00 – 9:10 AM:      CGJA Annual Conference resumes

Lloyd Bell, Annual Conference Chair

 9:10 – 10:10 AM:    CGJA NEEDS YOU!

Committee Chairs present committee objectives and volunteer opportunities – speed dating format)

10:10 – 10:25 AM:   Break

10:25 – 11:25 AM:    Panel Discussion:  Meet the Training Team

(Marsha Caranci, Richard Rogers, Karen Jahr – discussion leading to Q&A from audience)

 11:25 – 11:45 AM:    Member comments and Q&A

CGJA President

11:45 AM – Noon:    Conference wrap up and closing remarks

CGJA President

Download Conference Registration Form (PDF)    Note: Lifetime members who receive free registration will need to use the downloadable form.

 

Important Note: If you are registering online using the link below and wish to make payment with your credit card, you must click on the down arrow on the right side of the Payment Method box. Then select Credit Card.