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 2025 CGJA Annual Conference will be held at the Embassy Suites by Hilton – San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo County on October 26 and 27, 2025. The theme for this years’ conference is Civil Grand Juries: The Cornerstone of Transparency and Accountability. Festivities will include a dinner on the evening of October 26 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.

Plan now to join us in San Luis Obispo.

Civil Grand Jurors’ Association of California
42nd Annual Conference and Membership Meeting
Civil Grand Juries:  Cornerstone of Transparency and Accountability
October 26-27, 2025
Embassy Suites, San Luis Obispo, California

Sunday, October 26, 2025

SLO North and Center Ballroom

1:00 – 1:15 PM:    Conference and silent auction opens:  Pledge of Allegiance and opening remarks
Lloyd Bell, Annual Conference Chair 

1:15 – 2:15 PM:     Keynote Address:  Understanding Artificial Intelligence
Dr. Foaad Khosmood, Professor, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

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

2:30 – 2:55 PM:    Election results
Lou Panetta, Chair, Nominations-Elections Committee  

Swearing in Officers and Directors
The Honorable Tana Coates, Assistant Presiding Judge, San Luis Obispo County Superior Court 

2:55 – 3:10 PM:    Presentation of Best Report Award
Barbara Sommer,  Chair, Excellence in Reporting Subcommittee

3:10-3:25 PM: Break 

3:25 – 3:55 PM:    Breakout sessions (three different topics from which to choose)
Moderator:  Juliana Jones

Breakout session #1 

1. Ask the Trainer Live! – led by Marsha Caranci (Shasta) and Jon Tonsing (Yuba) 
2. Strategies for Recruiting Grand Jurors – led by Juliana Jones, (Mono)
3. Harnessing Social Media – led by Lou Panetta, (Monterey)

3:55 – 4:00 PM:    Move to breakout session #2

4:00 – 4:30 PM:    Breakout session #2

1. Ask the Trainer Live! – led by Richard Rogers (Santa Barbara) and Karen Jahr (Shasta)
2. Writing Effective Press Releases and Op Eds – led by Dorothy Schlitz (San Luis Obispo and Molly Schneider (Shasta)
3. What’s Your Chapter’s Purpose – led by Nancy Welts (San Luis Obispo) and Tom Mastre (Monterey)

4:30 – 4:45 PM:    Stretch break; reassemble in SLO North and Center Ballroom 

4:45 – 5:15 PM:    Report out from session leaders

5:15 – 5:30 PM:    Wrap up by breakout session Moderator, Juliana Jones

5:30 PM:    CGJA Annual Conference recesses

6:30 PM:    CGJA Annual Conference Dinner

SLO South Ballroom

Angelo Rolando Service Award presentation
Barbara Sommer, Awards Committee

8:00 PM:    Silent Auction closes

Live Auction commences

Monday, October 27, 2025

SLO North and Center Ballroom

9:00 – 9:10 AM:    CGJA Annual Conference resumes
Lloyd Bell, Annual Conference Chair 

9:10 – 9:55 AM:    Panel Discussion:  Chapter Relations and Chapters – Growing Stronger Together
Led by Sharon Debenedetti (Sonoma), with Marsha Caranci (Shasta), and Martha Soldana-Wolf (Solano) – Members of the Chapter Relations Subcommittee

9:55 – 10:10 AM:   Q&A with MCRC Chapter Relations Subcommittee

10:10 – 10:25 AM:  Break 

10:25 – 11:15 AM:    Everything You Wanted to Know About CGJA But Were Afraid to Ask: Last minute updates from Committee Chairs and the Grand Jury Effectiveness Workgroup
Roving Reporter: Lou Panetta, Chair Technology Committee

11:15 – 11:30 AM:    Member comments and Q&A
Gary Cooper, CGJA President

11:30 AM – Noon:   Conference wrap up and closing remarks
Gary Cooper, CGJA President

HOTEL RESERVATIONS: The Embassy Suites by Hilton San Luis Obispo is now accepting sleeping room reservations for your attendance at the CGJA Annual Conference.  Their street address is 333 Madonna Road, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405.  

You may make your Sunday evening (October 26) sleeping room reservation either online or by phone at the negotiated rate of $156 (plus tax).  

On-line at: hilton.com/en/attend-my-event/civilgrandjurors2025/

OR, IF YOU WISH TO RESERVE A ROOM FOR NIGHTS OTHER THAN OCTOBER 26:

Call Heather Bedia, Hilton San Luis Obispo, at (805) 547-6407 (between 8 AM – 5 PM, Monday through Friday. 

Be sure to tell Heather you are attending the CGJA Annual Conference. The CGJA rate of $156 may not apply for dates other than October 26.

Sleeping Room Reservations must be made by September 30, 2025 to receive the CGJA room rate of $156 (single/double).   Reservations made after that date will be subject to the prevailing hotel rates and room availability at the time of booking. 

Please Note:  Sleeping rooms must be secured with a valid credit card.  A deposit will not be required.

Hotel self-parking daily rate is $20.00.

Note also that the hotel does not provide lunch service at this time.

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.