2025 WEST REGIONAL MEETING
"Heart... Hands... Hope..." May 1 - 3, 2025
Holiday Inn Long Beach Airport& Staybridge Suites2680 N. Lakewood Blvd.Long Beach, CA 90815(562) 588-9600
Hotel is located approximately 7 minutes from the Long Beach Airport (LGB) and approximately 35 minutes from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Transportation to and from the airport is available through Taxi, Uber or Lyft. Complimentary self-parking is available at the hotel.
Overnight accommodations are available at a rate of $159 per night, plus tax. Cut-off date for booking is April 10, 2025. To book your guest room, go to: Holiday Inn Long Beach Airport Booking Link.
Southwest Airlines is pleased to offer 2025 West Regional Meeting attendees discounted fares. To utilize the discount, book via SWABIZ® using this link. Discount valid for travel 4/29/2025 to 5/5/2025.
(Does not include meeting programs and workshops)
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AGENDA
2025 West Regional Meeting - Printable Agenda.pdf
How to Register: To attend programs, workshops or presentations: Select "Attend This Session," Once you click on "Attend This Session," this box will change to "Remove." This provides you with the option to Cancel this session if you decide you do not want to attend. Continue until you've selected all the workshops/presentations you'd like to participate in, scroll to the bottom and select Submit.
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM Registration Open
5:30 PM - 7:00 PM Welcome Reception
DINNER ON YOUR OWN (See options below)
On-Site Dining Options: Breakfast is available 6:30 AM - 9:30 AM. VUE Bar and Restaurant at a discounted rate of $12 per person; and open for Dinner 5:00 PM- 10:00 PM.
Local Restaurant Options: Great Tiger Ramen, EveryTable, Baja Sonora Mexican Restaurant, Hof’s Hut Restaurant & Bakery, Big E Pizza, Chrimson Coward, Jimmy E’s Bar + Grill, Hokkaido Seafood Buffet, Nearby Lakewood: Black Angus Steakhouse, The 908, El Torito, Habit Burger & Grill.
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Registration Open (Pick up Materials)
Breakfast on Your Own - the VUE Restaurant & Bar serves breakfast from 6:30 AM - 9:00 AM, breakfast buffet is available at the discounted rate of $12 per person.
9:00 AM - 10:15 AM Keynote Address
Michael Acaldo, CEO, National Council Society of St. Vincent de Paul
10:15 AM - 10:30 AM Coffee Break
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM Paris Pilgrimage
Sr. Paule Freeburg, D.C., West Region Spiritual AdvisorParis Pilgrimage in Pictures: Walk in the Footsteps of St. Vincent de Paul & Blessed Frederic Ozanam
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM ServWare
Mark & Cathy Stine, Co-Founders ServWareServWare Presentation: Designed specifically for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul by Vincentians through a collaborative effort with Conferences, Districts, and Councils.
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM How to Build A Conference Donor Base
(For People Who Hate to Ask for Money)David Lins, Director of Philanthopy
11:45 PM - 12:45 PM Hosted Lunch
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Charity Vision: Looking Deeper... Seeing More
Sr. Lisa Laguna, D.C., Province of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Survival Kit for Conference Presidents
Kathy Iberle, West Region Formation Committee Chair & Sonja Craighton, District Council President & Formator
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM SVdP Seattle - Homeless Outreach
RV/Vehicle Homeless Outreach - A Partnership with Seattle Public UtilitiesMary Sweeney, Council Formator & Co-Founder of the SPUC joint program with SVdP
2:00 PM - 2:30 PM Hospitality Break
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM Micro Loans
Ron Costanzo, Co-Founder of the Micro Loan Program Committee; Anne Crisp, President, St. Joan of Arc Youth Conference; and Claudia Ramirez, Executive Director, Contra Costa District CouncilWe will present the concept and purpose for a Micro Loan Program, the key steps to initiate the credit union or banking relationship, options for Financial Literacy training, criteria for loan recipient selection, grant and other funding and answer questions about the challenges.
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM Youth, Young Adults & Emerging Leaders
Tyler Fung & Zoie Roghair, Youth, Young Adults & Emerging Leaders Committee MembersYYAEL: Perspectives on Youth and Young Adults and the role they play in our Society! Exploring how we can better engage with people of many ages.
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM Stores Committee
Jim Conley, Director of National Stores Support & Viktoriya Kotyash, Store Manager, Sacramento Diocesan CouncilHow the Stores Committee can help your store, why you need a POS System, sharing success stories
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM Pilgrims of Hope
Sr. Paule Freeburg, West Region Spiritual AdvisorPilgrims of Hope: Let us journey together through the Scriptures, embracing the hope to which God has called us.
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM The Advanced Home Visit (Español)
Sylvia Gonzalez, National Hispanic Latino Formation LeaderHome Visits with an emphasis on Systemic Change (in Spanish)
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM The Catalyst Center
Kat Besse, Community Wellness TrainerThe Open Doors project was created to support adults who work with youth and who may not have clinical training, as they connect with youth who may be using substances or experiencing other behavioral health concerns.
5:30 PM - 9:00 PM Host City Dinner & Event
Queen Mary - Dinner & Casino Night
Guest Host City Night Event
8:00 AM - 11:00 AM Registration Open (Pick up Materials)
9:00 AM - 10:15 AM Spiritual Reflection
Fr. Jeff Harvey, C.M.
10:15 AM - 11:45 AM West Region Update
Judy Dietlein, National Vice President West Region; Kathy Iberle, West Region Formation Committee Chair; and David Garcia, Executive Director, Archdiocesan Council of Los Angeles
11:45 AM - 12:45 PM Hosted Lunch
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Voice for the Poor: Advocacy 101
Steve Uram, National Director of Poverty Programs; and Dot O'Connor, Poverty Programs Committee Member
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Leadership in Action: Unlocking the Power of Governance
John Hallissy, National Vice President, Chair Governance Committee
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Human Trafficking
Vanessa Russell, Founder & Executive Director, Love Never FailsLove Never Fails: A nonprofit dedicated to restoring, educating, and protecting those involved or at risk of becoming involved in domestic human trafficking.
2:30 PM - 4:30 PM Poverty Simulation
Gabriel Perez, Conference Member & Staff, Los Angeles CouncilUnseen Struggles: The Poverty Experience - Step into the shoes of those we serve and experience the challenges of living with limited resources. Our poverty simulation offers participants a unique opportunity to understand what it’s like to navigate the struggles of a low-income family, month to month. Participate as part of a family or as an observer.
5:30- PM - 6:30 PM Vincentian Mass
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM Closing Dinner Banquet
Guest Dinner Option
Welcome to Long Beach
Arriving early? Staying late? There's so much to do in Long Beach. What's nearby: Aquarium of the Pacific, El Dorado Nature Center, Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden, Knott's Berry Farm, The Hilltop Park, Skylink Golf Course, and so much more! Check out the complete list: https://www.visitlongbeach.com/.
SPEAKER BIOS: 2025 West Region Speaker Bios.pdf
(Once you click Submit, you will receive a confirmation for your registration. The system will immediately forward you to the hotel link to book your guest room. If you do not see a confirmation in your email, please check your SPAM folder)
