TCF 2012 National/International Conference
Costa Mesa, California Site of 35th TCF/USA National Conference; 5th International Gathering!
The Compassionate Friends/USA is pleased to announce that, in conjunction with the 35th National Conference, it will also be hosting The Compassionate Friends 5th International Gathering. The combined conference will be held July 20-22, 2012 in beautiful Costa Mesa, California.
A final lineup of popular keynoters has now been announced. In addition, those wishing to attend and stay at the host hotel may now make reservations!
- Lois Duncan is the prolific and award winning author of 48 books. But, the most difficult one she ever had to write was Who Killed My Daughter?, the story behind her search for the truth in the death of her 18-year-old daughter Kaitlyn Arquette in what police called a random drive by shooting.
- Kathy Eldon, journalist, author, producer, activist, and mother found her life changed forever when her 22-year-old son, Dan Eldon, A Reuters photographer, was stoned to death by an angry mob as he did his job in Somalia in July of 1993. Among her books are Angel Catcher: A Journal of Loss and Remembrance and The Journey is the Destination.
- Darcie Sims, always popular international keynote speaker, brings her wit and wisdom as a bereaved parent and certified grief management specialist to the podium in Costa Mesa. Co-founder of Grief, Inc., an international grief consulting firm, Darcie is a well known and respected author and speaker.
- The Reverend Canon Simon Stephens, founder of The Compassionate Friends worldwide and bereaved sibling, will travel from his home in Moscow to share his thoughts with the large International and U.S. crowd that is expected to gather.
"We welcome to this conference all who are grieving the death of a child, for grief is a universal language and one that TCF'ers around the world know all too well," says TCF/USA Executive Director Patricia Loder.
The International Gathering will include a Spanish workshop and sharing session for our Hispanic/Latino families and bilingual families. More than 100 workshops will be held on most topics related to grief after the death of a child.
Because many of those attending will be traveling long distances from countries around the world, special excursions are being planned for before and after the conference, so everyone is invited to combine their stay with visits to some of California's great attractions. Special events related to the conference will be held from Wednesday, July 18 through Monday, July 23. We will provide more details as they become available!
Hotel Reservations Now being Accepted!
You can now make reservations for the conference host hotel. Although The Compassionate Friends has arranged a room block for the conference that includes every room within the Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa hotel, we recommend that you reserve your room early if you wish to stay at the host hotel. Because our national conference includes the International Gathering, there is little doubt that all rooms will be filled. Room charge is $129 per night plus tax of approximately 11%. The room block is available July 17-24. You can also receive the special room rate July 14-16 and July 25-27, but subject to more limited availability. Rooms are King Size (holds 2, roll-away bed available for $10 per night) or double queen (maximum 4 per room).
To reserve your room online, please go to Online Reservations. Please note that the first night's deposit is required at the time you reserve your room. Should your plans change, this deposit will be refunded as long as the room is cancelled at least one day prior to the start of your reservation. You can also call your reservation directly to the hotel at 714-540-7000. Room block reservations will be taken until June 26th or until the room block is sold out, whichever comes first. If the room block sells out, as we anticipate, we will advise you regarding overflow hotels. There will be complimentary shuttles every 20 minutes between the hotel and John Wayne Airport (SNA). On-site parking for conference guests is $7 per night or Valet $25.00 per night.
The Hilton Orange County Costa Mesa Hotel is described as one "that exemplifies class, and elegance with a modern twist." You can read about the hotel in English, Spanish, and French at
Hilton Orange County Costa Mesa..
Call for Presenters closed on October 15, 2011.
Watch here for the latest details, as they develop, on this event!
Comments from Compassionate Friends who attended the 34th National Conference held in Minneapolis:
"This conference was life changing for me--my daughter died last year. Thank you to everyone that made my experience possible."
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"The conference was great as usual. It is great to have a place like the National Conference to be ourselves. The unfortunate part is going home and back to the real world."
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"Attending the conference was the best thing I could have done for myself. It's a vacation with my son that I will take every year!!!"
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"I attended my first conference and it was one of the best things I have ever done. The friends I made were incredible and the feeling throughout the whole weekend was so healing. I never thought I would have to belong to such a club, but am grateful it is there to help. Thank you TCF!"