USOA Will Meet in Ohio for 31st Annual Conference

The United States Ombudsman Association will hold its annual meeting in Dayton, Ohio, October 6-8, 2010. The theme, "Soaring to New Heights: Innovations in Ombudsmanship," emphasizes recent developments in the field. A preliminary agenda for the event indicates there will be sessions on a wide range of issues, many of which will be relevant for Organizational Ombuds.

• Creative Case Strategizing (with focus groups for School Ombudsmen, Children’s Ombudsmen, Executive Ombudsmen and Legislative Ombudsmen)
• Demonstrating Our Value
• Dealing with Difficult People – Interacting effectively with challenging complainants and respondents
• Federal Ombudsman
• Gathering Information Through Interviews
• Ombudsman Offices and Elected or Appointing Officials: Short term or long lived relationship?
• Ombudsman Rationale to Decline or Discontinue Investigations
• Ombudsman and Vulnerable Populations
• USOA Standards
• The Values and Principles of Public Service

Information packets are being sent to USOA members. Nonmembers can contact organizers for registration information. (USOA 2010 Conf. Info.)

Related post: USOA 30th Annual Conference in Colorado.

University of Waterloo Renames Ombuds Office

The 25,000-student public university in Ontario has changed the Office of the Ombudsperson into the Student Resource Office. UW Ombuds Evalena Matlock-Corley is on maternity leave and the interim Student Resource Coordinator said that the office hasn't been widely known and hopes to better engage students.

Although the program has been renamed, its role remains similar. According to its website, "The Student Resource Coordinator provides an impartial, independent, and objective service to all members of the University community, including staff, faculty, graduate and undergraduate students." The site also states that services are confidential. Eley, who previously was a community coordinator for campus housing at Waterloo, believes there is "huge potential" for the newly renamed office. (UW Daily Bulletin.)

What's in a name? Would that which we call a rose, by another name smell as sweet?

Related posts: University of Waterloo Ombuds Surveys Visitors; Magazine Explains "Vaguely Named" Ombuds Profession.

Leading Silicon Valley Attorney Supports Ombuds for Professional Conflicts

Mark Shem, a partner at Borton Petrini and President of the Santa Clara County Bar Association, supports an informal mechanism for resolving conflicts between attorneys. In his monthly blog post, Shem recalled a informal SCCBA program for lawyers with concerns about opposing counsel.

A volunteer member of the Professionalism Committee, an ombudsman, if you will, would discuss the matter with both parties in hopes of reaching an informal resolution, or at least educating the offending attorney. The ombudsman was not a fact finder and did not render any opinions regarding the dispute. Rather, this person helped counsel work out their disagreements. 

His suggestions came in the context of a call for a renewed commitment for civility among lawyers.  (SCCBA President's Message.)

Shem's proposal reflects a growing sentiment within the legal community that lawyers need and informal and confidential dispute resolution mechanism.

Related posts: Study Concludes Large Law Firms Should Have Ombuds; New Ombuds Program Serves Jacksonville Bench and Bar; Is the Ninth Circuit Creating an Ombuds Program?; Law Society Equity Ombuds Assist Canadian Legal Professional.

University of Oregon to Host Conference for Dispute Resolution Scholars

The University of Oregon School of Law's Center for Appropriate Dispute Resolution will host the fourth annual Fall 2010 AALS Dispute Resolution Works-in-Progress Conference. The event convenes scholars from across the country who are teaching and researching in the area of dispute resolution. Submissions for presentations are due by August 1, 2010. (2010 WIP Conf. Info.)

Related posts: New Model for Describing How Law Schools View ADR Courses; Conversation on the Role of Ombuds in Environmental Issues; Pepperdine Stays Atop List of Best Law School ADR Programs.

Iowa's Director of Aging Forced Out After Attempting to Muzzle State's Long-Term Care Ombuds

Last month, Iowa's Iowa Long-Term Care Ombudsman Jeanne Yordi revealed that her boss, Department on Aging Director John McCallum, had repeatedly dictated the Ombuds' position on legislative and policy issues. 

One e-mail showed that McCalley told Yordi and her staff of local Ombuds that their public-policy positions would be determined by "the governor's office." In response to the allegations last month, Gov. Chet Culver moved to separate the LTC Ombuds office from the state's Department on Aging. Yesterday, McCallum announced his resignation. (Des Moines Register; Chicago Tribune.)

Independence is a fundamental attribute for Ombuds. In many cases Ombuds report to the department or organization they are charged with monitoring. So long as the Ombuds' independence is respected, these reporting relationships can work. However, when the relationship threatens the Ombuds' independence, the issue must be addressed. In this case, the response of the governor was appropriate.

Job Posting: University of California, Los Angeles

The public research university in Los Angeles has opened a search for an Ombuds. Under general direction of the Campus Ombudsperson, the Associate Ombuds position provides impartial and confidential conflict resolution services to all members of the UCLA campus community, including consultation, negotiation, mediation and problem solving.

Other major functions include outreach efforts and special projects. The position pays $50,244-$90,468 per annum.  Applications are due June 16, 2010. (UCLA Jobs, Requisition No.: 14630, via Indeed.com.)

Related post: UCLA Ombuds Office Marks 40 Years of Service.

Ombuds Perspectives on Buenos Aires ODR Forum

Last week, Daniel Rainey and Frank Fowlie both attended the 2010 Online Dispute Resolution Forum, “Peace Building in the Digital-Era.” Rainey, who is the Ombuds and Director of ADR Services for the National Mediation Board, was impressed by the turn out and predicts that demand will soon result in a Spanish language page for ODR.info.

He also said,

Finally, there was for the first time serious talk of taking the sponsoring organization (NCTDR) and making it a more formal organization, perhaps even a membership organization along the lines of ACR or IOA. That’s an exciting and daunting prospect, of which more later. (Daniel Rainey's Blog.)

Fowlie, the Ombuds for ICANN, posted the presentation he made with Doug Leigh of FairShakeODR, “ODR within Developing Nations: Evaluating Transfer and Impact One Year After the 2008 ODR Forum.” After surveying the recent progress of the field, they boldly conclude that, “ODR may be poised to supersede ADR as an efficient and effective means for resolving disputes.” Fowlie and Leigh also agree that ODR needs a professional network. (ICANN Ombudsman Blog.)

Related posts: Interview: Ombuds & Director of ADR Services for National Mediation Board; International Forum on Online Dispute Resolution; International Organization for Migration Opens Ombuds Office; ICANN Ombuds Releases Fifth Annual Report.