Board Elections In March

Dear Members of USOA:  

USOA was founded in 1977 to assist existing public sector ombudsman and ombudsman organizations in improving the operation of public sector ombudsman offices.  Much has changed in the past thirty years.  And while we have seen positive developments in the ombudsman community, there is still much to be done.  USOA needs your help!   

In March, the Board will open the nominations for candidates for the 2011-2013 USOA Board of Directors.  We are writing now to encourage you to start thinking about running for the Board or to contact USOA colleagues who you feel would represent your interests as a Director and to encourage them to run. The election will be held sometime in late April or May, and the newly elected Directors will take office at the annual meeting of the membership during the 2011 annual conference in Jacksonville, FL, in October.  

As a member of the Board of Directors, you will be able to help USOA accomplish its mission of working with its members to elevate the quality of ombudsman services and to promote and encourage the establishment of ombudsman offices at the local, state, national and international levels.  Directors actively participate in the management of USOA by regularly attending Board meetings (monthly conference calls and an annual in-person meeting adjacent to the annual conference), serving as an officer of the board or chair a standing committee and contributing their ideas and enthusiasm to the Board.  While there is no compensation for serving on the Board, there is immense satisfaction in contributing to the strategic direction of USOA and the public sector ombudsman community. 

Qualifications:

Please note that you must be a current 2011 voting member in order to participate in the election process.  If you are eligible for voting status but have not yet submitted your membership application and payment for 2011, please do so as soon as possible. 

Please be aware that all seven Director seats are up for election.  USOA Bylaws provide that at least three Directors shall be from classical/legislative offices and at least three Directors will be from executive ombudsman offices, unless there is a lack of candidates from the particular category.  For more information regarding the composition of the Board or the election process, please refer to the Bylaws at:

http://usoa.non-profitsites.biz/files/documents/files/07_bylaws.pdf   

If you should have any questions, please contact

Linda Lord-Jenkins, USOA President
Telephone (907)269-6291 or
e-mail (Linda_Lord-Jenkins@legis.state.ak.us)

Or

Diane Welborn, USOA Vice President
Telephone (937)223-4613 or
e-mail (welborn@dayton-ombudsman.org)