USOA Member Categories

Ombudsman Category (Voting Membership)

An incumbent Ombudsman or paid or unpaid staff member of an Ombudsman office or an official who performs the Ombudsman function and who promotes and encourages the purposes of the USOA. A member of the ombudsman category shall be considered a voting member of the USOA.

Supportive Category

An individual who is NOT an incumbent Ombudsman, a paid or unpaid staff member of an Ombudsman office, or an official who performs the Ombudsman function, but who promotes and encourages the purposes of the USOA.

Student Category

An individual who is a post-secondary education-level student, and who is NOT an incumbent Ombudsman, a paid staff member of an Ombudsman office unless they are an intern, or an official who performs the Ombudsman function, but who promotes and encourages the purposes of the USOA.

Former Ombudsman Category

An individual who WAS an incumbent Ombudsman, a paid or unpaid staff member of an Ombudsman office, or an official who performed the Ombudsman function and who continues to promote and encourage the purposes of the USOA.

Retiree Category

Any individual who: (1) Is no longer working 32 hours or more per week in any paid capacity; (2) For a minimum of two years has served as an ombudsman, a staff member of an ombudsman office, or a public official who has performed the ombudsman function; AND (3) Who also has been a previous USOA member and promotes and encourages the purposes of the USOA.

Honorary Category

The honorary category shall be restricted to those individuals or organizations designated by the USOA on the basis of their outstanding contribution to the Ombudsman movement: (1) By engaging in research, academic or applied, which has significantly furthered the understanding of the Ombudsman institution; (2) By engaging in research, academic or applied, which has fostered the growth of the Ombudsman institution in America; (3) By assuming a leadership role in proposing, promoting or implementing the establishment of an Ombudsman’s office or Ombudsman’s offices; or (4) By providing financial support for the benefit of any of the purposes included in paragraphs (1), (2) or (3) of Article VI, Section I, subsection (D).”