Overall, it's become the type of website I had envisioned early on: a resource for aspiring Ombuds and job seekers, an easy summary of links to important information, and news about comings and goings. I now feel like this blog has become a real-time annotation of the history of the field.
Some things I anticipated did not come to fruition. For example, I thought I would have the chance to visit other Ombuds and write about their offices firsthand. I thought people would submit photos of their lobbies, signage, and visitor comforts. I thought I would offer more opinion pieces. I also thought there would be a lot more commentary from readers. Instead, virtually all of the published information comes from routine searches of the internet. (I do embargo a fair amount of news, pending an organization's formal announcement.)
One happy and unexpected benefit has been the many personal connections. I have gotten to know many more Ombuds because of this blog. I hope that it has also helped build a spirit of community.
The Ombuds Blog by the numbers:
- 10 years in publication
- 42 Google followers
- 339 email subscribers
- 637 Twitter followers
- 1,149 published comments
- 4,106 published posts (one post on average every 1.12 days)
Related posts: Ombuds Blog Marks First Anniversary; Ombuds Blog Celebrates Two Years; Ombuds Blog Now on Twitter; Ombuds Blog Turns Five; Ombuds Blog Goes 'Dark' to Protest SOPA; Editorial Note: Revised Definition of 'Organizational Ombuds'; Revisiting the Issue of 'Fairness'; Ombuds Blog Now More Secure.
Thank you, Tom, for this service to our community.
ReplyDeleteKudos to you, Tom, for providing us with such an excellent resource and thoughtful comments. I rely on your hard work in providing us with the Ombuds Blog to stay on top of what's going on in the profession. Thanks for all you do.
ReplyDeleteElaine Newell
Iowa State University Ombuds
Congratulations Tom! Invaluable resource over the years. Looking forward to many more years of The Ombuds Blog.
ReplyDelete-Reese Ramos
Part of my morning routine is to check the blog. Tom, thank you for this amazing service!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Tom! As a new ombuds, I greatly appreciate the wealth of relevant information you provide through your blog. So many thanks for all you do!
ReplyDeleteJulie Weber
Montgomery College Ombuds
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThanks Tom! This has been an amazing resource!
DeleteThanks for blogging Tom! I always look forward to reading it in the morning over my first cup of coffee. Keep up the good work. Maybe some of your other visions for the blog will come to fruition within the next decade.
ReplyDeleteLiz Hill
University of Colorado - Boulder
Thanks, Tom!
ReplyDeleteTom, this has been an incredible service ... consistent with the many other ways in which you have been of huge service to the ombuds community!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this important resource.
ReplyDeleteIf it weren't for this blog, I don't think I'd be in this field. Thanks so much for all you do!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Tom on this milestone! The Ombuds Blog is an incredible resource not only for ombuds but for others interested in our work and what we do. Many thanks for your continued commitment and support of ombudsing.
ReplyDeleteShirley Nakata
University of British Columbia
Thank you so much for your initiative in starting the Blog, and your hard work and consistency in keeping it up.
ReplyDeleteTom,
ReplyDeleteThanks for providing this resource for the field.
Nick Diehl
Happy anniversary, Tom, and thank you for this valuable resource.
ReplyDelete