COFO 2022 Annual Conference: Call for Presentations

The Coalition of Federal Ombudsman is pleased to announce that it is now accepting proposals to present at its 2022 Annual Conference on October 14, 2022. As with the COFO Annual Conferences in 2020 and 2021, presenters may present virtually, but COFO hopes to run the conference as a hybrid, with in-person attendance in Alexandria, VA. Organizers are therefore soliciting proposals for both virtual and in-person presentations, with a possibility of a pivot to all-virtual.

The Annual Conference is focused on the needs of Ombuds practitioners serving in the federal government, but the day is always an Ombuds-wide family affair. They welcome anyone either practicing as an Ombuds or interested in Ombuds work to join us as an attendee or presenter. Registration is free, and the conference typically draws around 200 attendees from across the Ombuds profession and broader ADR community.

COFO has space for 60 minute, 45 minute, and 30 minute virtual presentations on substantive topics over the course of the day. Additionally, they are again looking for “blips” – short 5-15 minute presentations or interactive activities that reflect the creative talents of our community. Blips are designed to help transition between presentations, to energize, and to engage. They should be creative or artistic content which can be fun, entertaining, or reflective and can be specific to or adjacent to Ombuds practice, but don’t have to be!

Note that technology precludes breakout sessions , so proposals should be designed for traditional presentation and Q&A rather than discussion-based breakouts. COFO has no budget and is unfortunately unable to pay a presenter fee or travel costs. Please email the title and description of your proposed presentation or blip, as well as the names, titles, affiliations, and bios of all presenters, by August 8th, 2022 to paul.sotoudeh@uspto.gov.

Update 8/8/22: The deadline for proposals has been extended to August 22.

Related posts: Updated Website is Great Resource for U.S. Government Ombuds; COFO Announces 2020 Conference and New Officers; COFO to Train New Federal Ombuds in Response to IOA Backlog; COFO Opens Registration for 2020 Conference; COFO Seeks Presenters for 2021 Conference; COFO Opens Registration for 2021 Virtual Conference.