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.

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.)

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. 

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.

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.

Is the BP Disaster a Wake-up Call for the Ombuds Field?

John Zinsser is a vigorous and thoughtful advocate for Organizational Ombuds, but he is no Pollyanna. He is currently concerned about the role of the Ombuds program at BP and how that will impact perceptions of the field by the public at large, the management/leadership communities and the politically powerful.

Job Posting: National Transportation Safety Board

The NTSB is hiring a Senior Advisor for Workforce Operations in Washington, DC. In addition to advising the Managing Director on workforce concerns and issues, the position also serves as the Agency Ombudsman in resolving internal matters of conflict, dispute and disagreement. Major duties also include directing and managing NTSB's Workplace Alternative Dispute Resolution program. 

Friday Poll: Preaching to the Choir?

Have I written a post about you or your Ombuds program?

University of Colorado Denver Ombuds Reports 31% Jump in Cases

The Ombuds Office for students, staff, and faculty at CU Denver reported that it assisted 371 people in the 2008-09 fiscal year, a significant increase from 283 in the prior year. In addition, the office provided workshops and other presentations to about 2230 individuals. The office attributed the increase in part to individual concerns related to the poor economy.

Danish Broadcast Journalist Elected President of ONO

Jacob Mollerup, the Listeners and Viewers Editor at DR (the Danish Broadcasting Corp.), has been selected as the next president of the Organization of News Ombudsmen.

Resources Online and Beyond for the Aspiring Ombuds

Diane Levin recently offered a list of essential resources for aspiring mediators. Many of these are good resources for aspiring Ombuds and her blog, Mediation Channel, should be regular reading for anyone looking at a career in dispute resolution. Here are some other suggestions for people looking to become Organizational Ombuds.

Update: André Marin is Reappointed as Ontario Ombudsman

The Ontario legislature has unanimously reappointed the province's chief watchdog to a second five-year term after weeks of public controversy. Marin's first term expired March 31 and he has been serving under a contract extension while the government conducted a search for his successor.

Job Posting: American Red Cross

The Red Cross Office of the Corporate Ombudsman is hiring an Ombudsman Analyst for its Washington, DC headquarters. The position provides professional and technical support for case intake and projects, and assistance in preparing reports.

Why Bosses Avoid Conflict

Mediator and author (Conflict Resolution at Work For Dummies) Vivian Scott observes that some managers have a special knack for looking the other way when it comes to bad behavior and conflict on the job. She suggests there are four possible explanations.

Fort Valley State University Ombuds Starts Blog

Dawn Della DeVeaux, the Ombudsperson for the historically black university in Georgia, has launched a blog. Her bi-weekly postings will share her reflections about her work as a professor as well as an administrator at the academy. (FVSU Blog.)