By Ken Skodacek
CDRH Deputy Ombuds

Ombuds Day 2020 is scheduled for October 8, 2020, only 3 months away!  

As a reminder, the theme for Ombuds Day 2020 is "Ombuds: Unusual name. Important service."  The primary goal of Ombuds Day is to improve public awareness of ombuds. 

Our actions are intended to: 

1. educate the public about the role of ombuds,
2. explain the wide variety of services that ombuds provide, 
3. encourage greater use of ombuds programs and services, and
4. highlight the value ombuds bring to the institutions and constituents they serve.
   
   

We need your help to meet our goal—please continue reading this message including some requests in the bullets below.

Acknowledging the current challenges associated with large in-person meetings, we will be coordinating some virtual activities and will be sharing our specific plans sometime before the event.  We're also planning to request proclamations in all states and some major cities.  In addition, building upon the value of the Ombuds Day Toolkit and the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution Ombuds Committee Twitter account (@ABA_Ombuds), we've created an Ombuds Day Twitter account (@OmbudsDay), an Ombuds Day YouTube Channel, and an Ombuds Day webpage (https://www.OmbudsDay.com).  We recently established these tools to support our Ombuds Day activities and will be updating them in the coming months.

Could you please take the following actions in support of Ombuds Day and expanding awareness of the ombuds profession and services?

• Follow the Ombuds Day Twitter account (@OmbudsDay) and the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution Ombuds Committee Twitter account (@ABA_Ombuds).
• Retweet the @OmbudsDay tweet and the @ABA_Ombuds tweet announcing that Ombuds Day is 3 months away. I've also attached the graphic if you would prefer to send out a new tweet.
• Subscribe to the Ombuds Day YouTube Channel, which we will use to capture and archive Ombuds Day related videos and to highlight other ombuds-related videos.
• Use one of the Ombuds Day email signature graphics on the Ombuds Day Toolkit (under the heading of Outreach Materials / Graphics).
• Tag any ombuds-related social media posts related to Ombuds Day events on Twitter with @OmbudsDay, @ABA_Ombuds, #OmbudsDay, #Ombuds, and #Ombudsman. Using these tags increase awareness of the events and ombuds in general and also helps us to stay informed.
  
  

Do you have any ideas to propose for webinars?

In addition to the Ombuds Day activities, we would like to request proposals for ombuds-related webinars (open and free to all) leading up to Ombuds Day to help raise awareness of the roles, services, and value that ombuds provide. If you have a webinar proposal in mind, please submit a proposal before August 1, 2020. Choose "hot topic webinar." Feel free to contact Liz Hill with any questions.  Liaisons, please share the webinar guidelines and proposal form with members of your ombuds associations. The ABA DR Ombuds Day Subcommittee liaisons are asked to do the same. 

Would you like to have some Ombuds Day stickers? Contact Liz Hill as well.

Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or recommendations.

Thanks in advance for your support,

Ken Skodacek (representing the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution Ombuds Day Subcommittee)
[email protected].
301-796-6364