Date

Topics

2/8/12

This meeting is in Austin at the LCRA Dalchau Service Center, Bldg. A, Room A502. Click here for a map.

This meeting offers a great training session with Pattie Porter, LCSW, Conflict Connections(TM), Inc., The Texas Conflict Coach(TM)  presenting “Conflict Management Coaching:  A Crucial Tool for Ombuds”. This program should prove extremely useful for practicing ombuds. 

We’ll introduce the new members of the Leadership Team and cover our regular topic, “What Would You Do?”  We’ll also update everyone on the status and activities of the Mentoring Program.

Check the full agenda for the meeting for the details, click here.

11/9/11

Meeting Location: The University of Texas at Austin, UT Administration Building,  (UTA 2.208), 1616 Guadalupe, Austin, TX 78713. Click  here for the full agenda and here for a map.

The theme of the meeting is “How Compliance and Ethics Programs and Ombuds’ Offices Can Work Together”.

·         We have a distinguished panel for two sessions, one panel dealing with what the ombuds needs to know about compliance and ethics programs and the other with how the ombuds can work with both these functions.

·         And in the afternoon we have a session dealing with ombuds' collaboration with EAP programs.

Additionally, we will be accepting the new members of the Leadership Team. Click here for information about the Leadership Team and here for an application to apply.

Check the full agenda for the meeting for the details, clickhere.

8/10/11

Meeting cancelled.

5/11/11

Note: this meeting is in north Austin at the Austin Community College, Highland Business Center. Click here for a map and here for the full agenda.

·         We have Ralph Osio, Trainer, Texas General Land Office presenting "Diversity

       Under The Scope " and Travis Fowler, Alliance Work Partners presenting

        "Communicating Negative Messages.

·        Our regular sessions will cover the U.T. Center for Public Policy & Dispute

       Resolution and Mary A. Steinhardt the University of Texas at Austin Faculty

       Ombuds.

2/9/11

This meeting was cancelled due to inclement weather in Dallas.

Note: this meeting is in Plano (North Dallas) at the SMU Plano Campus. . Click here for more details and a map.

·         We are privileged to host three special speakers.

      Ken Cloke, well-known author of several conflict resolution books and much sought after speaker on conflict reoslution concepts and practices, presenting "Mediating Dangerously",

      Gary Robinson, Director, SMU Dispute Resolution and Conflict Management graduate program speaking about the SMU Dispute Resolution Program, and

      Tony Picchioni, Department Chair, SMU Dispute Resolution and Conflict Management graduate program presenting "Psychology of Conflict".

11/10/10

Note: this meeting is in Austin at the Department of State Health Services which is located at 1100 West 49th Street. . Click  here for a map.

·     We will have a special guest and presenter, Chuck Howard.  Chuck has a national practice in representing organizational ombudsmen at universities and multinational corporations.  He will be with us to talk about the issues facing Ombuds today as well as discuss his new book, The Organizational Ombudsman: Origins, Roles and Operations—A Legal Guide.  There will be plenty of time for questions and answers.   For more information about Chuck and his new book, please visit the website at: http://www.shipmangoodwin.com/choward/ . 

8/11/10

Note: this meeting is in Austin at the LCRA Dalchau Service Center, Bldg. A, Room A502, same location as our last meeting. Click here for a map.

·     "Who We Are", Charles B. Cannon, President Bold Journeys Conflict Resolution Services, LLC, speaking about the Ombudsman Services Program affiliated with the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Program.

·      A special panel with eight ombuds exploring the "Evolution of the Ombuds” and the different forms of ombudsing.

·      “What Are You Going To Do?” back by popular demand, our open forum exploring how an ombuds may deal with challenging situations. Nathanael Haddox, Texas Tech University Ombuds and Mary A. Steinhardt, University of Texas at Austin Faculty Ombuds host this session for us.

·       Other business: a mentoring program for OOT, etc.

Click  here for a full copy of the agenda.

5/12/10

Note: this meeting is in Austin at the LCRA Dalchau Service Center. Click here for a map.

·     "Who We Are", Elisa Hendricks, Ombudsman and Cindy Fortress, Program Specialist, Office of the Ombudsman, Texas Health and Human Services Commission

·      “Effective Listening”, Alliance Work Partners, a Division of Workers Assistance Program

·      “What Are You Going To Do?” this topic returns to our agenda having proven highly interesting and informative for the practice of ombudsmandry, it is an open forum exploring how an ombuds may deal with challenging situations. Nathanael Haddox, Texas Tech University Ombuds, Mary A. Steinhardt, University of Texas at Austin Faculty Ombuds

·       Updates

Click here for a full copy of the agenda and map.

2/10/10

Note: this meeting is in Houston. This meeting will be at Marathon Oil, 5555 San Felipe Road, Houston, 77056. See the agenda for details and a map (click here)

·     "Who We Are", Mr. Jackie Edwards, Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Administrative Review & Risk Management

·      "Legal Implications of Bullying", Marla A. Moore, Senior Attorney Law-Human Resources, Marathon Oil

·      “Employee Relations Impact of Bullying”, Gail B. Rogers, Adv. Senior Organizational Development Consultant, Human Resources-Organizational Development, Marathon Oil.

·       Updates

11/18/09

Agenda to be announced. This meeting was originally scheduled for 11/11/09 but this is Veteran’s Day and hence the rescheduling. Please note this meeting will be at a NEW location, LCRA Dalchau Service Center on Montopolis in Austin. Click here for directions.

8/12/09

Please note this meeting will be at the same location as the last meeting, LCRA Redbud Center. See the agenda for directions.

·       Compliance Issues: How an Ombuds Can Help the Organization Surface Issues.   Dan Sullenbarger, Ethics and Compliance Officer for Marathon Oil. 

·       "Who We Are".  Evelyn Baker, Employee Relations Coordinator, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

·       Governance of the Ombuds of Texas:  Presentation of Options and Voting. Belinda Newman, University Ombudsman, University of North Texas and Sean Banks, Ombudsman for Shell Oil Company

·      Updates
      - OOT sponsorship of USOA 2011 Annual Conference - Beverly Reeves
      - Agenda Recommendations for November Meeting
      - Final Announcements

(Click here for detailed agenda.)

5/13/09

Please note this meeting will be at a different location, LCRA Redbud Center. See the agenda for directions.

·      "Conversation Cafe" a presentation by Mary Thompson of Corder & Thompson Associates wherein Mary will share a dialogue process that encourages understanding of each other's interests. After a practice session, we can discuss how this tool can be utilized in our work environment.

·       Ombuds of Texas – Where We Want to Go From Here (Ombuds of Texas Vision), facilitated by Belinda Newman, University Ombudsman, University of North Texas and Sean Banks, Shell Oil Ombudsman.

·      Who We Are: S. Arjumand Mubaarak, Managing Director, US Office of the Independent Ombudsman

(Click here for detailed agenda.)

2/11/09

·    Who We Are: Joel Schwartz, Manager, OAG Child Support Inquiries Ombudsman

·     Ombuds of Texas – Where We Want to Go From Here (Ombuds of Texas Vision),

      facilitated by Belinda Newman, University Ombudsman, University of North Texas.

·      Ombuds Café

·     OOT Website Updates.

·     Ownership of the OOT Website, discussion led by Mike Dunn.

(Click here for detailed agenda.)

11/12/08

·     Review Austin ACR Conference.

·     Who We Are: Beverly Reeves, District Ombudsman, Austin Independent School

     District.

·     Ombuds of Texas – Where We Want to Go From Here, Facilitated by Belinda Newman,

     University Ombudsman, University of North Texas.

·      Discussion topic: “Employee situations that perplex me the most - suggestions of how

     to work with them.”

·     OOT Website Updates.

(Clickhere for detailed agenda.)

8/13/08

·      Ombuds Website & ACR Conference, September 24, 2008

·     Who We Are: Allen Bergeron, City of Austin

·      Ombuds of Texas – Where We Want to Go From Here, Sean Banks, Shell Oil Company

·      Discussion topic: “Employee situations that perplex me the most - suggestions of how

     to work with them.”

(Click here for detailed agenda.)

5/14/08

·      How Do We Start A Consultation?, Allen Church

·      Who We Are: The General Land Office Perspective, Mike Dunn, Ombudsman, The General Land Office

·      Sharing of a Group Facilitation Presentation, Allen Church

·     What Are You Going to Do?, IOA Newsletter, The Independent Voice, Mike Dunn, General Land Office

·      Who We Are and Where We Are Going: Developing the Mission and Goals of the Ombuds of Texas Group, Sean Banks, Shell Oil Co.

2/13/08

·     Canada’s Apology Legislation and Texas’ Communications of Sympathy Legislation, Joel Schwartz, Office of the Attorney General

·     Who We Are: The University Ombudsman Perspective, Nathanael Haddox and Kathryn Quilliam, Texas Tech University

·     Article Discussion:  What Are You Going to Do? from the OIA Newsletter, The Independent Voice, Mike Dunn, General Land Office

·     Ombuds of Texas Next Steps

11/14/07

·      Cancelled

8/15/07

·      How To Manage Records in Ombudsman Programs, Thorton Wood, OAG Open Records Division, Nanette Pfiester, State Library and Archives, Retention Schedule

·     Who We Are: The Advocate/Classical Ombudsman Perspective

·      Patty Ducayet, Long-Terms Care Ombuds, DADS

·     Chet Brooks, Director of Customer Relations, HHSC

·      Future Training, Update on International Ombudsman Association Ombuds 101

5/16/07

·      Discussion of Records – Sean Banks, Shell Oil Ombuds 

·     Legislative Update on bills filed relating to the confidentiality of certain communications involving an ombudsman program – Sean Banks, Shell Oil Ombuds

·      Who We Are – Kathy Cleere, TDCJ Ombuds.

·      International Ombuds Association Conference, Overview of by attendees at the March conference, Tracy Tarver, CPPDR

·     Article Review, “When the Worst Happens: Lessons of an Ombuds Office Closure” by Gary J. Buckley, Allen Church

2/14/07

·     Introduction of Strategic Planning process and next steps.  Tracy Tarver, UT School of Law, CPPDR and Walt Krudop, Retired Ombudsman with Shell Oil. 

·      Introduction of template for future discussions about our roles, our jobs, and our workplaces.  Grace Meyer, OAG Ombuds.

11/15/06

Cancelled

8/16/06

·      A Comparison of a University/governmental Ombuds to a Corporate Ombuds. An Update on the Shell RESOLVE program, and Sean’s thoughts about the future of the program.  Sean A. Banks, Director, Shell Resolve and Company Ombuds, Shell Oil Company, Houston, TX.

·      OAG Open Record Requests and Opinions Update, Grace Meyer, OAG Ombuds.

5/17/06

·      Hot Topics and Trends at the International Ombudsman Association Conference (IOA), discussion facilitated by Lauren Bloom, Office of the President, The University of Texas. 

·      OAG Open Record Requests and Opinions Update, Grace Meyer, OAG Ombuds

2/15/06

·     Open Records, Thorton Wood, AAG, Office of the Attorney General

·      OAG Open Record Requests and Opinions Update, Grace Meyer, OAG Ombuds.

·      Ombuds of Texas Description, Tracy Tarver, UT School of Law, CPPDR

11/16/05

·      Categorizing Case Information and Record Keeping, Walt Krudop, Retired Ombudsman with Shell Oil.  

8/17/05

·      Professional Associations for Ombuds, Beverly Reeves, AISD District Ombudsman

5/18/05

·      Who We Are: Texas Comptroller, Jeff Wiginton, Ombudsman for the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts and Lori Moya, Customer Service Representative for the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.

·     How Do We Serve the Client and Management without Bias to either? Dick Lewis, TCEQ

·      Confidentiality Statute Update

2/16/05

·      Shell Corporation Presentation & Q&A on the Shell Ombuds Program,  Guest Speaker - Walter Krudop, Retired Ombudsman, Shell Oil

·      What expectations does your organization have about your ombudsman program? Group Discussion - Dick Lewis, TCEQ

·     Confidentiality Statute Update - Ralph Hasson

12/1/04

·      Who We Are: Office of the Attorney General, Elizabeth Rogers, Attorney Ombudsman, Ethics Advisor, and Director of Professional Development.

·     How are ethical violations handled by your ombudsman office? Group Discussion.

·     Overview of the Ombudsman Association Conference. Susan Johnson, Associate Commissioner, Office of the Ombudsman, Health & Human Services Commission.    

5/12/04

·      Overview of Halliburton’s Ombuds Program and Confidentiality of Communications, Bill Bedman and Janet Hill.

2/11/04

·      Comprehensive Conflict Management Systems, and the Role of the Ombudsman in the System, Ralph Hasson, co-author of “Controlling the Costs of Conflict: How to Design a System for Your Organization”.