USOA Member Categories

Voting Memberships

Voting membership is open to an incumbent public sector ombudsman, staff members of a public sector ombudsman office, or a public official who performs the ombudsman function.

Associate Memberships

Associate memberships are open to any person committed to promoting and encouraging the purpose of the USOA.

Retiree Memberships

Retiree memberships shall be open to any individual who is no longer working 32 hours or more per week in any paid capacity and who for a minimum of two years has served as a public sector ombudsman, a staff member of a public sector ombudsman office, or a public official who has performed the ombudsman function, and who also has been a USOA member; provided further that the individual continues to support USOA activities and is committed to promoting and encouraging the association’s purpose.

Honorary Memberships

USOA grants honorary membership to individuals or organizations that have:

• engaged in research which has significantly furthered the understanding of the ombudsman institution or fostered the growth of the ombudsman institution in America.
• assumed a leadership role in proposing, promoting or implementing the establishment of an ombudsman’s office or ombudsman’s offices.
• provided extraordinary financial support for the benefit of the ombudsman movement or activities of the USOA.