OMB_GOV FAQ Version 2.0

1. What is the OMB_GOV List Serv?
   
   The OMB_GOV list serv is an email list service sponsored by United States Ombudsman Association (USOA). The purpose of this list is to encourage the free exchange of ideas, news and information about public sector ombudsmen.
   
   
2. Who can subscribe to OMB_GOV?
   
   The list is open to anyone who provides governmental ombudsman or complaint resolution services at the local, state, federal or international levels. This includes academics studying the governmental ombudsman institution and voting and associate members of the USOA, the Canadian Ombudsman Association, or the International Ombudsman Institute. We encourage all staff and managers of governmental ombudsman or government complaint resolution offices to subscribe. Individual subscriptions for staff at a single ombudsman office are welcome.
   
   
3. How private is the list?
   
   The list is private and closed, which means you can't easily find it if you go hunting on the web. Of course, like all email, the list is not secure and you should not send confidential information over it.
   
   
4. What are the list's rules?
   
   Everyone who subscribes to the list agrees by subscribing NOT to quote a message to anyone who does not subscribe to the list without the author's explicit permission and not to forward any messages outside of the list without the author's permission. When an author gives permission to forward a note, the person forwarding the note should place the following sentence at the beginning of the note: "Forwarded by permission of the sender from the OMB_GOV listserv operated by the United States Ombudsman Association."
   
   

   Also, the following lines at the bottom of all emails to the list should be included in all forwarded notes:
   

   OMB_GOV mailing list

   omb_gov@listserv.usombudsman.org
   
   To Subscribe go to:

   http://listserv.usombudsman.org/mailman/listinfo/omb_gov

   
   We intend the list to provide a way for us to share information about a specific ombudsman office, the ombudsman institution, and to enable us to seek advice from our colleagues. We encourage open and courteous dialogue. The list is also a way to share press releases, reports, announcements, job postings, and to seek ideas for policy manuals or system changes. It is NOT to be used for commercial purposes or promotions.
   
   
5. How do I join the list?
   
   

   To "subscribe," go to:

    

   http://listserv.usombudsman.org/mailman/options/omb_gov

    

   Fill out the appropriate information under Subscribing to OMB_GOV.

   
   
6. How do I unsubscribe from the OMB_GOV list?
   
   

   To "unsubscribe," go to:

   
   http://listserv.usombudsman.org/mailman/listinfo/omb_gov

    

   Enter the email address to which you are subscribed to the list and your password. Then you will be able to click on the Unsubscribe button

    

   By clicking on the Unsubscribe button, a confirmation message will be emailed to you. This message will have a link that you should click on to complete the removal process (you can also confirm by email; see the instructions in the confirmation message).

   
   
7. What email format should I use when sending messages to the list?
   
   

   You may use plain text or HTML in your messages.

   
   
8. Can I send email with attachments to the list?
   
   

   Yes. The OMB_GOV list serv accepts attachments. Please understand that some of the list's subscribers may have service providers that limit message length or that have slow connections to the web. Please only send attachments of interest to the entire list. If possible, post the document on your website and send a link to the document to the list instead of the document itself.

   
   
9. What if my email address changes?
   
   

   You can change the address subscribed to the list under the Changing your OMB_GOV membership information at:

   
   http://listserv.usombudsman.org/mailman/options/omb_gov

   
   Please do not send unsubscribe or subscribe notes to the list. They are normally filtered out and will most likely not be attended to.

   
   
10. What is the OMB_GOV list address?
    
    

    To send a message to the list, email your message to:

    
    omb_gov@listserv.usombudsman.org

     

    You must be a subscriber to post a message to the list.

    
    
11. If I reply to a note, who receives it?
    
    

    The list is set up for replies to go directly to the person who has posted the email to which you are responding. Whether this will happen depends to a large extent on how you have set up your email program. The best advice is to look at the address that appears in the TO: field of your email once you do a reply. If you want the note to go to the entire list, be sure the address in 10 above is in the TO: field. If you want it to go to the sender, you may have to put that address manually in the TO: field if your email program does not put it there. It is important to check the TO: field so you are not embarrassed by accidentally sending private comments to the full list.

    
    
12. Does OMB_GOV have a digest version?
    
    

    Yes. You can change your subscription to or from the digest version of the list by clicking on the appropriate button under Set Digest Mode at:

     

    http://listserv.usombudsman.org/mailman/options/omb_gov
    
    

13. How do I put my subscription on vacation?

     

    If you would like to temporarily stop receiving posts from the list, you can disable email delivery at:

     

    http://listserv.usombudsman.org/mailman/options/omb_gov

     
    

    If you do disable mail delivery, don't forget to re-enable it when you return; it will not be automatically re-enabled.

     

14. What material is appropriate to post on OMB_GOV?

     

    Generally, news articles, investigative and special reports, media releases, published articles and announcements of interest to a ombudsmen are posted on the OMB-GOV.
    
    

15. May I post the same message to more than one list?

     

    Most lists prefer you not cross post. We prefer that you not include the addresses of other lists in a post to OMB_GOV. Since this is a closed list, subscribers from other lists who do not also subscribe to this list will not be able to respond to this list. If you do wish to post material to OMB_GOV and other lists , please send your post to OMB_GOV separate from posts to other lists.
    
    

16. What happens if I act inapprpriately on the list?

     

    USOA reserves the right to suspend any subscriber’s right to post to the list, to remove any subscriber from the list or to ban any email address from subscribing to the list.
    
    

17. Do emails on the list reflect USOA opinions and positions on issues?

     

    Comments and opinions in emails do not necessarily reflect USOA positions, policies or opinions.

     

18. Who do I contact with questions or problems?
    
    

    Please send emails with questions or problems to Postmaster at usoa@usombudsman.org or to:
    
    

    Alda Helvey

    Business Manager

    8345 University Blvd., Suite F-1

    Des Moines, IA 50325

    Telephone: 515-225-2323

    Fax: 515-225-6363

    Email: usoa@usombudsman.org