Re Client Out of Control

[Leon DeKing]

Dear Chris, Jay et al:

Two relevant experiences from my OS Facilitation experience come to mind.

#1 The Nov. 1996 annual convention of the Rocky Mountain Cohousing
Association (RMCA) [now The Couhousing Network (TCN)], a Friday eve -->
3:00 pm Sunday event, on the theme COHOUSING: FROM VISION TO VILLAGE.
The "out of control" dimension was the Initiator Team's retention of a
"cohousing expert" to be our keynote speaker, and to schedule him to speak
at dinner on Saturday.  Fortunately I was able to: A) convince the members
of the Initiator Team that a 10:00 a.m.Sunday, presentation by our
"cohousing expert" would preserve participant ownership of the event and
give our expert some up-to-the-minute cohousing thinking to respond to; B)
arrange to have the Draft Proceedings published Saturday eve and in
participant hands at 8:00 a.m. Sunday; and C) convince the "cohousing
expert" (Chris Hanson) to be a participant both before and after his 10:00
a.m. Sunday presentation.
Results: the event was a great success, assisted in large part I'm sure by
Mr. Hanson's apprehension of our Open Space Event as an opportunity for him
to be, a participant in the long term event, it's summarizer, and the
person to introduce the event's closing ceremony.

#2 The Sept. 1998 semi-annual Pacific SouthWest District (PSWD) of the
Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations (UUA)  Congregation
Presidents & Association and District Representatives Meeting, a Friday
evening --> Sunday noon event on the Theme of SHARING THE WISDOM.
The "out of control" dimensions were: a 1:00-3:00 pm Saturday host site
dedication of a new building, which all were expected to attend; three
"have to be on Saturday," 30 minute presentations by PSWD and UUA
"biggies;" and a 10:00 a.m. Sunday church service.  Although the Initiator
Team was able to: A) convince the biggies to present during Saturday lunch;
and B) get the draft proceedings published Saturday evening and in
participant hands by noon Sunday;
there were still the three hours on Saturday and the Sunday service
interruptions, that effectively closed the space we had opened Saturday
morning.
Result: a minimally successful event with some important lessons for the
Facilitator.
These lessons include: A) get the initiators to come up with a compelling theme
("Sharing the Wisdom" 'compelled' only yawns.);  B) insure that there are
no possible building dedication interruptions;  C) limit "biggie"
presentations to papers, to be handed out AFTER the Open Space Event's
closing ceremony; and D) make the Sunday Service into the closing ceremony.

Yours Aye,

Leon

                         Leon R. De King
                Potential Attainment Facilitator