Visit the new World-wide Open Space web site

[Richard Charles Holloway]

Birgitt...

I was unable to determine what your definition of a self-organizing system.
Could you share some of your ideas about self-organizing systems?  This
would be helpful to me because I'm not sure that I can see a conflict
between the beliefs you shared here and the concept of a self-organizing
system.

regards,

Richard (Doc) Holloway

----- Original Message -----
From: Birgitt Bolton <birgitt at worldchat.com>
To: <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
Sent: Thursday, August 19, 1999 9:00 AM
Subject: Re: Visit the new World-wide Open Space web site


> Barry, Peg, Koos, and Michael,
> I have just checked out the whole site and think you've done a great job
and
> can only imagine how hard the work must have been to put it all
together!!!!
> A true thank you. The only thing I am not sure of is whether OST is about
> self organizing systems and so I include my comments below to invite
members
> of the list to a discussion about this. Maybe I am just about to
demonstrate
> my lack of grasping self organizing systems......
>
> I wish to use this site to start a discussion about self organizing
systems
> because OST is introduced on the site as being about self organizing
> systems. When I was introduced to OST, it was about Spirit being given
space
> and time to be manifest in organizations (which I don't think is the same
as
> self organizing systems although I am happy to be challenged on this one
if
> I am on the wrong track). I want to come out clearly with my position at
the
> beginning---I do not believe that at this point in our human evolution
that
> we have self organizing systems (at least in my understanding of what a
self
> organizing system means) and I do not believe that Open Space Technology
is
> about self organizing systems. Blasphemy on this list serve, possibly!
> Sometimes just because we say something is so, doesn't make it so.
>
> Now, our new website says we are about self organizing systems. Do we
really
> know what they are? Are we fooling ourselves? Is it true? When I go
through
> the website itself, I see that although it would like to be---it is not a
> self organizing system. There are "givens" that create the context for the
> site and it looks like it has been set up to be self organizing within
that
> context, within those "givens". The "givens" as I see them include the
> purpose of the site, the headings that have been created for us to access
> and support with our information if we are moved to do so, the fact that
> "initiators" of information posted are noted, the fact that there is a
> webmaster and moderators, and so on. Even the choice of words like "open
> space practitioner"---does this mean we are still practicing????? And the
> choice of inviting local groups of practitioners to identify themselves
> regarding new Open Space Institutes (and of course, I've raised before
that
> Institutes like us in Canada consider ourselves quite
legitimate---whatever
> that may be---even if we are not "formally chartered"----the only formally
> chartered is in the US I believe). Where do the "givens" or
> "non-negotiables" stop and where are we creating here from "assumptions"
and
> have we checked the assumptions or discussed them? Anyhow, the main point
I
> am trying to make is to raise for discussion the question of self
organizing
> systems and the role of OST in self organizing systems. Is the website
> really an example of a self organizing system? Is OST really about self
> organizing systems????? In my experience---the answer is NO. Whenever I
have
> used OST for a meeting, an event, the transformation of an existing
> organization to operate as an Open Space Organization, or the emergence of
a
> new organization as an Open Space Organization, the totally human element
> inclusive of spirit,  emotions, mental processes, and body come into play.
> And although people are in the "now" they also bring the learnings from
the
> past and the dreams of the future---and someone or someones always work
from
> "givens" to create a context or field for operating in, and there are
always
> assumptions made from which operating decisions come. It seems to be the
> human way.
>
> I could have posted this set of queries as a discussion on the site. I
chose
> to post them on the list which I feel safer within to be me. Is it our
> assumption that the list will continue, or is it the assumption that the
> community here will instead communicate on the site?
>
>
> Birgitt
>
> Birgitt Bolton of Dalar Associates
> www.openspacetechnology.com
> 55 Ravina Cres., Ancaster, Ontario, Canada
>  L9G 2E8
> phone: 905-648-5775  fax: 905-648-2262
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Peg Holman, Open Space Institute [mailto:osi at tmn.com]
> Sent: Thursday, August 19, 1999 1:01 AM
> To: Open Space Institute
> Subject: Visit the new World-wide Open Space web site
>
>
> To friends of Open Space everywhere,
>
> Come visit our new home in cyberspace:  http://www.openspaceworld.org  It
is
> our invitation to you to participate in the what gives the Open Space
> Institutes meaning: holding space for Open Space.  Whether for mutual
> support and connection, mentoring or being mentored, learning or
> contributing to OS research, or simply a place to send your friends, the
web
> site is there for you.
>
> To that end, this site is as open to participation as we could make it.
For
> example, take a look at stories and resources provided by OS
practitioners.
> Do you have a story or OS tool you'd like to share?  You can post it
> yourself.
>
> Or do you want to learn about OS trainings or events?  They're not only
> listed, but if you are an OSI member, you can post them yourself.
>
> Want to connect with an OS practitioner near you or who has expertise in a
> particular area?  Check out the directory of friends and practitioners.
And
> while you're there, add yourself to the list.
>
> Need some resources on Open Space -- the User's Guide or the U S WEST
video?
> What's available for purchase is described online.  And if you're a member
> with a related resource to sell, post it!
>
> And of course, what Open Space is complete without an online marketplace?
> Got something about OS to discuss, here's a place to do it.  A couple
seeds
> have been planted to start the conversation, but it won't grow without
you.
>
> This site is here in service to the Open Space community.  It helps to
hold
> the space for the OS community around the world, so come join us and send
> your friends.
>
>
> And please let us know what you think by contacting us at
> webmaster at openspaceworld.org or osi at tmn.com
>
>
> Yours, in Open Space,
> Michael Herman, Peggy Holman, Barry Owen, and Koos de Heer
> creators of the World-wide Open Space web site
>
>
>
>
>
> Warmest regards,
> Birgitt
>
> Birgitt Bolton of Dalar Associates
> www.openspacetechnology.com
> 55 Ravina Cres., Ancaster, Ontario, Canada
>  L9G 2E8
> phone: 905-648-5775  fax: 905-648-2262
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU]On Behalf Of
> Harrison Owen
> Sent: Thursday, August 19, 1999 7:02 AM
> To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> Subject: Re: Visit the new World-wide Open Space web site
>
>
> At 09:59 PM 8/18/1999 -0700, you wrote:
> >To friends of Open Space everywhere,
> >
> >Come visit our new home in cyberspace:  http://www.openspaceworld.org  It
> is
> >our invitation to you to participate in the what gives the Open Space
> >Institutes meaning: holding space for Open Space.  Whether for mutual
> >support and connection, mentoring or being mentored, learning or
> >contributing to OS research, or simply a place to send your friends, the
> web
> >site is there for you.
> ******************************************
> Congratualtions and thank yous to Peg, Barry, Michael and Koos. Terrific
> job!
>
>
> Harrison
> Harrison Owen
> 7808 River Falls Drive
> Potomac, MD  20854
> USA
>
> Summer address:
> 189 Beaucaire Ave.
> RR Box 4248
> Camden, ME
> 04843
>
> Website www.tmn.com/~owen
> Phone 301-469-9269
> Fax 301-983-9314
> Maine Phone 207-763-3261