another kind of open space...

[Michael Herman]

hello everyone,

thought you might be interested in this
little experiment i'm beginning in online
open space.  the invitation i've just
emailed to everyone i know follows here.

sorry to those who will get this twice, but
i did want to make it available to everyone
on the listserve.  also, many thanks to koos
de heers for alerting me to this bulletin
board tool.  it's just the thing i'd been
looking for to complete the Global Chicago
website.

this whole site is my own attempt to bring
so many of the people i cross paths with in
chicago, into contact with the great folks i
meet around the rest of the planet -- so please
don't feel like an outsider if you spend most
of your time in someplace other than chicago!
please come and visit!  (and post!)

best for now, michael

p.s.  yahoo for birgitt and the fast canadians
in toronto!

--

To friends and colleagues everywhere,

Take a moment to consider the people and places that support
your ongoing personal and professional learning and
contribution. How often do you get to see them? ...and how
often do you get to see them all together, where you can
co-create on topics and projects where you share a real
passion?  Where else can you find just-in-time insights on
leading, learning, and leveraging resources in organization?

The Forums at Global Chicago are an invitation and an
opportunity to learn and contribute in an online, ongoing,
open space.

They are an online workspace for the questions, issues and
opportunities that you care about most -- a place where you
can invite old friends and connect with new friends who share
your personal and professional interests. Indeed, everything
at <http://www.globalchicago.net> exists to connect and
support the whole-systems global learning -- that so many of
us are already doing -- from our more-or-less local work and
meeting spaces.

And so, you are officially invited to stop by and see what's
beginning there.  If you don't find the issue or idea that's
most important to you, then you can post it yourself to find
others who share your interests, passions and questions.

To the extent that many of us are in the greater,greater
Chicago area, you might go as far as convening face-to-face
meetings, plan to meet at other regular events, or use this
space to follow up on meetings and projects you're already
doing face-to-face.  If you're out of town, you might even
plan a trip... or at least call some of us, if you find
yourself in the neighborhood.

In many ways, this is an experiment in ongoing, real-world,
open space. So if you've got an interest in Open Space
Technology, this is a good place to play with it! Suggest a
forum, moderate a discussion, invite others to join us, add
spirit!  Just like open space, this place will rise and fall
on passion bounded by responsibility.

And the four principles and one law of Open Space still
apply:

Whoever comes is the right people. Margaret Mead said,
"Never doubt that a small group of concerned citizens can
change the world, indeed, it's the only thing that ever
has." This is an open invitation to people who care about
workplace and community well-being.

Whatever happens is the only thing that could have.  There
are bound to be surprises here, all kinds of ups and downs,
but in general, this place can help us expand our view, our
work, our time, our now.

Whenever it starts is the right time AND when it's over,
it's over.  This message is  a simple invitation.  It may be
coming straight from me or perhaps somebody else thinks you
might learn and contribute to the Forums.  Either way, this
sort of inviting is the simplest, most powerful -- and often
the only thing -- we can do, as people, issues and passion
always show up in their own good time. And when they run
out, we'll mark the thread 'closed' and move on to other
topics.

In cyberspace, the Law of Two Feet becomes the law of Two
Clicks.  As in, you're just two clicks from the farthest
corners of the world or your most important colleagues
across town. The challenge of this space is to use your two
clicks to learn and contribute the most, for yourself, for
your organization(s) and for the communities we all live in.

And so, it's time to jump in. Surf on by. Muck about. Click
and read and post. Ask a provocative question. Read and
learn from others.  Convene a peer consulting group. Review
books and other resources. Visit the Coffee Shop. Write
books and invent resources.  Organize an event or a
community project, or continue your face-to-face meeting
here.  Announce an upcoming event.  Scan the calendar.
Invite friends. Add spirit. Grow and work. Learn and
contribute.

The Global Chicago Forums are now open!

Hope to see you there at:  http://www.globalchicago.net

Best for now,

Michael

--

Michael Herman
...inviting spirit AND results in evolving organizations

Michael Herman Associates
300 West North Avenue #1105
Chicago IL 60610
312-280-7838 voice
312-280-7837 fax
mherman at globalchicago.net

The Global Chicago Network
http://www.globalchicago.net

Michael Herman Associates
http://www.globalchicago.net/mha