Article request

[Marks McAvity]

Hi Rich,

I think that it was primarily the freedom to set up their agenda of
concerns- somehow clearing the way for the decisive stuff they had to do
over the next few days- in a fair, open, "democratic", and non-controversial
way.

I might say that they did some "unconventional" things- like crashing three
breakout groups together at the last minute- they individually didn't really
want to miss anything. And they wanted to go on so long with their last
discussion that we never did really have closure- of course they weren't
going away anywhere physically , and it was easy to do a different kind of
closure- more of a
rite of passage the next day. Amusingly, in fact, that last prolonged
discussion went on so long- food and guests started to arrive and even a
beginning of what would have been a feeble closure that night by me was
pre-empted with one of them announcing "WHEN IT'S OVER, IT'S OVER". That
along with the feast and guests, and the "rite" the next morning was more
than adequte closure to the Space.

This age group doesn't like anything phony. For example, in the end, some of
their discussions ended up being such a flow of consciousness coming out
deep mutual
awareness of what the issues were, that they unilaterally and almost
subconsciouly abondoned the notion of full proceedings BUT when they came to
really fresh meaty ideas, they spontaneously took to full flipchart
recording
with constant amending on the spot from everyone. These sheets informed our
post Open
Space discussions over the next two days incredibly well, demonstrating the
worth of the OST process itself ( and its timing for our 4-day planning
retreat), as well as the need for flexibility, particularily with a group
like this - bright, caring people in their 20's.

Hope that that helps. I'd be interested in hearing how your session
develops.

Cheers,

Marks

Marks & Margaret McAvity
Site 50, Comp 16
Galiano Island,
BC, VON 1P0
CANADA
Tel 250-539-2881 (Gal)
Tel 604-827-0305 (Van)
Tel 250-539-0146 (mob)
mcavity at jetstream.net (us)
mcavity at netinfo.ubc.ca (Marg)
----- Original Message -----
From: <rnorris at DIGITAL.NET>
To: <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
Sent: Tuesday, April 25, 2000 5:06 AM
Subject: Re: Article request


> Mark,
>
> What was it about Open Space that was valued by this particular group?
>
> Rich Norris
>
> At 06:53 PM 4/23/00 -0700, you wrote:
> > I've done one for aboutr 10 people in their late 20's- mostly
Phd's -bright
> >and fiesty- it was part of a 4 days planning to devise a creatrive new
> >course in Inter-religious relations. Glad to tell you more.
> >
> >Cheers,
> >marks
> >Marks & Margaret McAvity
> >Site 50, Comp 16
> >Galiano Island,
> >BC, VON 1P0
> >CANADA
> >Tel 250-539-2881 (Gal)
> >Tel 604-827-0305 (Van)
> >Tel 250-539-0146 (mob)
> >mcavity at jetstream.net (us)
> >mcavity at netinfo.ubc.ca (Marg)
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: <rnorris at DIGITAL.NET>
> >To: <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
> >Sent: Saturday, April 22, 2000 7:11 PM
> >Subject: Article request
> >
> >
> >> I am looking for a recount of any Open Space event (article etc.) where
> >the
> >> participants were predominately in the 20 -30 year age range (Gen X).
If
> >> anyone has one or knows of one I would appreciate it ifg you could
email
> >it
> >> to me
> >>
> >> rnorris at digital.net
> >>
> >> Thanks
> >> Rich Norris
> >> Satellite Beach, Florida
> >> (407)779-0531
> >> <rnorris at digital.net>
> >>
> >
> >
> Rich Norris
> Satellite Beach, Florida
> (407)779-0531
> <rnorris at digital.net>