Convergence Design

[Peg Holman]

>From Harrison:

>Chris -- Not to add to your workload, but it occurs to me that you actually have TWO very important >groups that need to get together. 

This closely parallels what we've been grappling with for the Arts Commission.  Here's this government agency that invited people to play in a new way.  We talked quite a bit up front about who is this work to serve -- the people of the state or the agency?  Where we landed is this work is seeding participation throughout the state.  We hope it inspires a sense of community -- greater understanding of common interests -- such that the voice for arts in the state is strengthened, and results in action by any and all wherever they are moved to act.  The Arts Commission, as any other participting individual or organization, can use what they learn to plan how they can best serve.  It's a both/and  situation.

Peg Holman

P.S.  Thank you for the range of responses to the design I proposed.  The session is Mar. 11 so I am digesting the comments and will let you know how it all goes.  I have no desire or need to either overly structure or control anything so I am thinking hard about the most open way to invite people to get grounded in this 6-week conversation, focus on what's most important (voting doesn't do it for me) and articulate some direction together.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Harrison Owen 
  To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU 
  Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2000 3:12 AM
  Subject: Re: Convergence Design


  At 12:27 AM 1/27/00 -0800, you wrote:
  >Harrison wrote:


  >"Chris -- I suggest being a little careful here. If it was true that all
  >the issues were posted by the Planning Committee members
  >(could have happened) there is no issue. But since that was probably not
  >the case (never has been, in my experience) you are
  >running the distinct possibility that the actual conveners will feel
  >disempowered. That would be a major loss. If there is still time,
  >I would suggest that (at the very least you invite all the conveners of
  >the several issues to join the committee. That is where your
  >energy is -- with the conveners. Use it!"


  Chris Replied:


  .  This exercise is primarily for the government folks to develop some
  >personal committment around the issues the community elucidated.  They
  >have a deep well to drink from (45 sessions and a lot of concrete
  >action) and my intention is to set them loose on the work and figure out
  >what role they can play to be supportive.
  ****************************************
  Further Thoughts from Harrison:


  Chris -- Not to add to your workload, but it occurs to me that you actually have TWO very important groups that need to get together. One, of course is the Government Folks who need to get their stuff together. I guess they are called The Planning Committee, and you probably can't change that now. But it seems to me that they are no longer the Planning Committee (It has all been planned and happened) -- They are in fact just one other sub-group from the meeting who now have to get their stuff together in response to what happened. That sounds like a good and necessary undertaking. BUT there is at least one other group (The conveners) who are in a siimilar situation. I understand your hesitance to invite them to come together because of all the other things that are happening. But maybe it would be wise to let them make the choice? It could be they don't want to come -- in which case they won't. Or they might...


  I guess the center of my point is that there are two different needs and functions here (at least). The Government folks have to get their heads screwed on right. And -- ALL the people involved (or certainly the conveners) should be given the opportunity to take responsibility for their thoughts leading to action.


  At the end of the day what I would be most concerned about is that a very, very, very old paradigm is re-enforced. BIG BROTHER KNOWS BEST AND ALTHOUGH HE WILL TAKE YOUR THOUGHTS INTO CONSIDERTATION (MAYBE), IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, HE WILL DO WHAT (HE PERCIEVES) IS BEST FOR YOU.


  I am sure that is not your intention, and I believe you that the excitement generated by the Open Space is such that much good has and will occur. Never-the less I would be doing my damnedest to make sure that there is at least the opportunity for all the folks to own their creation and take responsibilty for its realization. It seems to me from what you have said that even though the Government folks may have initiated the whole effort, they are now off center stage. They have their own issues to deal with and they should so that -- but everybody (as represented by the conveners and anybody else who cares to show up) should be involved in the "What-Next. I think.

  Harrison 

  Harrison Owen
  7808 River Falls Drive
  Potomac, MD 20854
  USA
  phone 301-469-9269
  fax 301-983-9314
  website 
  www.mindspring.com/~owenhh
  Open Space Institute websites
  www.openspaceworld.org

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