Idea

[Peggy Holman]

Kathleen,

I can think of no better place to start grass roots organizing for an Open
Space than your own passion!  Indeed, I think that was the heart of what
made the Women's OS that you asked about work.  In retrospect, I'd say the
other thing we had going for us was that we were interested in a theme that
at that moment in time struck a chord for many women.  In practical terms,
here's what happened:

Anne Stadler was part of a gathering of about 12 women in Boston talking
about a change in the air of how women were leading.  She came home to
Seattle from that conversation quite inspired and in the normal course of
conversations with friends about it, many said, "gosh, I wish I'd been
there!"  So, Anne thought, "why not do it here?"  She contacted about 35
friends asking if they'd like to co-convene an OS around the emerging role
of women as leaders.  All expressed interest, about 16 showed up for a first
meeting in February.  We held it in a circle, listened to each other express
what such a gathering would mean to each of us personally, commited to each
bring 5 people, set a date in May, and we were off.

One person volunteered to draft the invitation, another to get the space,
another to handle food, I handled communication.  I got a lot of feedback
that the communication really made a difference in keeping the momentum
going.  It was all done via an e-mail group list of the 16 who had come plus
another 15 who couldn't make the meeting but wanted to play.  I would send
updates every 1-2 weeks on attendance and related stories.  As people let me
know what was happening for them, I would pass the messages to everyone so
that we were reinforcing each other and continuing to build momentum.  We
met a second time shortly before the Open Space to renew our commitment to
each other and confirm all the logistics were handled.

I think another thing that worked well for this kind of grass roots approach
was asking people to give a check for $40 for the 2 days up front.  Each
co-convenor was responsible for collecting the checks from their friends.
That helped us track attendence and certainly served as an act of commitment
when someone wrote a check.

For me personally, the work was extraordinary.  At the time, I was also
preparing for the first public workshop I'd ever hosted.  I was having
trouble attracting participants to that.  Because the two events were
happening almost in parallel, it was a huge lesson in understanding the role
my own passion for the work had on attracting people to come.  When I talked
to others about the Women's OS, my own excitement of what such a gathering
could mean ignited excitement in others.  I think I was personally
responsible for 20 to 30 people attending.  I'd NEVER had that kind of
ability to attract others to anything before!

The process also took me on my own path of exploration that reinforced my
passion for doing this.  Most impactful was reading Riane Eisler's THE
CHALICE AND THE BLADE, a book that has had a lasting affect on my thinking
about healthy organizational forms.  For those interested, I've included a
brief summary about this below.


I believe there are others on this list who were part of this OS.  How do
you remember what happened?

Peggy


A BRIEF SUMMARY OF WHAT I TOOK FROM THE CHALICE AND THE BLADE

Riane Eisler proposes two basic models of society.  The first, the dominator
model, is what is popularly termed either patriarchy or matriarchy -- the
ranking of one half of humanity over the other.  The second, in which social
relations are primarily based on the principle of linking rather than
ranking, may best be described as the partnership model.
(p. xvii)

These models have extraordinary implications for our views of power.  In the
dominator model, which prevails today, power is symbolized by the Blade --
the power to dominate or take life.  In contrast, in the partnership model
power as symbolized by the Chalice is about nurturing and the capacity to
give life.

"Human evolution is now at a crossroad.  [Our] central human task is how to
organize society to promote the survival of our species and the development
of our unique potentials.  ...we have seen that [our current model] cannot
meet this requirement because of its in-built emphasis on technologies of
destruction, its dependence on violence for social control, and the tensions
chronically engendered by the dominator-dominated human relations model upon
which it is based.  We have also seen that a ...partnership society,
symbolized by the life-sustaining and enhancing Chalice, offers us a viable
alternative."  p. 186

Eiser, Riane, The Chalice & the Blade, (HarperCollins, San Francisco), 1987.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Kathleen A Pichola" <kapich at JUNO.COM>
To: <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
Sent: Tuesday, July 11, 2000 8:03 AM
Subject: Idea


> Peg and others
> I had an inspiration the other day and wanted to check it out with the
> OST experts. I have been well trained in Os by Harrison and Birgitt, but
> have yet to implement it.  After a meditation the other day, I received
> the idea of offering an open space to individuals, namely teachers, as a
> way of allowing them to come together to support each other and to allow
> Spirit to work through individuals in many school systems.  Schools are
> very focused on Proficiency tests here in Ohio and are very conservative
> my nature.  I thought if I could reach and support those who are yearning
> for something more meaningful, it would be a good entry point.  Also, I
> am much more comfortable working with individuals than organizations,
> having been a psychotherapist for 15 years.
> Peg, I remember you telling me about an OS you did for women that spread
> by word of mouth and ended up with 120 people.  I'm wondering what
> thoughts you have for me.  My biggest questions; Will an OS work if it is
> coming from my own Passion?  I'm beginning to think about the "givens" in
> this type of situation, since people would be coming from different
> organizations.  I would appreciate any wisdom you and the group could
> offer.  I am very excited about his possibility and would like to offer
> it in the fall.
> Thanks,
> Kathleen Pichola
>
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