so how would open space handle this?

[Peggy Holman]

Elwin, Chris, Jeff, Kerry, Dave, Murray, Joelle, Artur,

Many, many thanks for your reflections.  My brother's message troubled me on
so many levels it was tough to know where to begin.  And yet, it was an
opening, albeit a skeptical one.  Your answers give me a way to respond to
him that isn't as loaded as one from just me.  Without intending it, I would
undoubtedly put hooks in my message that make it harder to hear.  You have
given me the gift of many perspectives.

Thank you,
Peggy



----- Original Message -----
From: "Elwin and Joan" <elwinandjoan at yahoo.com>
To: <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
Sent: Friday, March 30, 2001 7:42 PM
Subject: Re: so how would open space handle this?


> Dear Peggy,
>
> Chris introduced my small piece when he asked,
> "Maybe I am begging the question about how much
> you need to know about a client before you work with
> them?"
>
> For me the Open Space answer was..."not much!"
>
> Last year I opened space four times for 120 directors
> and staff members of the leading NGOs in Bosnia.  The
> theme for each 2 1/2 day OST was "Sustaining an NGO"
>
> That's about all I knew going into it; NGOs and
> Bosnia.
>
> On the 2nd night of the 1st OST the group
> simultaneously organized a party.  They found the
> band, singer, arranged the deal with hotel management,
> ordered the food, went to town and purchased award
> gifts, etc, etc.  They hugged, danced and sang until 3
> am.
>
> After the closing circle the USAID official that was
> present came to me and said, "this was an amazing
> event!  They were all behaving like members of the
> same family."
>
> I said, "well that's the result of most OSTs I've
> done; no big deal!"
>
> He said, "It is a big deal. Don't you realize the
> group is 1/3 Muslim, 1/3 Croat and 1/3 Serb?  Five
> years ago they were raping and killing each other!"
>
> I said, "Oh! I thought they were all Bosnians!"
>
> PS- The same thing happened at the following three
> OSTs that were also equally represented ethnically!
>
> It works because the right people come!
>
> Elwin Guild
> Baltimore
>
>
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