OS format flexibility?

Wed Dec 17 09:50:31 PST 2003

hello dominique, glad to see you here.

dave koehler invented a fine method for this and he (and we)
have used it successfully in peoria, illinois, usa...

the model is three consecutive evenings.

gather for light dinner (sandwiches, box/bag, etc), open the
space, two 1-hour sessions, eve news,

gather for light dinner, "morn" news, three 1-hour sessions,
eve news

gather for light dinner, distribute proceedings, vote using
tasc software, one hour for action planning, closing circle.

i think we gathered at 5:30, opened at 6-7, breakouts 7-8
and 8-9, then news sessions til 9:15 or 9:30.

he did this with 1000 on neighborhoods future.  we did it
with 300 on future of education. i think there have been
others who've used this form as well, usually
tues-weds-thursday evenings.

in the case of the education group, the new superintendent
was able to come in and take the top issues from the voting
in os and make that her working agenda for the entire next
school year.

worked like a charm.

m

Dominique Proudhon wrote:
> Here is another question I have:
>
> It is not always easy to gather a group of people on a given issue for a
> full day, less 2 or 3.
>
> For example, if a city council wants to use OS to involve citizens in
> resolving a given issue, it seems difficult to propose a full day or
> two. In such settings, meetings usually happen in the evenings after
> work hours. What experiences have been done, if any, around splitting OS
> events in smaller time periods? I guess some momentum would be lost, but
> would the process still work? Or is the best option to just refuse to
> organize a less than a day event?
>
>
>
> All the best,
>
> Dominique.
>
>
>
> Dominique Proudhon
>
> Group Facilitation
> Problem solving
> Conflict resolution
>
> Dampierre
> 38470 Notre Dame de l'Osier
>
> (33) 4 76 36 71 34
>
> (33) 6 78 91 48 77
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of
> Catherine Pfaehler
> Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2003 4:56 PM
> To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> Subject: AW: New member
>
>
>
> Dear Dominique
>
>
>
> What you write resonates very much with me, all of it. Welcome to the
> list, and keep your spirits up? Wonderful what you share about your
> first OS experiences. Congratulations!
>
>
>
> You might find a lot of kindred spirits in France who would love to
> participate in a public OS on the topics you raised in your first
> paragraph. Can you find a city council who would be interested in such
> input from its inhabitants?
>
>
>
> Love, Catherine
>
>
>
> Catherine Pfaehler
>
> Kellersriedweg 8
>
> CH - 2503 Biel/Bienne
>
> T/F/B ++41 - (0)32 - 365 68 41
>
>
>
> -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
> Von: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU]Im Auftrag von
> Dominique Proudhon
> Gesendet: Dienstag, 16. Dezember 2003 08:58
> An: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> Betreff: New member
>
>
>
> Good day all,
>
>
>
> I joined the OSlist a few days ago and have been lurking for a while. I
> am very impressed with the quality of the exchanges on this list and
> find myself drawn to participate. Several threads called my attention;
> in particular the one questioning the list itself (what are we doing?
> Aren?t we loosing our spirit, Should we split?) ?I find these
> conversations very healthy. And also the one about Civil Conversation,
> which resonates with an old questioning of mine around ways to implement
> real participative democracy ? I am dreaming of initiating some real
> debate around the question ?what world do we chose to build for
> tomorrow??. I believe we humans are caught up in our own contradictions:
> after centuries of evolving faster and faster technically, and having
> more transformative power than ever, we are now facing the essential
> question of  Meaning: How do we participate in the world and to what
> end? What is our responsibility in regard to what is happening in our
> world? Especially all the ?not so nice? little things like irreversible
> destruction of earth resources, loss of entire species, wars and weapon
> builders, starving, and all that noisy ongoing disconnected stupidity on
> our tv and radio shows that take people away from being?  I believe that
> for the first time, we, at least in ?developed? countries, have won the
> freedom to look beyond simply working for survival, to ask ourselves:
> how do I want to also make this place a little better?
>
>
>
> Anyway. I?ll stop here for today. My goal was actually to introduce myself:
> I am French and leave in Grenoble. After a PhD in molecular/cellular
> biology and 6 years of research. I decided to do something else with my
> life and moved to human resources development. I actually did that
> career move in the US: I lived 10 years in North Carolina. I wanted to
> understand why people so often get into conflicts because of ?films?
> they make in their heads that have little to do with reality. I wanted
> to find ways to work on re-establishing lost connections, especially in
> the workplace, where they could serve common projects and goals. I
> trained with Will Schutz, originator of the Human Element, became a
> mediator, trained in various psychometric tools and got to work with
> various groups. Two years ago, just before I came back to France, I
> bought a book that called my attention: Open Space Technology, a user?s
> guide. I read it in the plane. It was one of those ?ha ha?: I found
> something I was looking for. A piece of extreme simplicity that called
> on very ecological principles to set the stage for real connection
> between people and for meaning to happen. On top of that, this approach
> was shared openly without any bind, just as a gift to humanity, which
> seduced me even more...  I decided to try it as soon as I would get the
> opportunity, here, in France. Starting a new business as a group
> facilitator/team consultant has not been easy thing. Things are slow
> going and I often get discouraged. But I finally got the opportunity to
> run two different open space events for two different clients in the
> last year (30 people and 36 people). Both very energizing experiences
> and both around the question ?How could we improve the way we function
> as a team??: I loved the first moments of surprise in people?s eyes, and
> then the sudden rush to bring up issues as they understood that the
> event was theirs. Several persons approached me at the end telling me
> how much this work had moved them from a negative reactive position to
> an engaged position and telling me about a number of places they would
> see such work as useful. Thanks to Harrison, they got a gift they
> deserved. Felt quite good to serve in such a meaningful way. I?ll
> continue. I now would like to share this approach with others in France
> and starting a French Open Space Institute (web site in preparation for
> sometime next year). Of course, I have plenty of questions around OST,
> but I?ll wait: This post is already long enough, you guys are busy, and
> I need to read more of the documentation to make sure I am not asking
> questions that have already been answered 20 times.
>
>
>
> All the best to each of you,
>
> Dominique
>
>
>
> Note: I am a guy, for those who would wonder.
>
>
>
> Dominique Proudhon
>
> Group Facilitation
> Problem solving
> Conflict resolution
>
> Dampierre
> 38470 Notre Dame de l'Osier
>
> (33) 4 76 36 71 34
>
> (33) 6 78 91 48 77
>
>
>
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--

Michael Herman
Michael Herman Associates
300 West North Avenue #1105
Chicago IL 60610 USA
(312) 280-7838

http://www.michaelherman.com - consulting & publications
http://www.globalchicago.net - laboratory & playground
http://www.openspaceworld.org - worldwide open space

...inviting organization into movement

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