1. Anecdote 2. Request

[Ralph Copleman]

Hi,

First, a brief story and then a request for your advice...

1.  Seventeen showed up for their six-hour meeting this past Saturday.  The
group had asked for a four-hour period of open space, but the morning
program went on and on and on, speaker after speaker going way over their
time limit.  By the time the organizer turned to me, there were less than
three hours left and no one had eaten lunch.

Now, I have told myself for a long time that I would never open space for
less than four hours.  I've made exceptions, of course, but I prefer not to.

After the lunch break I remained in my chair and said to the circle, 1)
think of the passion, issue, opportunity, challenge or question that's on
your mind (as I pointed to the theme statement on the wall) and then 2)
identify the person or persons around the circle who might be able to help.
Spend the next 90 minutes, I suggested, talking about the first with the
second.  I also suggested that if they preferred, they could write up a
little announcement (paper and markers in the center of the circle) and post
it for all to see and convene a conversation under it.

Then I explained the Law and the Four Principles, pointed to the designated
break-out spaces, and suggested they begin.  I think I spoke for about five
minutes.

They did very well.  The noise level was pretty high actually, for such a
small number.

2. Now your advice, if you have some...

If you were to conduct an OS training program for 5-10 people, how would you
set it up, and how much time would you think is required?

Thanks in advance.

Ralph Copleman

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