After the OST event...

[Michael Herman]

i always describe open space as a practice in invitation, doug.  we
put out the first invite, and people come.  then we invite them to
post their own invites, to breakout sessions.  this is just the
detailed version of the first invite.  then they take the notes, which
is a further detailing of the original invitation... and an invitation
to reflect, review, return and act.  and some of the actions usually
include issuing new invitations.  if the new invitations go out beyond
the first circle, then even if those folks drift away, the process
will keep going, the conversation will continue.  so can the three who
are left invite the next round of new people?  will those who've
drifted away be invited back?  and if not, do they know others they
might share a new invitation with?  ...or perhaps it's just over...
for now?  m



On 4/28/05, Harrison Owen <hhowen at comcast.net> wrote:
> Doug -- no problem. Friends of mine who ran (were involved with) a large
> rural healthcare delivery organization did "an" Open Space -- and then
> resolved (actually the whole staff demanded) that they work from that time
> forward in Open Space. So. It became a matter of policy and principle the
> every person in the organization had both the opportunity and the
> responsibility to open a space any time there was an issue or opportunity
> affecting the life of the organization for which there was not immediate or
> obvious solution. Open Spaces happened all the time. Sometimes there were 5
> people, sometimes 50.
>
> ho
>
> Harrison Owen
> 7808 River Falls Drive
> Potomac, Maryland   20845
> Phone 301-365-2093
>
> Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com
> Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org
> Personal website http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hhowen/index.htm
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> -----Original Message-----
> From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Douglas D.
> Germann, Sr.
> Sent: Thursday, April 28, 2005 12:20 PM
> To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> Subject: After the OST event...
>
> Hi--
>
> A couple of years ago a community OST event was held involving
> professionals with a common set of clients/patients. There was great
> enthusiasm and an on-going task group came out of it. It met for about 4 to
> 6 months and then fizzled out.
>
> Another community event recently resulted in an on-going group and an
> e-mail list-serv. The first month's meeting had about 10 or 12 people from
> the original 20+. The second month's meeting had 3 people.
>
> It occurs to me that what is needed to carry things through beyond the
> event is some open space in which we can re-enter dialogue. Open space is
> not something that goes into old skins: it bursts them. It is not the same
> kind of business meetings with pre-set agendas--it has to be open in the
> moment. It is not the networking function where we share small talk about
> experiences and titles and advertising slogans and elevator speeches. It is
> about encountering persons. We need a theme or a method of meeting that
> will allow the same kind of being to being contact and growth. How is this
> to be accomplished?
>
> Can we do the on-going meetings in an open space sort of way? Can we
> propose topics within a container topic and go to separate corners or
> address them serially? Is there another way to open space? Can we "post"
> topics virtually, say?
>
> What has been your experience? What has worked? How do you see people
> keeping it going?
>
>                               :-Doug. Germann
>                               Seeking people making community change.
>
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--

Michael Herman Associates
http://www.michaelherman.com
...inviting organizations into action

Small Change News Network
http://www.smallchangenews.org
...blogging giving flourishing

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