a very simple reason

[Funda Oral]

Kate,

Welcome and thank you. Referring to your suggestion ;

"one can create one's own local community of collaborative practice"

I am working very hard on that. Only, sometimes i get tired and impatient.

Funda
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kate Armstrong" <armstrongkm at earthlink.net>
To: <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
Sent: Wednesday, May 18, 2005 6:55 PM
Subject: Re: a very simple reason


> Hello from another new listserv member!
>
> I was encouraged to explore OST by Michael Pannwitz, Lisa Heft, John
Engle,
> and John Van Houten. My original introduction to OST was as a sort of
> "free-for-all" minor piece of a large group meeting, and I was horrified
by
> what I thought was a complete lack of responsibility or commitment, which
> seemed to make possible action impossible.Because I had already purchased
> two of Harrison's books (story/user's guide), I decided to read them
before
> passing them on.
>
>  Well, what a suprise I had! I was amazed and completely enchanted by the
> twin principles of "passion" and "responsibility." In addition my mind was
> drawn to the incredible potential empowerment of the participants creating
> the agenda. I immediately thought of professions like my former one,
> teaching, and how powerless teachers feel. It was close to mind-blowing
what
> might be accomplished given passion, responsibility, creating the agenda,
> and space/time to do what could be done.
>
> I believe that OST is more than a "product" for me. I am integrating it
into
> not only my practice but my perception of the world and my way of being. I
> want to live the idea of OST as easily as I breathe. It is very much a
part
> of the paradigm shift that we have been experiencing for some time now.
Dee
> Hock has a wonderful paragraph on the end of the old (400 year) world
view,
> and an increasing number of people are writing of the emergence/shaping of
> the new world view. It may not be clear for some time to come, possibly
not
> in our lifetimes but I believe the we are approarching the "tipping
point,"
> especially through expanding change processes like OST, AI, Future Search,
> Public Dialogue Project, etc, that are so helpful in assisting us to shift
> perspective.
>
> At the same time I absolutely believe that we are in this incredible world
> paradigm shift, I have no desire to leave what is best behind. Many
cultures
> have a different take than we in America do about  the later years of our
> experience. It is called, among other things, "wisdom of the elders." I
feel
> that in reading Harrison's texts I have only been barely introduced to the
> wisdom of this particular elder. I think of Harrison as one of the
reference
> points, one of the "anchors" if you will, in the ongoing paradigm shift. I
> am only sorry that I will not be able to be in Nova Scotia to participate
in
> the birthday celebration!
>
> To responde to Funda's concerns about marketing OST and "OST community," I
> would like to offer the suggestion that one can create one's own local
> community of collaborative practice. I was part of organizing a regional
> (Northern California) AI practitioners group, and put out a call for a
> similar regional group in Future Search. I put my energy into these groups
> because I felt the need for collaborative practice, I do not choose to do
> this work "alone," and I am prefer F2F rather thanvirtual in my
> practice..Also, not all of us chose or can "afford" to specialize in one
> process.It does not have to be a "process-specific" group, as Lisa Heft
> organized the wonderful local "Fabulous Facilitators," and we come from
all
> kinds of perspectives and experiences.
>
> What is the outcome? So far, for me, it has meant situating myself and my
> pracice more deeply,continuing to see and experience "both/and,"
networking
> in ever expanding ways to generate/collaborate in work regionally as I
> cannot travel for work, support and community. The latest possibility is
one
> of creating a professional women's coop of shared physical space and
> input/feedback on work, clients, projects, products. In short, it is all
> about "expanding the possibilities." Look around where you are, and
explore
> what might be done...and it might be done!
>
> Holding space open for woring and living,
> Kate
>
> "The best way to predict the future is to create it now, together."
>
> Kate Armstrong, PhD
> Pangaea Process Facilitation
> *Appreciative Inquiry/AI Summit *Future Search *Open Space Technology
*World
> Cafe *Mediation *Conflict Resolution *Organizational Mentoring
> *"Re:spirituality" workshops
> 510.352.4872
> 4pangaea at sbcglobal.net (temporarily defunct)
>
>
> >From: Funda Oral <fundaoral at ttnet.net.tr>
> >To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> >Subject: Re: a very simple reason
> >Date: Wed, May 18, 2005, 5:28 AM
> >
>
> >As i am very interested in OST, as i want to work and live in that area;
i
> >am also questioning
> >and thinking about OST community.
> >
> >This was one of the subjects discussed at OSonOS in Goa.
> >
> >I enjoy being a part of OSLIST, learning about your experiences, thoughts
> >etc.
> >But i am not sure if we are cooperating enough for marketing of OST,
> >introducing
> >it to many area where it's urgently needed. This is a product that we are
> >all passionate
> >about.
> >
> >I appreciate many individual efforts that i am hearing through the list,
but
> >i don't see
> >or feel the synergy of being a part of a community ( that might be my
> >personal problem,
> >but that's how i feel anyway)
> >
> >So i agree with Raffi when he says "glass-ceiling"...that's also my
feeling,
> >though i keep
> >you busy with my comments and messages all the time.
> >
> >But i am very glad that Harrison is around. I don't think that he wants
to
> >or has to
> >manage, control this child "OST" anymore...I respect him for having spent
> >time
> >to create this product and keeps thinking about it and ready to support
us
> >by his
> >experiences, comments,ideas...that's already more then enough.
> >
> >But there is a "glass-ceiling" somewhere, somehow.........this is one of
the
> >reasons i sometimes think
> >it would be better for me to change my choice and do something else (as
was
> >my thought at the closing
> >in Goa).
> >
> >Maybe it is too much "self" organizing......"self" means you're alone, do
> >anything you can by your own,
> >share with us your adventure, we (OSList) is here to listen you, to
> >communicate with you, answer
> >your questions...and help you with anything you say you need.
> >
> >There must next step now ( as Harrison was feeling when sharing his
> >reflections after Goa)
> >but i don't know what it is, how we willl go there.
> >
> >Funda
> >
> >
> >Original Message -----
> >From: "Raffi Aftandelian" <raffi at bk.ru>
> >To: <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
> >Sent: Wednesday, May 18, 2005 10:46 AM
> >Subject: a very simple reason
> >
> >
> >> There's a very simple reason, I believe, why something else will
> >> probably come to replace OST in some 5 years time.
> >>
> >> I believe that when Harrison says that all there is is Open Space, he
> >> is right...but only in reference to our current prevailing worldview,
> >> our current paradigm.
> >>
> >> I believe that a new paradigm is being born right now, it may become
> >> clearer in the next 5 years. But we don't talk about new paradigms in
> >> polite company. It's kinda like farting loudly. You just don't do it.
> >>
> >> One way of framing our current paradigm is to open to p.2 of Marv
> >> Weisbord and Sandra Janoff's 1995 book "Future Search: An Action Guide
> >> to Finding Common Ground in Organizations and Communities."--
> >>
> >> The Learning Curve
> >> 1900 Experts Solve problems
> >> 1950 "Everybody" solves problems
> >> 1965 Experts improve whole systems
> >> 2000 "Everybody" improves whole systems
> >>
> >> I recall a number of years back that I wondered, well, what comes
> >> after the last paradigm. And now I think I realize that many people
> >> have already probably answered the question. I don't think it's
> >> appropriate to try to answer it on the listserv, maybe for the same
> >> reason that it may no longer be appropriate for you, Harrison, to be
> >> on this listserv or to continue "teaching" or "doing" open space.
> >>
> >> In Goa, if I recall correctly, you spoke about how a new generation of
> >> folks have started doing OST, and that maybe it is time for you to
> >> step aside. More than six months have passed and you haven't stepped
> >> aside. Your baby, OST, is college age, the age of majority. It is
> >> voting age, it can get married, it can have children, it can get
> >> drafted in the military, and do all the other interesting things in
life.
> >>
> >> Might the walk of the warrior for you, Harrison, be to auction your
> >> hat on e-bay and walk out of the circle?
> >>
> >> Warmly,
> >> Raffi
> >>
> >>
> >>                           mailto:raffi at bk.ru
> >>
> >> *
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> >
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