an invitation

Thu May 19 08:45:37 PDT 2005

Gerard- i don't think it's an open space, i sent it because i liked the
title
and "governance" reminds the OS as a concept.

But you can get more info through web site of the university mentioned
on the invitation.

Funda
----- Original Message -----
From: "Gerard Muller" <gm at openspace.dk>
To: <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
Sent: Thursday, May 19, 2005 5:18 PM
Subject: Re: an invitation

Dear Funda,

Just to be sure - is this an Open Space ? In that case I'd know some
people I'd forward it to

Gerard Muller
Open Space Institute Denmark
Phone: (+45) 21269621
Mail: gm at openspace.dk

On May 19, 2005, at 3:03 PM, Funda Oral wrote:

> Traditionalism, political parties and democratic governance in Africa
>
> The University of South Africa’s (UNISA) Department of Political
> Sciences, in association with the Centre for African Renaissance
> Studies (CARS), cordially invite you to its 7th annual Africa Day
> conference on Traditionalism, political parties and democratic
> governance in Africa.
>
> Africa Day commemorates the establishment of the Organisation of
> African Unity (OAU) in 1963. In 2002, the OAU was succeeded by the
> African Union (AU).
>
> Venue: Senate Hall, Unisa Main Campus, Preller Street, Muckleneuk,
> Pretoria, South Africa
> Date:   2 June 2005 (8:30am – 15:00pm)
>
> Who should attend?
>       •     Academics/Researchers
>       •     Diplomats
>       •     Government officials at national and provincial level
>       •     Mayors and councillors
>       •     Members of Parliament and Provincial Legislators
>       •     Traditional leaders
>       •     Business men and women
>       •     Consultants
>       •     Journalists
>       •     Representatives from non-governmental and civic based
organisations
>       •     Students
>
> Registration is free and full details will be made available in due
> course.
>
> We look forward to your attendance.
>
> For further enquiries, contact Ms Jonanda Bezuidenhout at:
>
> Tel + 27 – (0)12 - 429 6433/6068
> Fax + 27 – (0)12 - 429 3221
> Email: bezuij at unisa.ac.za
>
> Visit the University of South Africa’s website at
> http://www.unisa.ac.za and the Department of Political Sciences’
> website at http://www.unisa.ac.za/dept/pol/
>
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>From  Thu May 19 12:19:59 2005
Message-Id: <THU.19.MAY.2005.121959.0400.>
Date: Thu, 19 May 2005 12:19:59 -0400
Reply-To: lburleson at nc.rr.com
To: OSLIST <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
From: Les Burleson <lburleson at nc.rr.com>
Subject: Re: Gilliam
In-Reply-To: <BAY103-F1960D5E789F423AEE2AD43AD080 at phx.gbl>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Craig,

Where is this located as I would like to participate if possible?

Les

-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Craig
Gilliam
Sent: Thursday, May 19, 2005 11:28 AM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Gilliam

Harrison:

The other day, I met with some leaders of a particular religious
(Christian)
denomination.  They wanted to plan a larger gathering of Elders to have
a
retreat and to explore what it means to be an Elder in their tradition,
at
least that was the identifying issue or reason for our meeting, and they
invited me to be part of this conversation of how to facilitate for such
a
conversation.

First I ask them about their intention for this retreat/work.  After
some
conversation, I suggested they have the larger retreat as an Open Space.
I
spent some time talking about Open Space or at least how we might do it
in
their setting/context.  As I talked, it was fascinating to watch the
energy
and responses of the group.  Some were getting excited, positive energy
was
cracking, while others began getting nervous, resistant;  it seemed they
were quaking at the thought of loosing control.

Questions and comments ranged from:
I don't like this "Whatever happens is the only thing that could have. .
.Sounds too Calvinistic."  Someone else challenged the person and said,
"No
that is not Calvinistic.  To me, this is the opposite extreme--human
freedom."

Someone said, "How will those who need structure, the Type A
personalities
respond to this lack of structure and agendas?"

Someone else offered the alternative of having a speaker in to lead
them, as
they have always done in the past.

I was amazed to observe them, some fearful, others excited, but all
engaged.
  The energy surfaced and the pot was being stirred.  Finally, when the
hour
was up, which is the amount of time I committed to them, I said, "This
is
your choice.  I am not here to persuade you, only to offer you my
thoughts.
Whatever you choose, let me know."   As I was leaving, someone said,
"You
are doing to us what you said the process encourages, letting people
work
out their own issues."  I didn't comment, but simply smiled as I said
good-bye and walked out the door.

They called me later, and not only did they decide to go with Open
Space,
but they are planning on going further with it than I had first
suggested or
imagined.  Interesting response from them.   Originally they had thought
about putting together a schedule or agenda, placing a worship service
in
the beginning and end, and maybe during the day putting some down time.
When they called, they said that they are going to do the entire 3 days
as
Open Space-no schedule of worship, etc. . .  They said, let's explore
doing
a worship service as Open Space, but let's let it happen.  They are
going to
let it all be Open Space and what happens is the only thing that can
happen.
  Wow!  The is amazing because of the high level of structure and
bureaucracy that is built into this group.  Now, I have to begin working
on
being comfortable "knowing I don't know" and being okay with it.
Getting
ready for what ever needs to happen and getting out of the way so it
can.

Craig

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