Advanced Butterfly Behavior/ collective butterfly and invitation

Harrison Owen hhowen at adelphia.net
Wed Aug 16 13:51:22 PDT 2006


To me the business of private sessions and/or restricted attendance (purple people only) is not about morals, ethics or even orthodox OS (whatever that might be). The central issue for me is diversity. And a central principle (experience) for me is that the higher the level of diversity (by whatever measure) the greater the possibility of innovative outcomes. I can certainly imagine a Black organization doing an OS on their organizational function and mission, and many have done so. But if the issue were Eliminating Institutional Racism, an all Black clientel would constitute only a fraction of the system and the essential diversity would be meager. I have found the same sort of situation in businesses when folks wanted to do an OS on the future of the company and sought to limit participation to the senior folks. I understand that the conventional wisdom thinks that these folks are in charge and will determine the future. But I think that is a pretty myopic understanding of the situation. the senior folk can say and think anything they want to, but until they have the active participation and support of everybody else, their best laid plans are dead in the water. Well you know the story. So the key for me is DIVERSITY, and the more the better. And any limitation comes with a price. Perhaps that price must be paid, but there is a price.

Harrison

Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Dr.
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USA
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207-763-3261 (summer)
website www.openspaceworld.com
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  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Michael Herman 
  To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU 
  Sent: Wednesday, August 16, 2006 2:15 PM
  Subject: Re: Advanced Butterfly Behavior/ collective butterfly and invitation


  i had some of these same thoughts, diane.  reminded me that every
  invitation has a boundary or edge.  some fuzzy and some firm.  this
  group, this company, this color, whatever... and most importantly,
  however... this *purpose*.

  springing from your example, i'd say if the purpose is to explore what
  it means to be african-american, then many other ethnic groups might
  properly be excluded.  if the purpose is the advancement of a-a folks,
  then others with passion for that might well be included.

  we could say the same about developing a product in a company.  if
  it's about production, it might be insiders only, or might include
  vendors too.  if it's about use of the product, or design, it might
  include customers.

  in all cases, i think *responsibility* makes the difference.  who's in
  a position to take it, not just care, but do something about their
  interest.  the more specific the work, then the more specific the
  invitation.

  in the cases peggy raises, if the *purpose* is for one person to try
  someting out, or have something dealt with in themselves, it might
  very well be that they need a certain group of people, who meet that
  person's trust, or other criteria.

  i think the discomfort might arise from an invitation that doesn't
  make clear its true (even if very specific purpose) or when a when a
  someone with a clear, specific purpose doesn't realize how many others
  might be share the same issue, need, purpose.

  articulating purpose and supporting communion must be two of OS most
  important opportunities, challenges, and practices, i think.

  michael


  On 8/16/06, Diane Brandon <diane at keysregion.org> wrote:
  >
  > I find this thread interesting, and want to add a few more questions.
  >
  > If a conference on African-American experience is held in OS, can it be
  > limited to African-Americans? Same with a women's gathering or men's
  > gathering? Or would it not be OS if the invitation is limited to one race or
  > gender? I suppose the question would be the same for those belonging to one
  > profession -- cooks or physicians or whatever -- or one "business" -- Ford
  > Motor Company, for example.
  >
  > If there is an OS for African-Americans only, can there be a breakout
  > session posted that says "for women only" or "for men only" or "for those
  > under 20 yrs old only"? (All just examples.) This may be covered in one of
  > Harrison's books, but I only have the "user's guide," and I didn't find it
  > there when I just looked. (It talks about inviting "those who care" -- but
  > not about other limits, that I can find.)
  >
  > Diane
  >
  >
  >
  > Diane Brandon, M.Ed., Coordinator
  > KEYS Coalition (CWC)
  > Landmark Hill Community Resource Center
  > 518 Rte One, Box 4, Kittery, ME 03904
  > 207-438-9100
  > Fax: 207-439-8764
  > diane at keysregion.org
  > www.keysregion.org
  >
  >
  >
  >
  >
  >
  > On Aug 16, 2006, at 12:30 PM, ashley cooper wrote:
  > Thank you all for this conversation.
  >
  >  Two lines of thought are present with me, I'll try and give them words.
  >
  >  A meta note: I recognize that many individuals are deepening their
  > capacities for intimate interpersonal relationships where a collective is
  > actively engaging the wisdom that is present, becoming a collective
  > consciously flowing as a unified whole. This is different from conscious
  > people coming together as powerful individuals who are piecing together the
  > parts of their offerings into a collaborative offering. Both are extremely
  > important and useful in the world and I also see them as different forces.
  >
  >  As I read this butterfly thread, I see in my mind's eye the image of a
  > butterfly. However this butterfly is not a single person, it is a single
  > whole that is made up of many people. This whole exists but does not yet
  > know itself (is not self aware). Some-one in the whole recognizes it is a
  > whole and calls attention to itself. I see the private sessions as being
  > very similar to Chris' solitary moments in the bushes. It is a time-space
  > experience of breathing as oneself, of honoring a flow or current that is
  > vibrant and present internally but a little less so in the openness of all
  > that are present at the event. In order to honor and engage the essence of
  > this flow, the small, resonant collective must experience itself together
  > and thus a private session emerges. If the intention to hold a certain
  > resonance together is made clear, then whoever comes are the right people...
  >
  >  The other notion that comes to me is the role of invitation. I was also at
  > both events that Peggy mentioned. At both the invitation was extended to a
  > wide array of individuals, many people present. The diversity made the
  > events; the complexity of people and relationships was essential in the
  > essence and life that emerged. What do you do when there is more potential
  > and intention present in a gathering then the widespread call that is made?
  > It seems to me like a smaller space opened within a larger OS and a separate
  > invitation was sent out while the event was going on. If the same group had
  > left the original OS event, moved next store to the next beautiful island
  > retreat center and held a 4 hour open space and then returned to the
  > original OS, sharing that which unfolded, would that have been more
  > appropriate?
  >
  >  One other little piece of information is that I know at the May
  > Evolutionary Salon there was at least one other private invitational session
  > that happened during the final next-step action-planning breakout sessions.
  > I wonder if this is a pattern beginning to emerge... a need for invitational
  > breakout sessions within certain larger Open Spaces. I wonder how
  > developmental stages of individuals and collectives fits into this equation.
  > I also see the challenges that arise with these wonderings! I'll stop here!
  >
  >  Curious,
  >  Ashley
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  -- 

  Michael Herman
  Michael Herman Associates
  300 West North Ave #1105
  Chicago IL 60610 USA
  Phone: 312-280-7838
  michael at michaelherman.com

  skype: globalchicago

  http://www.michaelherman.com
  http://www.openspaceworld.org

  Inviting Leadership ...getting
  the most important things done in
  the easiest possible ways.

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