Stories that moved you, stories that could change the world

[Glory Ressler]

Thanks Michael! Is there any way to hyperlink my email address in the same 
fashion as some of the others on the page?

Glory

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Michael Herman" <michael at michaelherman.com>
To: <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
Sent: Monday, January 16, 2006 4:46 PM
Subject: Re: Stories that moved you, stories that could change the world


> thanks for these mini-snippets, glory.  i've added them to the page we
> already had for such things:
> http://www.openspaceworld.org/cgi/wikiA.cgi?OpenSpaceExamples ...it's
> getting to be quite a collection.
>
> michael
>
>
>
> On 1/14/06, Glory Ressler <on.the.edge at sympatico.ca> wrote:
>> Hi Doug:
>> Sorry for the delay in response....
>>
>> Here's a few mini-snippets of stories:
>> 1) A team used OST in response to notification of funding decreases to 
>> their
>> program. The intent was to find ways to save $$$ in order to retain their
>> program/jobs...
>> One result was a decision to cease offering one type of service 
>> altogether
>> and the group made its own HR adjustments (job and time-sharing if I
>> recall). Both mgmt and the funder saw the logic and appreciated the 
>> work -
>> although they were shocked as heck!
>>
>> 2) A small town branch of a national org serving kids decided, after
>> experiencing OST, to pursue partnering with the other local city 
>> branches -
>> in order to improve effectiveness and efficiency. This was a major shift 
>> as
>> traditionally there had been much animosity/competitiveness between these
>> branches. This has now been completed and there is a regional body that
>> coordinates fundraising for all branches. This has resulted in a 
>> significant
>> increase in the number of children served across the region.
>>
>> 3) A staff person present at an OST meeting came to me mid-way and 
>> excitedly
>> said, 'I get it! All my life I have waited for someone else to fix 'it'. 
>> Now
>> I know that, if I care, I can do something!'.
>>
>> 4) Two branches of a national org serving individuals with mental health
>> challenges were forced to amalgamate by headquarters and decided to use 
>> OST
>> to figure out how...
>> During the meeting, the senior mgmt from both branches negotiated the new
>> leadership arrangement. One Executive Director chose to move on to a new
>> position. Other senior managers made equally astonishingly self-less
>> decisions and cooperative arrangements in service of the people they 
>> serve.
>> That amalgamated branch is now nationally recognized for its innovative
>> programs and services and excellent advocacy work vis a vis national 
>> policy
>> on mental health.
>>
>> 5) An OST meeting focusing on issues and opportunities for youth in a 
>> small,
>> historic town resulted in a group of the participating youth requesting 
>> that
>> the Town Council establish a Youth Advisory Committee (YAC), which they 
>> did.
>> Since then, that YAC has been the driving force behind some of the town's
>> decisions and developments, including building a skate park and limiting 
>> the
>> number of fast food chains allowed to set up shop within the city limits.
>>
>> That's all I have the time, energy and ability to type up for now... In
>> doing so I've realized that, in each case, it seems to involve a group
>> accepting that the world has/will change and then engaging consciously
>> (choosing) how they will interact with that change....
>>
>> Best wishes to all,
>> Glory
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Douglas D. Germann, Sr." <76066.515 at compuserve.com>
>> To: <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
>> Sent: Thursday, January 12, 2006 5:33 PM
>> Subject: Stories that moved you, stories that could change the world
>>
>>
>> > Glory--
>> >
>> > Thank you for your kind note.
>> >
>> > << the ideal story would include and transcend any existing
>> > << polarities - IMHO.
>> >
>> > << So my own question is seeking its answer in me... and I think the
>> > stories
>> > << that move me the most are ones where a whole group shifts in some 
>> > new,
>> > << interesting or surprising way....
>> >
>> > << It may be the entire org or a sub-group but it's this action of
>> > << exploring/deciding/acting, consciously and intelligently, together 
>> > that
>> > << really excites me. I also believe the mini-narratives within this 
>> > frame
>> > << (where people have ah ha moments or emotional breakthroughs) are 
>> > very
>> > << important to tell as well because they give hope and heart to 
>> > others.
>> >
>> > Teilhard is for me, too, one of my teachers--I always get my thinking
>> > exploded reading his work. So I enjoyed the Teilhard-Atlee poem a lot.
>> >
>> > So it is no surprise that these stories you mention are the ones I have 
>> > in
>> > mind (and heart) when I ask about stories.
>> >
>> > What are your favorite stories of this kind, Glory? I want to have some 
>> > of
>> > that hope raised in me that you talk about so well....
>> >
>> >                              :-Doug.
>> >                              What wants to happen in your communities?
>>

*
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