Stories that moved you, stories that could change the world

Mon Jan 16 19:19:23 PST 2006

sure.  i just didn't want to do that without your permission.  will
take care of that now.  thanks.  m

On 1/16/06, Glory Ressler <on.the.edge at sympatico.ca> wrote:
> 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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--

Michael Herman
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