SV: OSonOS 2006 Announcement

Wed Mar 22 00:54:53 PST 2006

Dear Raffi and your amazing team!
Thanks for providing such rich information, it sure looks like a wonderful
opportunity!
I will start planning for my trip, later this week.
So I will be back with my registration soon.
See U in Moscow!
Warmest regards
Thomas Herrmann, Sweden
  -----Ursprungligt meddelande-----
  Fran: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU]For Raffi Aftandelian
  Skickat: den 21 mars 2006 21:18
  Till: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
  Amne: OSonOS 2006 Announcement

  Dear colleagues,

  We are pleased to provide information below on the upcoming XIV
International Open Space on Open Space in Moscow, August 4-6!

  Below is both the announcement of the 14th International OSonOS and also
the practical information for those coming to Moscow.

  This information will also be put on the new online home of Open Space
Institute-Russia in the next two weeks at www.openspaceworld.ru

  A note on payment options, we are finalizing details on this account. A
second payment option will be by bank transfer.

  What would a conference announcement be without a banner or two?

  Bilingual banners at

  http://www.yans.ru/bansys/openspw2006_1.swf

  http://www.yans.ru/bansys/openspw2006.swf

  Looking forward to seeing you here and we are more than happy to answer
your questions!

  Raffi Aftandelian

  Galina Tsarkova

  Mikhail Pronin

  The OSonOS 2006 team

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--

  The National Guild of Professional Consultants,

  Intertraining, and Open Space Institute-Russia

  invite you to participate in

  the 14th Annual International Open Space on Open Space

  Moscow, Russia

  Join facilitators, organizational development consultants, human resources
managers, trainers, and leaders in business, government, and the community
August 4-6,2006 in Moscow, Russia for the ongoing global conversation on
Open Space Technology (OST) and its application in helping organizations
work with the rapid change characteristic of our times.

  As a large group facilitation tool, Open Space Technology is now over a
generation old with an impressive track record in helping communities,
business, and government make economical, fast, sustainable, and meaningful
change to meet the challenges of this century.

  This conference will bring together OST facilitators and admirers of OST
from Sweden, Canada, United States, Australia, Germany, Nepal, the
Transcaucasus, Central Asia, Ukraine and Russia and other countries for
three full days devoted to the ongoing exploration of this tool’s
application and the practice of Open Space in life.

  This conference is for you if you are passionate about:

  Bringing more joy, meaning, and productivity to the workplace

  Helping government, business, and community organizations together meet
the challenges of today

  Building a collaborative workplace

  Being easily inspired to achieve your best

  Revolutionizing how we learn at work, home, and in communities

  Note: learning is enhanced with prior experience of OST. If you are not
yet familiar with this method, we invite you to begin your learning here.

  - OST: What has it been? What is it now?

  - Where is it leading us next?

  - What have we learned? And what is now possible with OST?

  - How do (and can) organizations operate in conscious open space daily?

  These are just some of the questions that come to mind as we consider all
of the Issues and Opportunities for Opening Space in organizations and
communities. Please join us with your own specific questions, issues and
ideas – and benefit from the wisdom of all participants in the conference.

  Through involvement in this event participants will:

  Self-organize, using Open Space Technology (OST) for maximum learning and
creativity

  Recognize the inherent expertise and ability of the group to find the best
solutions without the need for ‘expert’ intervention

  Share our own expertise, discover new tools and techniques

  Explore sources of chaos, confusion and conflict and possibilities for
transcending these influences

  Open Space Technology (OST) is the name given to a meeting without a
predetermined agenda. Originated in the late eighties by Harrison Owen of
Maryland, U.S.A., this meeting method is now used around the world as a
highly effective process for facilitating change in both organizational and
community settings.  OST is a proven tool for facilitating highly
participatory meetings using a whole systems approach, catalysizing
breakthrough learning, and for community dialogue. OST creates the
conditions so that the maximum potential of the individual and the
organization can be realized.

  Conference location: The Moscow House for Community Organizations
(Moskovskii Dom Obshchestvennyx Organizatsii), 40 Mosfilmovskaya St., Moscow

  Conference schedule

  August 3rd – Informal gathering

  August 4th – 10:00 to 6pm (registration opens at 9:00)

  August 5th – 10:00 to 6pm,

  August 6th – 10:00 to 6pm closing

  Investment:  $300 US or 240 euros.

  Registration includes conference participation, coffee breaks and lunch,
and the Book of Proceedings on a CD.  Accommodation information provided
upon request – participants responsible for their own transportation and
accommodation.

  Working languages of this conference are English and Russian. Translation
will be provided.

  Contact:        Raffi Aftandelian

  Email: raffi at bk.ru,

  Phone: +7 926 377 7915

  Fax:  +7 (495) 964-3850

        Name:

        Title  Dept:

        Company/Organization:

        Street / P.O. Box:

        City:

       Province/State:

        Country:

       Postal Code/Zip:

        Phone:

       Fax:

        Email address:

        Special needs (food, etc.):

        May we include your contact information for distribution for in the
conference proceedings for participants?  ____yes   ____no

  While we cannot guarantee that we cannot meet special requests regarding
meals, every possible effort will be made to assist.

  The following resources are available to plan your visit to bustling
Moscow!

  Travel Information can be provided upon request.

  Conference registration payment

  By bank transfer to National Guild of Professional Consultants (more
information forthcoming)

  or by Moneygram

  Uralsib Bank. Sokolniki Branch. Rusakovskaya ulitsa 28, str. 1B. Moscow
107014

  Payable to Raffi Aftandelian

  In the event of cancellation, full refund prior to June 30, 2006.  As of
July 1, 2006, a $50 US cancellation fee will be deducted from the refund to
cover costs of processing.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--

  Information

  Congratulations – we are delighted in your interest in attending OSonOS
XIV in Moscow, Russia!

  In order to facilitate your travel planning we are providing the
information below:

  Getting here

  Moscow is served by three main international airports, Sheremetevo-2,
Domodedovo, and Vnukovo.

  Flights from many Western European destinations take 3-4 hours. A flight
from New York takes about 10 hours. Flights from the US’s west coast take
about 12 hours. Flights from the Far East take about 9-10 hours. Flights
from Australia may require 24 or more hours of travel as there are no direct
flights.

  While all airports are served by public transit, taxis are the simplest
option for reaching the center of Moscow and cost $35-40.

  On average it takes about one hour-one hour and a half from the airport to
the center of Moscow.

  Moscow has rail links with Europe and Asia. She has nine train stations,
all with metro stations right by.

  Public transit to the city center

  From Sheremetevo-2 airport- take a shuttle bus (marshrutka) to Rechnoi
Vokzal metro station (green line) or Planernaya metro station (purple line).
These shuttle buses (white GAZel vans) run on average about every 15
minutes. The ride takes about 25 minutes. The ride costs about $2 US
(approx. 1.5 euros). Luggage fee of 10 rubles (30 cents).

  From Vnukovo Airport- take a white shuttle van to Yugo-zapadnaya metro
station (red line). The ride costs about $2 US (approx. 1.5 euros). Luggage
fee of 10 rubles (30 cents).

  From  Domodedovo Airport- take the commuter train that runs once an hour
($4) to Paveletskaya metro (green line). Trip time: 40 minutes.

  Single rides on the metro, often described as underground palaces, cost
around 0.50 US. You can also purchase cards for multiple rides in the metro.

  Accommodation

  Moscow is not yet a destination known for affordable accommodation that is
easily available. A limited number of free or low cost ($20/night) homestays
offered by local OST facilitators and friends and admirers of Open Space
shall be available. Should you need such accommodation, do let us know! That
said, below is a list of hotels and other housing options. It is best in the
summertime, of course, to book well in advance.

  Many of these hotels can be books through an online hotel booking service.
Links for such services are below.

  Close (up to 15 minutes by car to OSonOS site)

  Radisson SAS Slavyanskaya- near Kievskaya metro. This four star hotel is
the closest to the OSonOS site. phone: +7 (495) 941-8020, fax: +7 (495)
941-8000.

  Belgrade Hotel- singles from $120/night. near Smolenskaya metro. Tel.:+7
495 248-1643, 248-1676. Fax: 248-2814.

  25-30 minutes by car

  Metropol Hotel- singles from $260/night. Five star hotel. Teatralny
proezd, #1/4. Tel.: +7 (495) 927-6000, fax: +7 (495) 927-6010. email:
moscow at interconti.com

  Marriott Grand Hotel- singles from $416/night. Less if one has a corporate
account. Tverskaya, #26. Tel.: +7 (495) 937-0000, fax: +7 (495) 937-0001.
Near Tverskaya metro.

  East-West Hotel- singles $150/night. Tverskoy Boulevard, 14, bld 4. Tel.:
(+7 495 290-0404, 232-2857.

  Ukraina Hotel- $105/night. Kutuzovski prospekt, #2/1.Tel.: +7 (495)
933-5656, 243-3030/3246/2596. fax: +7 (495) 933-6978, 243-3092. email:
reserv at ukraina-hotel.ru

  Minsk Hotel- $30/night. Good location but very basic conditions.

  Godzilla’s Hostel - $25/night in dormitory room, Moscow center.

  Sweet Moscow Hostel- $25/night. Dormitory accommodation. Centrally located
at Mayakovskaya metro.

  40 minutes by car

  Hotel Zarya- $50/night.   Gostinichnaya St. 4/9. +7 495 788-7277

  Izmailovo Hotel- singles $65/night. A reliable Soviet-era hotel. Close to
Izamailovo Park.

  Cosmos Hotel- singles from $100/night. Prospect Mira, 150 (metro VDNKh -
orange line, north). Tel: +7 495 234 10 00 Fax: 215 88 80.

  Vostok Hotel- singles $60/night. Building 3, 9a Gostinichnaya street

  Salyut Hotel- $54/night. : 158 Leninskiy Prospekt. Tel: +7 495 234-9372
  Fax: +7 495 234-9363

  Altay Hotel- singles $30/night. Botanicheskaya Ulitsa, #41
  Phone: +7 (495) 482-2797 (reservations); +7 (495) 482-5703 (information).

  Irbis Hotel- singles $60/night. Gostinichnaya St. 1/12, Email:
rent at maximahotels.ru

  Hotel Sherstone- 8 Gostinichnyi Proezd. $25/night. Hostel-type
accommodations.

  J.K. Guest House- hostel near VDNKh metro station. Borisa Galushkina St.
9/2, 2nd floor, +7 (495) 286-2111.

  50 minutes by car

  G&R Asia Hostel- $30/night. Very basic accommodations.

  Travellers Guest House –$36/night for single. $18/night in dormitory room.
Bolshaya Pereyaslavskaya 50 (10th Floor), Moscow. Near Prospekt Mira metro
station.  Tel: +7 (495)631-4059. Basic accommodations.

  Pallada Hotel- $60/night. Ostrovityanova St. , #14. Tel: +7 (495) 336-0545
/ fax +7 (495) 336-9602 / e-mail pallada at cityline.ru

  Online hotel and apartment booking services

  Way to Russia- includes very frank and informative reviews of many hotels.

  Moscow Hotels

  All hotels of Russia
  All Russia Hotels

  AccomLine

  Getting around town

  Lonely Planet’s Russia guide once wrote that if the rest of the Soviet
Union operated as efficiently as the Moscow metro, communism would
economical means of getting have defeated capitalism. Indeed, the Moscow
metro is very fast, reliable, about, if not always comfortable during rush
hour. You can familiarize yourself with the map of the Moscow metro here.

  Moscow is served by an extensive bus, tram, and trolleybus system. Rides
cost 15 rubles (50 cents).

  Alternatively, you can always order a taxi. Trips within the city center
(the Garden Ring) should not typically cost more than $10 US (8 euros).

  Taxi

  You can order a taxi for airport pick-up at approximately $35-40 US (28-32
euros) through an English-speaking taxi service at:

  Alex Transfers

  Hotel Mos.RU

  Way to Russia

  Taxi Blues

  Taxi 232

  Getting to Open Space on Open Space Conference Site

  The 14th Annual International Open Space on Open Space will take place at
the Moscow House of Community Organizations (Moskovskii Dom Obshchestvennyx
Organizatsii). Located in the heart of Moscow’s Embassy Row, this is a
municipal organization whose mission is to strengthen government-NGO links.

  The OSonOS site is located approximately 10 minutes by car from the
western edge of downtown, Kievskaya metro station.

  You can reach the conference location by public transit.

  From Kievskaya metro station (exit to Bolshaya Dorogomilovskaya St.) take
the trolleybus #17 or 34 to the 13 Mosfilmovskaya 13 stop. Then walk along
Mosfilmovskaya St. until number 40. The flags of Russia and Moscow. The ride
by bus from the metro station will take 20 minutes.

  It is 10 minutes by car from Kievskaya metro station.

  From most centrally-located hotels, it will take approximately 30-40
minutes by car and about hour by public transit to get to the Moscow House
of Community Organizations.

  Taxis from within the center to the OSonOS will cost approximately $15-20
US (12 to 16 euros)

  Visas

  Most international participants need a Russian tourist visa to come to
Russia.

  Note: Please budget a month to get your visa. It is best not to leave this
to the last minute

  .

  How do you get a tourist visa?

  Note: A visa support service can help you save time in completing a
process that for first-time applicants may seem a little cumbersome.

  First, you need an invitation to apply for a Russian tourist visa. Below
are a list of online travel/visa support agencies where one can apply for an
invitation.

  Second, once you have your invitation (Russian visa support), you need to
prepare the following documents to apply for your Russian visa

  • Your Passport
  (Should be valid at least 3 months after your Russian visa will expire and
contain at least one clear page - for the visa)

  • Passport-size Photograph
  (Should be recent and good quality)

  • Consulate Application Form
  (Available either at the Russian consulate where you will apply or through
a travel agency if you choose full visa processing services)
  US citizens applying for visas complete a different form.

  Third, you will have to submit all your documents, including your
invitation, to the Russian consulate. You can either do it by yourself, or
through a local travel agency.

  Fourth, during your flight you will be given a migration card to complete.

  And finally (hurrah!), once in Russia, register your visa (within 72
hours). If you are staying in a hotel, the hotel will usuallly register your
visa. You will leave your passport and migration card at the desk for
registration. Sometimes there is a charge of $15-20 for this service.

  If you will not be staying in a hotel and should not know where to
register your visa, the OSonOS organizers will provide you information so
that you can register your visa in a timely manner. This will cost $30-50.

  Russian law requires all foreigners to register with the authorities
within 72 hours of arrival (holidays excluded).

  This full service visa support usually costs $150-$200. This includes the
cost of the invitation, consular fees, delivery, and the fee of the agency.

  Visa links

  Find the Russian consulate in your country

  Go to Russia- full visa support

  Visa House – full visa support

  Way to Russia - full visa support for UK citizens only

  Direct Visa - full visa support for UK citizens only

  City Realty Russia – full visa support for US citizens

  Note: We are including these links just for your information. Inclusion of
links to services does not mean that we can recommend them.

  Connectivity

  Most of Moscow operates on the GSM mobile phone standard. Main operators
are MTS, Beeline, Megafon. You can buy a cell number for the duration of
your stay here at one of the many mobile phone vendors and at other
locations in the city. Local calls cost on average 0.15 cents/minute.

  International calling cards are available at kiosks throughout the city.
SOne can make calls throughout the world at very low rates (as low as 2
cents/minute to Europe and North America).

  Moscow is served by many Internet cafes and more and more restaurants and
cafes are offering wifi. This resource lists but a few locations.

  Additional information

  Expat.ru forum – You can find answers to many specific questions here if
you cannot find them elsewhere. Posting requires registration.

  Uncle Pasha- an informative, if opinionated resource, for economical
travel in Moscow and Russia.

  Access Queen

  If you are in a position to assist others financially or otherwise to
participate in this conference in we can suggest:

  Booking extra hotel space and offering a bed to another.

  Donate to the Access Queen Fund to sponsor attendance for those currently
without the means to attend – Lisa Heft [lisaheft at openingspace.net]

  Should you find yourself in the delightful position of having extra funds
to donate to a scholarship, the Access Queen (Lisa Heft) would be delighted
to hear from you!  Lisa Heft [lisaheft at openingspace.net] or
info at openspaceworld.ru

  If you are in a position to look for assistance we can suggest:

  Contact Lisa Heft (Access Queen) for ideas on assistance to travel to
OSonOS 14.  Lisa Heft [lisaheft at openingspace.net] or info at openspaceworld.ru

  Money

  Russia’s currency is the Russian Ruble. The 33 rubles buy one euro; and
currently about 27 rubles to a dollar.

  Budget $30-50/day for incidentals if you do not intend to make major
purchases.

  Even though prices are informally often quoted in dollars or euros, in
almost all places you will be expected to pay in rubles.

  There are currency exchange places throughout the city. You change some
money upon arrival at the airport (typically not the best rate if offered
there).

  While there are ATM’s throughout the city, you would be best advised to
bring your cash with you. Sometimes foreign ATM cards do not work here.
Travellers cheques are not easily honored in stores.

  Language

  Your participation in the OSonOS and stay in Russia will be even more
rewarding if you can take the time to learn a few simple Russian words and
to read the Cyrillic alphabet. One can learn the alphabet within 3 hours!
There are many online resources to facilitate your learning of basic Russian
in time for the OSonOS!

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