Something new?

[Harrison Owen]

Participant adaptability is always wonderful. And it is always good to keep
that that capacity for adaptation in mind when we (as facilitators) get
worried about doing things "perfectly." Perfect never seems to happen and it
(OS) always seems to work regardless - so long as the people really care.

 

My favorite example occurred when the hotel we were working in messed up and
had rented our large room to another group for the 2nd day. Not only did we
(about 250 of us) have to move, we had to carry all the issues signs with us
- and we did not have access to the new room until 10 minutes before the
starting time. No problem. Everybody gathered at the old room on the morning
of the second day, picked up everything we needed, and then set out on a
marvelous parade right through the middle of the lobby and on to our new
site. Definitely surprised the Management, as well as other guests, when 250
folks showed up in the lobby singing songs and accompanying themselves of
waste baskets (loudly) at 8 am! But space was opened. Worked just like
usual!!

 

Harrison

 

Harrison Owen

7808 River Falls Drive

Potomac, Maryland   20854

Phone 301-365-2093

Skype hhowen

Open Space Training  <http://www.openspaceworld.com/> www.openspaceworld.com


Open Space Institute  <http://www.openspaceworld.org/>
www.openspaceworld.org

Personal website  <http://www.ho-image.com/> www.ho-image.com 

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-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Ralph
Copleman
Sent: Saturday, January 06, 2007 10:04 PM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Something new?

 

Hi,

In the spirit of "Do one less thing", today I found myself in a mode of "Do
one different thing".

I opened space for a small group associated with an organization serving
autistic children and adults here in New Jersey, USA.  Passion abounds: 30
people generated 24 topics for a one-day meeting.  And I had set up for five
break-out spaces, but they made it into seven.

Here's the different thing.  I placed the community bulletin board in a
separate room, a spot you could not actually see from the main circle.  I
did this because the main circle was squeezed tightly into a space that did
not conveniently allow for chairs to be moved aside to approach any of the
walls.  I used a nice wall in a medium-sized coffee area where I knew people
would be congregating on and off all day.

I wondered whether people would have difficulty understanding my
instructions if the posting wall was not visible, but they did not.

Anyone out there ever have to do something like this?

Ralph Copleman 

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