Fear of abuse of the space

[Joanna Fletcher]

Hi Catherine,

 

I offer this with respect and hope that it will serve you and your
community. Take what you like and leave the rest.

 

What I'm hearing in your post is your deep caring for this community and a
desire to preserve it as it has been in the past. To me, a community is a
living organism that needs to grow and change in order to stay vital and
alive. Even though you are feeling a deep division with some members of your
group, something about this community attracted them - perhaps sex and
greed, perhaps an impulse to personal growth, perhaps something else. This
seems like a great opportunity.

 

In this proposed OS, I suggest staying curious about why they came and what
their contribution could be. When I am feeling hurt or threatened, it is
incredibly difficult to shift my perspective and to stay close to my stake
of growth for the whole community - yet it is the only way forward. All
people involved have a piece of the truth and can contribute to a vibrant
future for the community. My goal is to stay open long enough to find that
future so everyone can get excited about it. It seems to me that is what OS
is for, in the first place.

 

With best wishes,

 

Joanna Fletcher

 

  _____  

From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Catherine
Pfaehler
Sent: March 17, 2007 6:40 PM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Fear of abuse of the space

 

Dear Listers

 

As I am planning our 3rd OS in Thielle (a naturist's paradise in
Switzerland, which is in its 70th year now), the conflict is still going on.
Mistrust is still strong on both sides. I offer this OS being a member of
the Network Renaissance Thielle, which is working to save the original
idealistic intents of this wonderful community and to strengthen the
community of naturists in this difficult time full of stress. The other side
are a few people who have seized power and are doing everything to make the
idealists leave. Their intentions to change the focus of the place into a
normal camp ground for nudists (and probably also for sex tourists) were
only realized when it was almost too late - they have already taken control
of the board of the foundation in a very concealed way and have employed a
manager for the camp who has no understanding whatsoever of naturism, a
hunter. (Naturists are naked, like nudists, but their focus lies on
spiritual and consciousness development. They don't eat meat - that's why
choosing a hunter as a manager shows a lot about the current president's
values -, don't use drugs or alcohol, don't smoke - if not 100 % in everyday
life, then certainly on the camp site. Many families are in Thielle in their
3rd and 4th generation, every summer.)

 

My question to you is: How can I hold space in this conflict in a way which
prevents abuse? What do I say in the givens in regards to this? What does
the one board member on our side say in his welcome speech?

 

We have experienced time after time that our good intentions were turned
around and made into something which was then presented publicly as
horrible. Somebody from the other side last year even came into the plenary
to have a look and then called us a sect. This is how the current president
of the board works to eliminate those who do not support his actions. He
spreads some lies about us and then continuously uses people who mean well
for his bad intentions. In paradise, one doesn't think this way, and
therefore only realizes this when it's too late. So this fear of abuse of
the space is more than realistic.

 

Grateful for your ideas and experiences - Catherine

 

Catherine Pfaehler Senn

Open Space Begleitung & Coaching

Kellersriedweg 8

CH - 2503 Biel

+41-(0)32 - 365 68 41

c.pfaehler at bluewin.ch

 

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