doing self-organization
Pat Black
patoitextiles at gmail.com
Thu May 24 06:09:11 PDT 2007
Hello Michael
I think you might find Huberto Maturana interesting to read. He is a
biologist and his work looks at these 2 states of reality from a
biological viewpoint. His theories also include description of self
organization in how it relates to these 2 states of being. Tree of
knowledge is one of his books and I think the most accessible but he
has others Autopoiesis being his corner stone. He also has a web
site. Francisco Varela, Maturana's early research partner, has looked
at cognition through this lens as well. He has one book that looks at
the biology of cognition through a Buddhist mindfulness understanding.
It is rare perhaps unheard of to have western style scientists talk
about love as a manifestation of self organization and ability to have
awareness of 2 states of reality.
Pat Black
> what matters in open space, i think, is that we invite and practice
> two things at once. i'm told that, as of some years ago, only
> something like 16% of the population (of somewhere, america, world, i
> dunno) could maintain awareness of at least two states of reality
> simultaneously. parent/child, learning/contributing,
> passion/responsibility, giving/receiving, 4 principles/one law,
> control/self-org, order/chaos, me/you. for me, Space really opens
> when I let the two sides of one of these pairs be both true and both
> still distinct. when i let even just one other being be as real to me
> as i am to myself.
>
> so no opposition and more to the story than self-organization. every
> invitation at once a solid piece of practical, even orderly, work and
> also a simple call/prayer to the god(s) of self-organization,
> simultaneous and still distinct.
>
> m
>
>
>
*
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>From Thu May 24 10:01:47 2007
Message-Id: <THU.24.MAY.2007.100147.0400.>
Date: Thu, 24 May 2007 10:01:47 -0400
Reply-To: deborah at hartmann.net
To: OSLIST <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
From: Deborah Hartmann <deborah at hartmann.net>
Subject: Re: Question - bilingual opening
In-Reply-To: <0JIJ00HK6PCCKKA0 at VL-MH-MR002.ip.videotron.ca>
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Hi Esther. Thanks for writing about this. What a great experience!
Did you note that the journalist (from Montreal's largest daily) who
wrote up the event, mentioned that the opening was in both official
languages? As an anglophone from Quebec, I'm sensitive to this issue -
it's political, and could have become a distraction, had I switched to
English only. Also, when that suggestion was made, I happened to be
facing one of the our visitors (not an organizer) and her face said it
all... I'm not sure she realised, but it looked like she'd bitten into a
lemon :-) Bilingualism isn't a big issue for some Montrealers, but it is
for others, perhaps particularly in academia.
So, we continued with the paragraph by paragraph translation. And it
dragged. Everyone felt it, myself included. Yes, I too want to pull yet
more out of that bilingual opening, get it to its essence. I believe it
took a half hour this time, as opposed to 40 minutes last time.
But is there another way? I'm visualizing Esther's suggestion of having
two circles, then joining them into one. It would have to be: inviting
the less language-sensitive group into the more language-sensitive
group, I think that would be most comfortable. Perhaps it could work,
with two facilitators, as we had. I guess it would need two spaces, too
(which we did have). I like the idea of then inviting the 2nd language
into a single circle. It's like a physical manifestation of the
linguistic reality in Montreal... it is both a French-speaking city and
an International city. This adds a step of explicit welcome, a signal
that now we are sharing the space in two languages. I'm still not sure
about two circles, but I think it's a good thing to think about...
perhaps it will spark another new idea, even.
I also think it could have helped to put some indication of language on
our name tags. Different coloured dots for unilingual English or French
participants would have allowed us to be more gracious, without their
constantly having to ask for help. Many times I launched into an
informal discussion in English, then had to ask: should I switch? Since
I'm able, I could have started in French or translated as I went, if I'd
known. People can be shy to interrupt and ask for translation,
especially when it happens over and over again in the course of 3 days.
Of course, using the stickers needs to be voluntary too.
I'm looking forward to input from others on this.
deb
Communications Esther Matte wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> Yes, it was a great conference with Deb at Rococo. People there were
> really impressed with OS. Hopefully, we'll gather a few people for our
> FoFo in Val David this fall :-)
>
> Deb and I learned a lot, of course, as we do every time we facilitate
> OS. One of the questions we played with was the bilingual opening. We
> briefly considered doing the opening together, each in one language,
> but quickly realized we couldn't walk the circle together. So we cut
> down on the opening text so that Deb could do it systematically in
> both languages (French and English). And she did a great job! However,
> it was still too long. Later in the event, people started to ask that
> we do just English since everyone there understood. But we were in
> Montreal after all, so Deb maintained the French, and the organizers
> were happy about that. They wanted to hold a bilingual event and they
> wanted the French to be present.
>
> Now that I think about it, I'm wondering if we could have done two
> circles just for the opening. To put people in the OS frame of mind
> and spirit in their own language. Then, merge the 2 in 1 circle, have
> them look around it, feel the energy and richness of knowledge,
> experience, etc. and then start the agenda. For the other circles,
> keep the bilingual format, but with bits of French here and there
> instead of systematic translation.
>
> What do you think?
>
> Looking forward to reading your thoughts :-))
>
> Esther
>
> *
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>
--
Deborah Hartmann
Agile Process Coach
deborah AT hartmann DOT net
mobile: fouronesix 996 4337
"Learn the principle,
abide by the principle, and
dissolve the principle."
-- Bruce Lee
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>From Thu May 24 10:19:17 2007
Message-Id: <THU.24.MAY.2007.101917.0400.>
Date: Thu, 24 May 2007 10:19:17 -0400
Reply-To: hhowen at verizon.net
To: OSLIST <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
From: Harrison Owen <hhowen at verizon.net>
Organization: HH Owen and Co.
Subject: Re: doing self-organization
In-Reply-To: <ef9ef5730705231650k501625c7yeeb9c79adfe9237 at mail.gmail.com>
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Michael wrote: "so self-organization is halfway for me because it *un-do-es*
habitual control-based view. but then what? powerless? adrift?
unsupported? i think not."
Ah Michael -- seems you have an ally who wrote: "Are we then simply sit on
our hands, throw our fate to the winds, and allow the great ocean of
self-organization to roll on by? That is certainly one option, but it is not
the only option – nor is it an option I find particularly attractive. I
believe that there is an infinitely better possibility through which we may
discover deep ways to realize our full potential as human beings, as well as
doing something very useful and good in the world, such as enabling our
organizations to pursue High Performance, and realize it, day in and day
out. To give that possibility a name – I call it leveraging the power of
self-organization. Or in more colloquial terms: Riding the Sweet Spot of the
Wave."
This same writer continues: "Taking our lead from the ongoing experience
with Open Space Technology it appears that the process of self organization
can be enabled and sustained by paying careful attention to eight critical
steps. Perhaps there are more steps or fewer, depending on how one counts,
but for 20 years these eight essentials have proved their worth. The Eight
Essentials are: 1) Do your Home work, 2) Issue an Invitation, 3) Come to the
Circle, 4) Welcome Passion and Responsibility, 5) Remember the Four
Principles, 6) Observe The Law, 7) Keep Grief Working, and 8) Formalize the
System."
As you will have guessed, the writer in question is none other than yours
truly, and all of that verbiage comes from my new book, still in progress.
Hopefully that progress will turn to print providing that the great gods of
B-K (Berrett-Koehler) smile. I feel somewhat badly in not making the full
text available, but it is still churning, so I guess I have to wait. But I
don't feel all that badly because I strongly suspect that you could have
written the same thing, and will easily figure out where I am going.
As you will notice, Invitation heads the list (except for "doing your
homework" which is really about getting ready). What follows should be very
familiar :-) -- and it all comes from our collective experience with Open
Space. So there is a lot to be "done" and none of it involves the imposition
of external, arbitrary control.
I may be missing a point here, but it seems to me that part of the issue
lies in an understanding of "control." I have no problem with control(s)
indeed all self-organizing systems are laced with controls and structures of
all sorts. In fact compared to the fancy systems (structures and controls)
we design, any self respecting self organizing system puts us to shame. We
are mere pikers in the controls department! So the problem is not control
per se, but rather our effort and need to impose OUR version. The truth of
the matter is that we are not smart enough to fully understand the complex
interaction of all the bits and pieces of even a very small self-organizing
system. And when we make the attempt it usually has little to no effect,
thus wasting our effort. Or in the worse case scenario we effectively throw
a spanner in the works with our heavy handedness -- just gums things up.
It seems that we keep sending a boy/girl to do a man's/woman's work. In fact
we don't need to "send" anybody at all. The systems can handle this control
business all by themselves. However, I think we may (must?) find ways to
enable self-organizing systems to do what they can do most effectively. I
believe that is what we have been learning in The Open Space Experiment, and
now is the time to seek broader application. At least that is what I am
proposing in the new book.
Harrison
Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Drive
Potomac, Maryland 20854
Phone 301-365-2093
Skype hhowen
Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com
Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org
Personal website www.ho-image.com
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-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Michael
Herman
Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2007 7:51 PM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Re: doing self-organization
thanks, harrison. this helps put some things in context for me.
never thought or meant to say Invitation and Self-Organization in
opposition. just that self-org was also a 'halfway' story for me.
necessary but not sufficient, if you will. because it's not really a
half-way story, but an all-the-way-in-the-other-direction story.
control on the one hand and self-organization on the other.
control is, as you say, illusion/delusion. maintained to a point, but
essential not true. self-organization, on the other hand is
absolutely true. and yet, i've never been able to be clear about what
to *do* about, or coach other would-be leaders or helpers to do about,
the truth that self-organization is everywhere already at work.
so self-organization is halfway for me because it *un-do-es* habitual
control-based view. but then what? powerless? adrift? unsupported?
i think not. Invitation is the thing i can still *do* with passion,
power, full energy... without running afoul of the truth of
non-control. i can *do* invitation, and be full and inviting, without
in any way imposing control on anyone else. in open space, we invite
leaders to invite others to invite others. nobody in control of
anybody else and everyone in control of their own invitations and
responses to invitations.
so for me, open space and invitation work not because
self-organization is true, but because we live in between some sense
of control and some reality of being swept along in a self-organizing
world (and even more disturbing, a largely self-organizing body, as
well). the active, conscious practice of Inviting is the only way
i've been able to explain how open space works, surfing the edge
between elusive/eroding control and self-organizing chaos.
what matters in open space, i think, is that we invite and practice
two things at once. i'm told that, as of some years ago, only
something like 16% of the population (of somewhere, america, world, i
dunno) could maintain awareness of at least two states of reality
simultaneously. parent/child, learning/contributing,
passion/responsibility, giving/receiving, 4 principles/one law,
control/self-org, order/chaos, me/you. for me, Space really opens
when I let the two sides of one of these pairs be both true and both
still distinct. when i let even just one other being be as real to me
as i am to myself.
so no opposition and more to the story than self-organization. every
invitation at once a solid piece of practical, even orderly, work and
also a simple call/prayer to the god(s) of self-organization,
simultaneous and still distinct.
m
On 5/23/07, Harrison Owen <hhowen at verizon.net> wrote:
> Michael -- Not a doubt about it. Invitation is critical. From the first
> moment I ever saw and/or thought about OST a key for me was what I called
> Voluntary Self-Selection. In a word, people are present because they care
to
> be present -- and to insure that essential condition, Invitation is the
only
> way. Command and control doesn't do it. Assignment won't make it. Only
when
> people are there of their own free will do useful things happen. So I
> totally agree. Invitation is the critical first step towards real open
> space.
>
> But I must confess that I am having a little difficulty in seeing
Invitation
> and Self-organization as being in opposition, as some sort of either/or.
In
> my experience, truly effective self-organization at the level of human
> systems always begins with invitation.
>
> Now it is quite true that self-organization, (I believe) is a fundamental
> force in the cosmos, not unlike gravity -- and the last time I checked,
all
> human beings were part of the cosmos. So in this sense, you are right, we
> don't have any choice about self-organization or not-self-organization,
for
> exactly the same reason we have no choice about gravity. It simply comes
> with the territory. We do have, however, and enormous range of choices
when
> it comes to how we appreciate self-organization, align ourselves with it,
> and perhaps even learn to use it to our advantage.
>
> It seems that a large number of people choose to ignore it completely, or
> (what amounts to the same thing) presume that they are in control. I
suppose
> this works up to a point (the illusion/delusion can be maintained) but at
> the end of the day such a choice is self defeating and at the very least
it
> leads to very ineffective and possibly destructive behavior. (See George
> Bush et al)
>
> The connection between OST and self-organization originally occurred for
me
> for admittedly academic reasons. The fact that Open Space works as it does
> was frankly inexplicable from any other theoretical base. According to
> tradition organizational theory, OS simply cannot work! But it does. And
my
> curiosity bump got the better of me -- so I guess that makes it academic
:-)
>
>
> Can I prove the connection? No, but if the connection is not present I
then
> need to find some alternative explanation -- and so far I haven't come up
> with one. Maybe somebody else will??
>
> But I guess the real question is -- does the connection between OST and
> Self-Organization make any real difference other than assuaging my
academic
> interests? For me the answer is a resounding, yes. And it has everything
to
> do with the personal, the subjective, what has heart and meaning for each
> one of us.
>
> It occurs to me that much of the pain and anxiety present in our selves
and
> our world comes from a deep estrangement from our true selves and also
from
> the fundamental flow of the natural world. There are many ways to talk
about
> this, but a most powerful one, in my view, is to see the point of
> estrangement occurring when, as, or if, we think we are in charge of
things.
> In control! Why we do this is interesting. Perhaps we do this simply
because
> we think we can. And lot of times, I think we do it because we don't see
any
> alternatives. Somebody must be in charge, and it might as well be us. And
if
> nobody is in charge thing would definitely get out of control. Very Bad!
>
> In Open Space, we experience reality in a very different way. Nobody is in
> charge, and wonderful things happen! More than that, it really feels good,
> and lots of folks have remarked that somehow being in Open Space is like
> coming home. And I think that is Right On. It is coming home to what we
> truly are -- self-organizing critters, along with all the rest of the
> cosmos.
>
> And of course if that is true, Open Space is not some strange new state of
> affairs, it is simply the way things are 24X7. And the great relief we
> experience (coming home) is simply that we have finally gotten with the
> program.
>
> For a long time I have referred to OST as a "halfway technology" --
> something we can do until we are ready to do the real thing. Chris
Corrigan
> has put this much better, I think, when he talks about OST being training
> wheels -- something which is very useful for a starter, but also to be
> removed when we really learn how to ride. I like that.
>
> And it all beings with invitation! A real invitation, which we can refuse
or
> accept. We can choose to remain in estrangement. We can choose to come
home.
> But the invitation is open and it is personal. I think.
>
> Harrison
>
>
> Harrison Owen
> 7808 River Falls Drive
> Potomac, Maryland 20854
> Phone 301-365-2093
> Skype hhowen
> Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com
> Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org
> Personal website www.ho-image.com
> OSLIST: To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the
> archivesVisit: www.listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Michael
> Herman
> Sent: Tuesday, May 22, 2007 6:24 PM
> To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> Subject: doing self-organization, was unconf strikes again
>
> hi all,
>
> catching up a bit here and glad to see our work leaking into the
> mainstream press.
>
> i have been thinking about a comment elsewhere, about
> 'self-organization' being the thing inside of open space as
> process/method.
>
> i've never been a fan of the self-org story. it's always seemed so
> academic to me, overly scientific, overly objective, and underly
> subjective and personal. i've read some of the requisite works on the
> topic, but i've never felt like i could really make that story fly,
> never make the case.
>
> revisiting lately, i notice another thing that's missing for me in the
> self-org story, as i know it anyway, is any instruction about what one
> can *do* in the midst of it. i guess this is why i've opted for the
> 'inviting' story for some years now.
>
> i think it's interesting that in the wee small description included in
> the article here, the two *doings* i noticed were "offering" and
> "inviting." i think these might be even closer to the heart of ost
> than self-organization. or maybe the thing that comes before
> self-organization. after all, nobody can make or do
> self-organization. we can only invite it. can only offer our
> invitations, as leaders, sponsors, facilitators, participants.
>
> so i'm glad to see that this article does well to get that part of our
> game quite right.
>
> thanks all,
>
> michaelh
>
>
>
>
>
> On 5/13/07, Tree Fitzpatrick <therese.fitzpatrick at gmail.com> wrote:
> > Harrison. . . . this stream of conversation seems like as good a place
as
> > any other for me to tell you that I love you, Harrison Owen, even though
I
> > don't really know you, and I am deeply grateful for the gift of open
space
> > technology released into the public domain. As Chris said, OS is so far
> > ahead of the curve, gosh. . . . . I love to think about this
> curmudgeonly
> > man out there in the universe doing his best to be a good person and do
> good
> > work and he stumbles upon open space technology, much like Frodo
stumbled
> > upon the ring . . .
> >
> > gosh golly, I am glad you showed up, Harrison.
> >
> > And everyone reading: I am glad you showed up too.
> >
> > And me. I'm glad I showed up.
> >
> >
> > On 5/13/07, Harrison Owen <hhowen at verizon.net> wrote:
> > >
> > > Kaliya -- having had some extensive contact with the press over the
> years,
> > I
> > > count it a good day when I am NOT quoted. With very few exceptions,
they
> > > always seem to get it "WRONG" -- and sometimes disastrously so. And
then
> > you
> > > are left with the interesting task of explaining what you did NOT say.
> And
> > > very quickly you find yourself caught in the "When did you stop
beating
> > your
> > > wife" syndrome. Not a good place to be.
> > >
> > > But in fairness to my friends in the 4th Estate, there have been some
> > > marvelous articles on Open Space. The New York Times did a superb
> feature
> > > story, as did The Washington Post and a number of others. I am not
sure
> > how
> > > much all of that is worth (outside of "historical interest") but it
> might
> > be
> > > useful at some point in order to help some of the "Unconference" folks
> > > understand their roots.
> > >
> > > It is not about pride of authorship, or even pride of place. I just
feel
> > > sorry for these folks not being able to access the 22 year experience
> that
> > > we all have shared. There will always be people who want to re-invent
> the
> > > wheel, but they could save no small amount of pain and agony if they
> were
> > to
> > > check in on what came before.
> > >
> > > Harrison
> > >
> > > Harrison Owen
> > > 7808 River Falls Drive
> > > Potomac, Maryland 20854
> > > Phone 301-365-2093
> > > Skype hhowen
> > > Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com
> > > Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org
> > > Personal website www.ho-image.com
> > > OSLIST: To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the
> > > archivesVisit:
> > www.listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Kaliya Hamlin [mailto:kaliya at mac.com]
> > > Sent: Sunday, May 13, 2007 2:25 PM
> > > To: hhowen at verizon.net
> > > Cc: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> > > Subject: Re: Unconferences strike again.
> > >
> > > Yes well.
> > > they also failed to mention to of the women they interviewed who are
> > > working closely with the men extensively quoted and referenced.
> > > Just the business/tech media in action I suppose.
> > > http://kaliyasblogs.net/unconference/?p=55
> > > =Kaliya
> > >
> > > On Sunday, May 13, 2007, at 09:53AM, "Harrison Owen"
> <hhowen at verizon.net>
> > > wrote:
> > > >Seems like our secret it out! Or maybe the secret is that Open Space
> has
> > > >gone under deep cover. See the recent Business Week
> > >
> >
>
>http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_20/b4034080.htm?chan=search
> > >
> > > >
> > > >Harrison
> > > >
> > > >Harrison Owen
> > > >7808 River Falls Drive
> > > >Potomac, Maryland 20854
> > > >Phone 301-365-2093
> > > >Skype hhowen
> > > >Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com
> > <http://www.openspaceworld.com/>
> > > >
> > > >Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org
> > > >Personal website www.ho-image.com
> > > >OSLIST: To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the
> archives
> > > >Visit: www.listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
> > > ><http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html>
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >*
> > > >*
> > >
> > >==========================================================
> > > >OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
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> > > >To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
> > > >view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
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> > > >
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> > > >http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > > *
> > > *
> > >
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> > >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Love rays,
> > Tree Fitzpatrick
> >
> > http://thecultureoflove.blogspot.com/
> >
> > . . . the great and incalculable grace of love, which says, with
> Augustine,
> > "I want you to be," without being able to give any particular reason for
> > such supreme and unsurpassable affirmation. -- Hannah Arendt
> >
> > 1335 Montecito Ave Apt. 35
> > Mountain View, California 94043
> > (650) 967-9260 * *
> > ==========================================================
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> --
>
> Michael Herman
> Michael Herman Associates
> 300 West North Ave #1105
> Chicago IL 60610 USA
>
> phone: 312-280-7838
> email: michael at michaelherman.com
> skype: globalchicago
>
> http://www.michaelherman.com
> http://www.openspaceworld.org
> http://www.chicagoconservationcorps.org
>
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--
Michael Herman
Michael Herman Associates
300 West North Ave #1105
Chicago IL 60610 USA
phone: 312-280-7838
email: michael at michaelherman.com
skype: globalchicago
http://www.michaelherman.com
http://www.openspaceworld.org
http://www.chicagoconservationcorps.org
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>From Thu May 24 10:33:15 2007
Message-Id: <THU.24.MAY.2007.103315.0400.>
Date: Thu, 24 May 2007 10:33:15 -0400
Reply-To: hhowen at verizon.net
To: OSLIST <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
From: Harrison Owen <hhowen at verizon.net>
Organization: HH Owen and Co.
Subject: Re: Question - bilingual opening
In-Reply-To: <0JIJ00HK6PCCKKA0 at VL-MH-MR002.ip.videotron.ca>
MIME-version: 1.0
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When Michael Pannwitz and I did the Open Space for 2000 in Wurtzburg,
Germany -- we did everything all at once. The situation may have been a
little different as most people spoke German and some English. Also in the
plenary session (Opening) we had simultaneous translation. But in any event
we did a duo. At the start Michael went one way in the circle, I went the
other -- and after we crossed at the starting point, we just wandered all
over, everywhere. When we started I announced that Michael was not going to
translate, rather he would do his thing, I would do mine, and hopefully we
would end at the same place, which I think we did. It took a little longer,
but we also had a lot of fun doing it together. The best part was Michael's
comments on what I had to say. One time after a rather lengthy discourse on
my part (maybe 30 sec.) Michal came in with just a single word. Everybody
howled. Wonderful!
Harrison
Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Drive
Potomac, Maryland 20854
Phone 301-365-2093
Skype hhowen
Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com
Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org
Personal website www.ho-image.com
OSLIST: To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the
archives Visit: www.listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of
Communications Esther Matte
Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2007 8:29 AM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Question - bilingual opening
Hi all,
Yes, it was a great conference with Deb at Rococo. People there were
really impressed with OS. Hopefully, we'll gather a few people for
our FoFo in Val David this fall :-)
Deb and I learned a lot, of course, as we do every time we facilitate
OS. One of the questions we played with was the bilingual opening. We
briefly considered doing the opening together, each in one language,
but quickly realized we couldn't walk the circle together. So we cut
down on the opening text so that Deb could do it systematically in
both languages (French and English). And she did a great job!
However, it was still too long. Later in the event, people started to
ask that we do just English since everyone there understood. But we
were in Montreal after all, so Deb maintained the French, and the
organizers were happy about that. They wanted to hold a bilingual
event and they wanted the French to be present.
Now that I think about it, I'm wondering if we could have done two
circles just for the opening. To put people in the OS frame of mind
and spirit in their own language. Then, merge the 2 in 1 circle, have
them look around it, feel the energy and richness of knowledge,
experience, etc. and then start the agenda. For the other circles,
keep the bilingual format, but with bits of French here and there
instead of systematic translation.
What do you think?
Looking forward to reading your thoughts :-))
Esther
*
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>From Thu May 24 11:37:27 2007
Message-Id: <THU.24.MAY.2007.113727.0400.>
Date: Thu, 24 May 2007 11:37:27 -0400
Reply-To: 76066.515 at compuserve.com
To: OSLIST <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
From: douglas germann <76066.515 at compuserve.com>
Subject: Re: doing self-organization
In-Reply-To: <c3c.1478e2a5.33866359 at aol.com>
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Michael, Harrison, Joelle, Andrew, Pat, Raffi, and all--
Would you be interested in entertaining a couple of musing questions?
If (some people in command and control mode might still use the word
"if") there is such a thing as self organizing, what would be its
conditions?
This seems to be to be a fruitful inquiry, and it goes beyond
our usual important, complex, diverse, conflict, immediacy list.
For me it perhaps overlaps but is not precisely the same as
Harrison's list of 8 essentials. For instance, is invitation
necessary for self organizing? What level of freedom? What order
of equality of the participants? Are there physical conditions?
Or is it just two or more gathering?
Closely related: What is the difference between trying to control what a
group does and inviting? (Harrison, you hinted at this in a post today
when you say "I believe that there is an infinitely better possibility
through which we may discover deep ways to realize our full potential as
human beings, as well as doing something very useful and good in the
world") Is it simply a matter of degree, or is the difference
qualitative? For instance, when Birgitt writes of “givens,†or I help
someone write the theme for their invitation, we are consciously
directing the attention of the participants to something we want to
examine or change. So for instance, we are inviting people to make
positive change in the area of X, or to explore the issues and
opportunities of X, and this necessarily takes their attention off Y, Z,
Q and J.
:- Doug.
*
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>From Thu May 24 11:41:53 2007
Message-Id: <THU.24.MAY.2007.114153.0400.>
Date: Thu, 24 May 2007 11:41:53 -0400
Reply-To: 76066.515 at compuserve.com
To: OSLIST <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
From: douglas germann <76066.515 at compuserve.com>
Subject: Re: doing self-organization
In-Reply-To: <c3c.1478e2a5.33866359 at aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
Michael, Harrison, Joelle, Andrew, Pat, Raffi, and all--
(Sorry for the previous posting--somehow hit the send key before I was done.)
Would you be interested in entertaining a couple of musing questions?
If (some people in command and control mode might still use the word
"if") there is such a thing as self organizing, what would be its
conditions?
This seems to be to be a fruitful inquiry, and it goes beyond
our usual important, complex, diverse, conflict, immediacy list.
For me it perhaps overlaps but is not precisely the same as
Harrison's list of 8 essentials.
For instance, is invitation necessary for self
organizing? What level of freedom? What order of
equality of the participants? Are there physical
conditions? Or is it just two or more gathering?
Closely related: What is the difference between trying to control what a
group does and inviting? (Harrison, you hinted at this in a post today
when you say "I believe that there is an infinitely better possibility
through which we may discover deep ways to realize our full potential as
human beings, as well as doing something very useful and good in the
world.") Is it simply a matter of degree, or is the difference
qualitative?
For instance, when Birgitt writes of “givens,†or I help
someone write the theme for their invitation, we are
consciously directing the attention of the participants
to something we want to examine or change. So for
instance, we are inviting people to make positive change
in the area of X, or to explore the issues and
opportunities of X, and this necessarily takes their
attention off Y, Z, Q and J.
:- Doug.
*
*
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