Using OS for Neighborhood organizing with the Community Gathering, eventually spreading OS world wide. Feedback requested
douglas germann
76066.515 at compuserve.com
Wed Nov 7 19:14:14 PST 2007
Patricia--
Please tell us how your community gathering is going. (You can see how
far behind I am in my e-mail!)
Thanks, Patricia for this exciting idea!
:- Doug. Germann
On Sun, 2007-09-02 at 16:07 -0700, Patricia Mikkelson wrote:
> The following flyer is a description of a gathering that I have
> designed which incorporates Open Space Technology. I would like
> feedback on the following:
>
> 1. The invitation itself, including the title of the event
> 2. The way of using OS and structuring the Community Gathering which I
> will describe in more detail after the flyer.
> 3. The concept
> 4. The over all strategy of helping OS to be commonly practiced in
> every neighborhood in the world.
>
> I experienced OS 8 years ago at an Intentional Communities gathering
> at Twin Oaks and a Permaculture Gathering at Celo Community. I have
> been excited about the concept ever since then. I have studied it
> extensively, tried it only once, and finally took a facilitators
> workshop recently with Lisa Heft in San Francisco (Fantastic!). I love
> the piece that Chris Corrigen wrote comparing OS to the Tao, because I
> see this as a spiritual concept that helps us to live life better.
>
> The work I present to you is really the culmination of 32 years of
> researching, practicing, talking about--how to build healthy
> communities everywhere. Tears come to my eyes because I feel like I am
> close to being able to wholeheartedly do the work that I have been
> called to do in this life. I present this to the OS community with
> confidence that I will get encouragement and feedback that will help
> me move forward with presenting this to people who will want to have
> Community Gatherings to empower civic engagement by people of all
> backgrounds, including the under-heard and under-served people in
> their communities.
>
> I have a vision for engaging millions of people in the job of
> "civilization building" using OS with the Community Gathering concept,
> and I would sure love to have your help. So here is the flyer:
>
> The Community Gathering
>
> An excellent, effective, unique way to help neighbors work together to
> create thriving, self-reliant communities
>
> The Community Gathering combines time tested, effective ingredients
> such as fun, food, music, open space technology and childcare which
> makes it easy for neighbors and friends to:
>
> Find meaningful ways to serve using their unique talents
> Play music. Dance. Play games. Do Art. and do other fun things
> with friends of all ages
> Take and teach classes. Get coaching and mentoring. Give and receive
> empathic listening. Get support for your projects and solving your
> problems.
> Meet regularly (usually weekly) to keep the momentum going
> Find other people who share common goals. Build friendships and
> trust.
> Be engaged in "civilization building" with the whole family and your
> neighbors
> Network with a large variety of people and find ways to get
> everyone's needs met including finding meaningful work, electing
> political candidates, learning, safety and caring for the environment
>
> A Community Gathering can be sponsored by anyone who wants to better
> his or her community. With the help of a handbook and DVD that is in
> the process of being developed, just about anyone with passion and
> integrity plus leadership and organizing abilities can do the
> following:
>
> Find and work with a planning team
> Use Open Space Technology, an effective, economical, fast, and
> easily repeatable strategy for organizing meetings of between 5 and
> 1,000 participants
> Use a simple meeting facilitation technique that encourages liberty.
> People can effectively and easily divide into small groups to
> converse, learn, plan, and/or give and receive support
> Find an appropriate space to meet
> Raise the necessary funds and find volunteers
> Keep the Community Gathering environment clean, ecological, family
> friendly and safe
> Use communication methods to help people connect in between
> meetings.
> Make sure that such topics that are important to your neighbors are
> covered, including emergency preparedness, safety, and food production
> are covered.
>
> Do you want to make a huge difference in your neighborhood and world?
> Start a Community Gathering in your neighborhood.
>
> For more information, to offer feedback, or get involved in a local
> Community Gathering
> Call Patricia Mikkelson 479-225-0047 community_gathering at yahoo.com
>
>
> Here is the way I see facilitating this meeting:
>
> 1. Schedule of the meeting:
> 6:00 Food is served
> 6:20 rousing sing along songs that everyone knows
> 6:30 Everyone is sitting down and eating: Introduction to meeting
> begins--an adapted version of OS. People will probably be sitting at
> tables to eat, so a circle is difficult for me to see happening
> 7:15-8:15 first session
> 8:15-9:15 second session
> 9:20-9:30 Closure with popcorn, quick comments--and a song
> 9:30-11:00 Open mic and dance in main room--and networking and
> informal discussions can take place in smaller rooms. (this part makes
> it more like a party and draws people who might not otherwise come)
>
>
> Convening the open space goes something like this:
>
> "Everyone here has something valuable to contribute to our
> neighborhood. Whether you are here to have fun and socialize, or to
> work on a project that is important to you, or to find ways to get
> involved in bettering our neighborhood--your contribution is
> valuable."
>
> "There are two ways you can participate. One is by joining a group
> that will soon be listed on this wall here. The other way is to
> convene an activity. "
>
> "Here are some examples of activities you might want to sponsor:
> 1. A conversation about something that is important to you-like how
> can we have a safer neighborhood
> 2. A planning session around a project you are working on, including
> getting a political candidate elected; sponsoring a block party;
> getting a community garden started.
> 3. Information sharing--perhaps you want to teach some skill, share
> some knowledge about something that is important to you."
>
> "As you can see on the wall, there are already activities which are
> going to take place--including success teams where you can get support
> on your personal goals; a dance jam; an open mic and jam session;
> child care, classes; exercise; various support groups" (including 12
> step programs)
>
> (at this point, explain the one law, the four principles in a classic
> style)
>
> "So if you want to get your idea on the wall, please write down the
> topic on the paper provided (there will be paper and markers available
> near the empty wall). And remember, even if someone does not attend
> your activity, you can choose to take that precious time to work by
> yourself--or you can feel free to take the topic off the wall and join
> others. Take a sticky note off the wall which will state where the
> meeting will be held, and which session." (The tables will ideally be
> scattered all around, with numbers on each table--also groups of
> chairs--all will be numbered for easy identification)
> After the agenda is created, facilitator continues:
>
> "If you wish, please write down what happened during the meeting. You
> can appoint a recorder--paper and pen are at each location. You can
> even type up the results (if we have computers). We will be posting
> these on the local community gathering website so people can get
> involved if they wish. Also, we will adding this to the notebook which
> is available for perusal at all the community gatherings."
>
> Then, after the meal is over, and tables are cleared, facilitator
> announces:
>
> "Okay, you can go to the activities you decide to go to--have fun, and
> remember the main guideline "treat each other with respect""
>
> Closing would be:
>
> "Let's all get in a closing circle. Let's sing: some universally
> appealing song
>
> We just have a few minutes to end--so please be very brief using just
> a few words or a phrase that describes the experience you had tonight"
>
> Additional notes: More feedback requests about the following
>
> 1. A church, non-profit, or even business could have a gathering like
> this to build their own sense of community.
> 2. I intend to create a user manual and dvd to teach people about
> every detail--what to do to create this activity--(any ideas on
> already existing materials?)
> 3. When momentum gathers in a neighborhood, a 2 or 3 day Open space
> gathering to help the neighborhood create a shared vision and strategy
> for carrying it out will be planned.
> 4. As more and more neighborhoods in one city get on board, then a
> larger gathering for the whole city for shared vision and strategy can
> be sponsored by numerous neighborhoods. Eventually the whole city will
> be familiar with OS.\
> 5. Once one city has achieved success using the community gathering
> concept, this can easily spread to other cities, and my hope is that
> this will spread like wild fire and every city in the us, and
> eventually world, and rural areas also--will use os to self organize
> and make a better world.
>
>
> Again, thanks for your feedback
>
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> Patricia Mikkelson
> About Livable Future Project and me
> Wellspring Eco-village and Learning Center
>
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