beyond balloons

Sun Apr 20 06:34:21 PDT 2008

Dear Marty,
there is a neat DVD of ho and me facilitating that huge OS in Wuerzburg, 
it also shows the balloons, of course. If you like, I can send you one 
(cost is about 25 Euros including shipping).
Erich Kolenaty has a photostory with lots of details on his website, 
here is the direct link
> http://transformation.at/documents/OS_Wuerzburg_minimized.pdf

Note also, that we used 2000+ flat pillows rather than chairs.

As far as labeling breakout spaces:
-one can use symbols, cities, etc when you have no more than a dozen 
breakout spaces
-if there are more than a dozen or so, use numbers, the other stuff is 
too hard to find (in Wuerzburg we started out with 60 spaces, thinking 
that there certainly would be no more than 180 issues - there were three 
starting times - but had 230+ issues...there was no problem in blowing 
up some more balloons, numbering them, tying sandsacks to them, 
etc....the spaces were arranged somewhat orderly so that people could 
see, ok, it starts here and if we move over here the numbers go up, 
etc., but within a very short time it was chaotic people moving their 
spaces...and everybody found their selforganized way)
-when using symbols etc. be careful to find something as "neutral" as 
possible, its amazing how much people "interpret" into why such and such 
a space has such and such a name, symbol, or whatever...but numbers are 
also symbols!
Greetings from Berlin
mmp

Martin Boroson wrote:
> Harrison
> 
>  
> 
> Thanks for the tip about helium.  (The only thing I like more than balloons,
> is balloons filled with helium!)
> 
>  
> 
> Now you've given me a way to sell this to clients:  By using helium
> balloons, groups can gather in one place but move to another, taking their
> balloons with them.  They can combine with other groups.  And we can see it
> all happening up above.
> 
>  
> 
> Marty
> 
>  
> 
>   _____  
> 
> From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Harrison
> Owen
> Sent: 19 April 2008 20:40
> To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> Subject: Re: beyond balloons
> 
>  
> 
> I am not sure that there is anything beyond balloons. For me they are the
> ultimate! Of course, I might be prejudicially partial, but then again I was
> introduced to the whole matter by a master. You will recall the gathering of
> 2108 German Psychiatrists which Michael Pannwitz and I facilitated several
> years ago. It took place in the town of Wurzburg (sp?), and because Michael
> was closer (Berlin) he took responsibility for logistics.
> 
>  
> 
> The town of Wurzburg is a lovely place, and has a most delightful convention
> center. Unfortunately the main hall was not of sufficient size to handle an
> Open Space of record proportions. The solution was brilliant! Two circus
> tents in an open field! So we had the space, but also a problem. How do you
> designate break out areas for what turned out to be 236 groups?  Of course
> you could put signs around the edges, but tent walls tend to be rather low
> and all the people would be mushed on the outside. Michael came up with a
> winner. Helium filled balloons tied to a sack of sand, each bearing a
> special number. Just imagine a large circus tent with 236 colored balloons
> dancing all over the floor. And it got better.
> 
>  
> 
> If posting breakout space designations was a problem - how would you handle
> the essential signs (Principles and Law) to say nothing of Butterflies and
> Bumble Bees? Michael came through gloriously. Each sign was taped to a thin
> stick to which were attached half a dozen balloons. Let loose, they floated
> elegantly about the tent. And much more of the same with the Bumble Bees and
> Butterflies! Lots and lots - floating free! 
> 
>  
> 
> It was just beautiful - some might even think odd - or crazy. But we had no
> worries. After all we had 2108 Psychiatrists in attendance.
> 
>  
> 
> 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 
> 
> OSLIST: To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives
> Visit:  <http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html>
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> 
>  
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Martin
> Boroson
> Sent: Saturday, April 19, 2008 1:46 PM
> To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> Subject: beyond balloons
> 
>  
> 
> Hello all
> 
>  
> 
> I'd love to know what you use to designate breakout spaces in a large
> conference room.  
> 
>  
> 
> I've been using bunches of balloons, taped to the wall (and then referring
> to the red, blue, green, yellow areas, etc.).  
> 
>  
> 
> I am indeed very partial to balloons.  
> 
>  
> 
> But not every client wants the room to look like a circus - at the outset,
> anyway.   :) 
> 
>   
> 
>  
> 
> Marty

Michael M Pannwitz, boscop eg
Draisweg 1, 12209 Berlin, Germany
++49-30-772 8000
mmpanne at boscop.org
www.boscop.org

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