Public Merger

[Proteus Communications]

Oh Harrison, what a beautiful, inspiring and touching story--especially the
last line when participant recognizes what has actually taken place.  Food
for the spirit and hope for the future in this story.
Thank you

Kathryn

Kathryn Thomson
--------------------------
Proteus Communications
proteus at shawbiz.ca
 
Some doors open only from the inside  Hafiz                            
-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Harrison
Owen
Sent: Monday, April 28, 2008 6:46 AM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Public Merger

I can't let you all be the only folks who have all the fun! Last week I had
the exquisite pleasure of visiting Red Wing Minnesota, located on the banks
of the Mississippi River. The occasion was a "Community Consultation" about
the possibility of merging the Public Health and Human Services agencies in
the county. This had been tried some 10 years ago in a very "Top Down"
fashion initiated by the County Executive. It was a disaster. However, the
rational for merger still seemed to make some sense, even if just about
everybody thought it was impossible.

Eighty five people sat in a circle. Roughly 2/3's were from the two
agencies, and the balance from neighboring counties which had either tried
such a merger or were thinking about it. Nobody was particularly positive
about the whole thing and even less positive about sitting in a circle. As
one participant said, "merger was an outside possibility, and this sitting
in a circle business was weird." But we went forward, albeit stoically.
Minnesotans are stoic by nature.

After the brief introduction the people were invited to identify the issues
and opportunities for which they had a real passion. Dead silence, and
nobody moved - for all of about ten seconds. Then they came and nobody
thought it could happen here in Red Wing. They brought their issues, the
really deep ones - and everybody had predicted that the conversation could
only be superficial. Within an hour they were seriously at work. Intense
groups met all over the big room. It got a little noisy and groups naturally
cooperated with each other without any help (from me).

When lunch time came, it was obvious that folks were hungry, and they mobbed
the tables, but the conversations hardly took a break. The lunch was really
good and very substantial - all of which had the usual effect on me. I just
had to have a nap. So off I went, returning an hour or so later, just at the
break point between the 3rd and 4th sessions. Folks were taking the
opportunity for some more coffee and cookies - but the atmosphere had
totally transformed. You simply couldn't tell one group from another - it
was all mixed up. And the decibel level was filling the room with excited,
pleasant conversation. 

When the final session ended the closing began. We didn't have time for a
full talking stick ceremony, just a few comments. One stuck in my mind which
came from a major (in the morning) skeptic. "We came to talk about the
possibility of merger, but I think we have gotten ahead of ourselves. We are
merged. Now we have to figure out the details."

I just love it when a plan comes together. Particularly when everybody just
knew it would never happen.

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
------------------------------
To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html

To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist

*
*
==========================================================
OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
------------------------------
To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html

To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist