Tables?
Ralph Copleman
rcopleman at comcast.net
Sat Mar 15 07:20:44 PDT 2008
I haven't used tables at large meetings for years, ever since we ran a
future search event where we literally couldn't get the people into
the room unless we removed all the tables, so we did. It worked
fine. Nobody seemed to care, let alone notice. People put their
stuff on the floor.
Let me know if you'd like to hear my lecture on why water bottles at
meetings are dangerous.
Ralph
Ralph Copleman
44 Titus Avenue
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
H: 609-896-9714
C: 609-865-3466
*
*
==========================================================
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
>From Sat Mar 15 13:15:46 2008
Message-Id: <SAT.15.MAR.2008.131546.0700.>
Date: Sat, 15 Mar 2008 13:15:46 -0700
Reply-To: lisaheft at openingspace.net
To: OSLIST <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
From: Lisa Heft <lisaheft at openingspace.net>
Subject: Re: huge group with no tables?
In-Reply-To: <35DA6B5C92EC437195D9D6BD2AEC464A at Christinelapto>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;
boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0034_01C8869E.B2219840"
This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
------=_NextPart_000_0034_01C8869E.B2219840
Content-Type: text/plain;
charset="US-ASCII"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Hello, fabulous Christine and others -
=20
You wrote:
One of our biggest challenges is physical space. In a previous posting, =
I
got wonderful feedback suggesting that we create more space by =
eliminating
tables. Picture 1500+ circles of six. Have any of you ever done a =
longish
meeting with small circles but no tables? If so, what did people do =
with
all their stuff? This group will be laden with artifacts they pick up =
in
the exhibit halls, notebooks, personal items, water, etc.
=20
Thanks in advance for any ideas or experiences you can share
=20
I often am facilitating for large conferences where eliminating tables =
can
be very useful.
Consider, though, that some people with certain disabilities / different
abilities need to sit at tables and would not be able to comfortably
participate without that. So perhaps a survey question pre-conference
asking people about their special needs including needing a =
writing-leaning
surface may help. Then you can look after those people / assign a =
volunteer
/ ask participants to all help them move a little 'tv tray' or other =
small
table surface wherever they need to be as they mix and match with other
participants in other areas of the room through the different =
large-scale
processes.
=20
Other than that, four things come to mind. =20
=20
- providing a backpack or, as mentioned, large 'tote' bag to =
each
conference participant
- informing and agreeing with the hotel/conference center =
banquet
staff about the different times during the days when they can walk =
through
the audience and pick up cups, boxes from lunch, etc.
- helping that site staff by going through the room =
periodically to
re- position the chairs (as without a table you want to create space =
that is
safe to navigate through and invites the circles)
- placing on the floor in every chair circle either a hotel =
bussing
tray covered in a lovely cloth napkin(s) or just placing a few cloth =
napkins
on the ground in the center of each group - upon which you pre-set the
materials needed for each large-scale group process. Gives a sense of
space, a place for the tools, a center for the circle, and if done well, =
a
lovely thing to look at.
=20
(Trays can be pre-set another day - it takes a very long time to do this =
-
hours and hours - more if you are needing to create replacement trays =
for /
or shifting materials for [for example] Open Space and then for a next
afternoon or day World Cafe)
=20
Amazing work you are doing, sister Christine,
=20
Lisa
___________________________
L i s a H e f t
Consultant, Facilitator, Educator
O p e n i n g S p a c e
<mailto:lisaheft at openingspace.net> lisaheft at openingspace.net
<http://www.openingspace.net> www.openingspace.net=20
=20
=20
* * =
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
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
*
*
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
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
------=_NextPart_000_0034_01C8869E.B2219840
Content-Type: text/html;
charset="US-ASCII"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<html>
<head>
<META HTTP-EQUIV=3D"Content-Type" CONTENT=3D"text/html; =
charset=3Dus-ascii">
<meta name=3DGenerator content=3D"Microsoft Word 10 (filtered)">
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Wingdings;
panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Batang;
panose-1:2 3 6 0 0 1 1 1 1 1;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
panose-1:2 11 6 3 2 2 2 2 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:"\@Batang";
panose-1:2 3 6 0 0 1 1 1 1 1;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle19
{font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:black;
font-weight:normal;
font-style:normal;
text-decoration:none none;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
/* List Definitions */
ol
{margin-bottom:0in;}
ul
{margin-bottom:0in;}
-->
</style>
</head>
<body lang=3DEN-US link=3Dblue vlink=3Dblue>
<div class=3DSection1>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Trebuchet =
MS"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:black'>Hello, =
fabulous
Christine and others –</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Trebuchet =
MS"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet =
MS";color:black'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Trebuchet =
MS"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:black'>You =
wrote:</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><i><font size=3D2 =
color=3Dnavy
face=3D"Trebuchet MS"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:navy;font-style:italic'>One of our biggest challenges is physical =
space.
In a previous posting, I got wonderful feedback suggesting that we =
create more
space by eliminating tables. Picture 1500+ circles of six. =
Have any
of you ever done a longish meeting with small circles but no =
tables?
If so, what did people do with all their stuff? This group will be =
laden
with artifacts they pick up in the exhibit halls, notebooks, =
personal items,
water, etc.</span></font></i></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><i><font size=3D2 =
face=3D"Trebuchet MS"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet =
MS";font-style:italic'> </span></font></i></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><i><font size=3D2 =
color=3Dnavy
face=3D"Trebuchet MS"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:navy;font-style:italic'>Thanks in advance for any ideas or =
experiences
you can share</span></font></i></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Trebuchet =
MS"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet =
MS";color:black'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Trebuchet =
MS"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:black'>I =
often am facilitating
for large conferences where eliminating tables can be very =
useful.</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Trebuchet =
MS"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet =
MS";color:black'>Consider,
though, that some people with certain disabilities / different abilities =
need
to sit at tables and would not be able to comfortably participate =
without
that. So perhaps a survey question pre-conference asking people =
about
their special needs including needing a writing-leaning surface may =
help.
Then you can look after those people / assign a volunteer / ask =
participants to
all help them move a little ‘tv tray’ or other small table =
surface
wherever they need to be as they mix and match with other participants =
in other
areas of the room through the different large-scale =
processes.</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Trebuchet =
MS"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet =
MS";color:black'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Trebuchet =
MS"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:black'>Other =
than
that, four things come to mind. </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Trebuchet =
MS"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet =
MS";color:black'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in'><font =
size=3D2
color=3Dblack face=3D"Trebuchet MS"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:black'>-<font size=3D1 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font:7.0pt "Times New =
Roman"'>
</span></font></span></font><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack =
face=3D"Trebuchet MS"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet =
MS";color:black'>providing a
backpack or, as mentioned, large ‘tote’ bag to each =
conference
participant</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in'><font =
size=3D2
color=3Dblack face=3D"Trebuchet MS"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:black'>-<font size=3D1 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font:7.0pt "Times New =
Roman"'>
</span></font></span></font><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack =
face=3D"Trebuchet MS"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet =
MS";color:black'>informing and
agreeing with the hotel/conference center banquet staff about the =
different
times during the days when they can walk through the audience and pick =
up cups,
boxes from lunch, etc.</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in'><font =
size=3D2
color=3Dblack face=3D"Trebuchet MS"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:black'>-<font size=3D1 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font:7.0pt "Times New =
Roman"'>
</span></font></span></font><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack =
face=3D"Trebuchet MS"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet =
MS";color:black'>helping that
site staff by going through the room periodically to re- position the =
chairs
(as without a table you want to create space that is safe to navigate =
through
and invites the circles)</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in'><font =
size=3D2
color=3Dblack face=3D"Trebuchet MS"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:black'>-<font size=3D1 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font:7.0pt "Times New =
Roman"'>
</span></font></span></font><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack =
face=3D"Trebuchet MS"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet =
MS";color:black'>placing on the
floor in every chair circle either a hotel bussing tray covered in a =
lovely
cloth napkin(s) or just placing a few cloth napkins on the ground in the =
center
of each group - upon which you pre-set the materials needed for each
large-scale group process. Gives a sense of space, a place for the =
tools,
a center for the circle, and if done well, a lovely thing to look =
at.</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Trebuchet =
MS"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet =
MS";color:black'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Trebuchet =
MS"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:black'>(Trays =
can be
pre-set another day – it takes a very long time to do this – =
hours and
hours – more if you are needing to create replacement trays for / =
or shifting
materials for [for example] Open Space and then for a next afternoon or =
day
World Cafe)</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Trebuchet =
MS"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet =
MS";color:black'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Trebuchet =
MS"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet =
MS";color:black'>Amazing work
you are doing, sister Christine,</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Trebuchet =
MS"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet =
MS";color:black'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Trebuchet =
MS"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet =
MS";color:black'>Lisa</span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Trebuchet =
MS"><span
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet =
MS";color:black'>___________________________</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D2 color=3Dblue face=3D"Trebuchet =
MS"><span
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet =
MS";color:blue;font-weight:bold'>L
i s a H e f t</span></font></b></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblue face=3D"Trebuchet =
MS"><span
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet =
MS";color:blue'>Consultant,
Facilitator, Educator</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblue face=3D"Trebuchet =
MS"><span
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:blue'>O p e n =
i n
g S p a c e</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Trebuchet =
MS"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:black'><a
href=3D"mailto:lisaheft at openingspace.net"><font color=3Dblack><span
style=3D'color:black'>lisaheft at openingspace.net</span></font></a></span><=
/font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Trebuchet =
MS"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:black'><a
href=3D"http://www.openingspace.net"><font color=3Dblack><span =
style=3D'color:black'>www.openingspace.net</span></font></a>
</span></font></p>
</div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Trebuchet =
MS"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet =
MS";color:black'> </span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D3 =
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
</div>
</div>
</body>
</html>
*
*
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
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
*
*
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
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
------=_NextPart_000_0034_01C8869E.B2219840--
More information about the OSList
mailing list