Heavy need for OS at the upcoming Open Government Directive UnConference

Harrison Owen hhowen at verizon.net
Sun Oct 4 06:28:32 PDT 2009


Sounds like a grand party! And as an old federal bureaucrat and Washington
resident (since 1957), with some small experience with Open Space -- I offer
whatever assistance I can. Lengthy meetings, however are not part of my
normal modus operandi.

And just for the record -- it is doubtless true that "most" federal folks
have never seen Open Space -- or at least admit that they have. OST, however
is no stranger to the federal government. I can remember opening some space
for the Forest Service, INS, US Army, IRS, to name a few.


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 Lucas
Cioffi
Sent: Saturday, October 03, 2009 5:07 PM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Heavy need for OS at the upcoming Open Government Directive
UnConference

Hi folks,

*Background*
The US Federal Government will issue the Open Government
Directive<http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/TransparencyandOpenGove
rnment/>in
the next few weeks.  Agencies will be scrambling to be more
"transparent,
participatory, and collaborative."  Now is a key time to define what quality
citizen participation looks like, because it's much easier to shape
something new than to change something once it is already established.

*We Need Help*
I am one of the volunteer organizers of the Open Government Directive
UnConference; we aim to bring civic participation experts, open government
advocates, government employees, and the DC tech community together to
create solutions for successful implementation of the Directive (more info
below).

Having worked in the Federal Government for nine years, I know that OS is
very foreign to most government employees, and the impact it will have on
this crowd will be profound.  *We are not creating yet another networking
opportunity; we are looking to blend online and in-person participation to
create practical solutions for timely implementation.*  We're not just
concerned with the ends but also with the means; we absolutely must set an
example of transparency and high-quality participation, and collaboration.
 Fortunately, we will learn a great deal from the November 3rd Virtual Open
Space Conference which was announced on this list a few weeks ago.

So I come to the OS List seeking significant advice and support- we need a
team of Open Space practitioners who are as excited about this opportunity
as we are.  Anyone is invited to join the planning
team<http://groups.google.com/group/OGD-UnCon/>,
and we need some OS advocates to step forward and take leading roles-- if
that interests you, please contact me directly via phone/email.

We are looking to visibly move the needle on quality civic participation.

Lucas Cioffi
AthenaBridge Inc
Washington, DC
917-528-1831



*PS: More info:*
The OGD UnCon will take place 30-60 days *after *the OGD is issued.  The
purpose of the event is to identify barriers to successful implementation of
the Directive, to share best practices across agencies, and to create new
solutions.

*What: *an unconference focused on implementation of the Open Government
Directive<http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/TransparencyandOpenGove
rnment/>(challenges,
case studies, and next steps)
*Who: *federal, state, and local government employees collaborating with the
open government community
*Where: *Washington, DC

Planning for the unconference has just begun, so all these ideas are open to
modification.  Here are some starting principles which are completely open
to improvement:

   - To increase public sector turnout, the event will take place on a
   Monday and will not cost anything for government employees.
   - Non-government employees will pay a modest fee to cover the costs of
   the event (perhaps in the range of $30-$50).  This will help us ensure
that
   RSVP numbers are accurate and will pay for a decent venue.
   - There will be no need for sponsors.
   - All organizers will be volunteers and the registration fees will go
   directly to food, venue, and supplies-- no profit.
   - The event will have a heavy live-streaming component so Americans
   outside the Beltway can participate in a meaningful way.
   - Instead of a standard tech fair where vendors have booths and talk
   about their products, this unconference will be a an opportunity for
people
   to kick the tires on these apps to make sure they work as advertised.
*The
   main point is not to sell yet another bright and shiny software program;
the
   main point is to combine face-to-face discussion and all appropriate
   technologies to create solutions and solve problems that government
   employees face every day.*

This is an event that needs to happen, and it will take many bright minds to
pull it all together.  Please spread the word to other networks that have
not yet been notified.  Feel free to join the planning
team<http://groups.google.com/group/OGD-UnCon/>and let's start the
conversation.

*
*
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