Learnings from OS and demonstrations :) was Any experiences of OS and demonstrations?

Michael M Pannwitz mmpanne at boscop.org
Fri Feb 26 01:39:54 PST 2010


Dear Eva,
what did you do when one participant told you to "stand still"?
I doubt that talking about the 4-fold way or doing anything else to 
accomodate those that did not "dare to raise their questions" will help 
in the situation as you described it. Keeping everything short or even 
shorter and then stand aside is a powerfule signal: this is your show.
Seems there was a lot of energy but, then, why are you concerned about 
the energy? If there is energy stuff will happen (as it apparently did), 
if there is no energy, little will happen, might even provide you with a 
free evening.
Thanks for your report, I got a real feeling of what was happening
hugs
mmp

Eva P Svensson wrote:
> Hello Gail, Christine, Robyn, Lisa, Harrison and all you wonderful  people
> around the globe!
> How glad I am that this community exists and what a strength it is to know
> that whatever time of the day some of you are always out there to help!
> 
> How did it go?
> It went well - of course :) There was about 100 people - angry ones - most
> of them. Demonstrations outside - very calm and silent. Then they came in
> and joined the circle. The participants were angry, upset and passionate.
> One woman told me to "stand still!" when I walked the circle.. :) So after a
> very quick - to quick I think introduction I invited them to the circle.
> When I then sat down a man came up to me and wanted to ask questions about
> the proposal that the OS was about, I invited him to the circle to put up
> topics on the agenda - and informed him that there were no room for
> questions at that time. He was so angry and accused me to stop the
> democratic process ( :) ) and he took his feet and left - but first he
> shouted at me something like "stupid coffee break - this is not how coffee
> breaks are"  "and you can't even speak Swedish" :) He obviously didn't like
> my Swedish accent :) :)
> 
> One learning for me was that next time I think that I shall have a poster
> with the four fold way in the room and emphasize a bit more on that -
> because one result of the "angry tone" was that those who was pro the
> proposal didn't dare to raise their questions. But thanks to the process -
> they could write their own report and they did meet some butterflies so to
> speak. There was also a lot of butterflies discussions during the evening.
> Another question I walk around with now is if it would have been better to
> have more time in the opening to try to set an energy or if the energy was
> what it was and no matter how long time, the tone in the meeting would not
> have changed?
> 
> In the closing circle - those who was still there concluded that it was good
> that the city arranged this kind of meetings, that it had been a good
> meeting but they were not sure that they was really listened to in the long
> run. And that they wanted this kind of meetings earlier in the process
> (while it from the city was very early in the process.. ). From the sponsors
> side - the city - they felt that they have had good conversations and that
> they were not attacked as they use to be in this kind of issues. 
> 
> Thanks for your support!
> :o)
> Eva
> 
> Bästa hälsningar
>  
> Eva P Svensson
>  
> EPS Human Invest AB
> Member of Beyond Performance Group
> 
> "Verksamhetsutveckling genom människor skapar långsiktigt välmående företag
> och organisationer"
>  
> Anåsbergsvägen 22, 439 34 ONSALA
> Besöksadress; Norra Allégatan 8, Göteborg
> Tfn: 0300-615 05, Mobil; 0706- 89 85 50
> www.epshumaninvest.se
> Skype: eva.p.svensson
> Besök gärna min blogg; www.epshumaninvest.blogspot.com/
> "Jag kan inte lära dig något. Allt jag kan göra är att ställa frågor till
> dig, och låta dig själv finna svaren." Sokrates
> 
> -----Ursprungligt meddelande-----
> Från: icataiw at ms69.hinet.net [mailto:icataiw at ms69.hinet.net] 
> Skickat: den 25 februari 2010 03:52
> Till: eva at EPSHUMANINVEST.SE
> Ämne: Re: [OSLIST] SV: SV: SV: Any experiences of OS and demonstrations?
> 
> Good morning, Eva.  I was thinking a lot about 
> you and holding space from Taiwan and eager to 
> know the story!
> 
> Gail
> 
> 
> 
>>  Robyn!
>> Yes they are invited in beforehand as well so I hope that they will take
> the
>> chance and bring forward their opinions - the thing is I guess that they
>> don't want anything in the area and there is a political decision that
> there
>> will be buildings etc.
>> I'm looking forward to tonight - I know that the organizers are a bit
>> nervous but I am confident that it will go well.
>> Hope that you are holding space together with me tonight
>> Thanks a lot!
>> :o)
>> Eva
>>
>> Bästa hälsningar
>>
>> Eva P Svensson
>>
>> EPS Human Invest AB
>> Member of Beyond Performance Group
>>
>> "Verksamhetsutveckling genom människor skapar långsiktigt välmående företag
>> och organisationer"
>>
>> Anåsbergsvägen 22, 439 34 ONSALA
>> Besöksadress; Norra Allégatan 8, Göteborg
>> Tfn: 0300-615 05, Mobil; 0706- 89 85 50
>> www.epshumaninvest.se
>> Skype: eva.p.svensson
>> Besök gärna min blogg; www.epshumaninvest.blogspot.com/
>> "Jag kan inte lära dig något. Allt jag kan göra är att ställa frågor till
>> dig, och låta dig själv finna svaren." Sokrates
>>
>> -----Ursprungligt meddelande-----
>> Från: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] För Robyn Williams
>> Skickat: den 24 februari 2010 00:51
>> Till: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
>> Ämne: Re: SV: SV: Any experiences of OS and demonstrations?
>>
>> Hi Eva
>>
>> As a person who is sometimes amongst (non-violent) protest/demonstration
>> groups 'outside', I would love to be invited inside to be part of open and
>> respectful conversations, to listen and learn about the motivations and
>> goals of those 'inside', and to contribute to improving options and
>> solutions.
>>
>> In my experience, protesters are mostly concerned and informed citizens who
>> wish to be heard and participate yet are disenfranchised by the processes
> of
>> the dominant paradigm. So keep breathing, no need to be afraid. "Swarming
>> crowds' and "hate groups" are an extreme and suggest long-term exclusion
>>from a process.
>> It sounds as though the demo's organising group is known and can be
>> contacted beforehand. I recommend that an invitation is offered as soon as
>> possible.
>>
>>
>> Best wishes
>> Robyn Williams
>> Fremantle
>> Western Australia
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Eva P
>> Svensson
>> Sent: Wednesday, 24 February 2010 4:17 AM
>> To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
>> Subject: [OSLIST] SV: SV: Any experiences of OS and demonstrations?
>>
>> Dear Christine!
>> What a lovely suggestion and I can already feel the radiant energy! I just
>> had a chat with Thomas and asked him to think of me tomorrow night between
>> 5.30 pm - 8.30pm Swedish time. And if you'all out there would be with us in
>> thoughts and hold space for us - WOW. I know that it will help me to stay
>> and breath - that's for sure!!
>> Love and hugs!
>> :o)
>> Eva
>>
>> Bästa hälsningar
>>
>> Eva P Svensson
>>
>> EPS Human Invest AB
>> Member of Beyond Performance Group
>>
>> "Verksamhetsutveckling genom människor skapar långsiktigt välmående företag
>> och organisationer"
>>
>> Anåsbergsvägen 22, 439 34 ONSALA
>> Besöksadress; Norra Allégatan 8, Göteborg
>> Tfn: 0300-615 05, Mobil; 0706- 89 85 50
>> www.epshumaninvest.se
>> Skype: eva.p.svensson
>> Besök gärna min blogg; www.epshumaninvest.blogspot.com/
>> "Jag kan inte lära dig något. Allt jag kan göra är att ställa frågor till
>> dig, och låta dig själv finna svaren." Sokrates
>>
>>
>> -----Ursprungligt meddelande-----
>> Från: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] För Christine Whitney
>> Sanchez
>> Skickat: den 23 februari 2010 19:49
>> Till: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
>> Ämne: Re: SV: Any experiences of OS and demonstrations?
>>
>> Dear Eva,
>>
>> I'll chime in with an experience that wasn't open space but did 
>> involve an intensely polarized situation.  A citizen task force had 
>> been chartered by a City Council to recommend a strategy for dealing 
>> with a large number of day laborers who congregated on the streets of 
>> the city.  Part way through the process a hate group showed up, along 
>> with the police.
>>
>> Every week, as I prepared to facilitate, one task force member always 
>> came early and sat directly across the circle from me.  I commented on 
>> this one day, telling her that I felt that she was helping me to hold 
>> the space for the highest outcome.  She smiled and said that she was 
>> merely representing a group back at her church that sat in silence 
>> during our meetings to help us hold the space.
>>
>> If you will tell me the timeframes of your meeting, I will hold the 
>> space with you.  Perhaps you could ask the organizers to invite their 
>> networks to hold the space with all of you.  If our worldwide open 
>> space community of practice would do the same, just imagine how you 
>> and everyone at the event will feel as you invite and breathe.
>>
>> Love,
>>
>> Christine
>> Christine Whitney Sanchez
>> Collaborative Wisdom & Strategy
>> 480.759.0262
>> www.christinewhitneysanchez.com
>> www.promiseusa.com
>> Skype: christinewhitneysanchez
>> http://www.facebook.com/ChristineWhitneySanchez
>>
>> On Feb 22, 2010, at 1:02 PM, Eva P Svensson wrote:
>>
>>>  Dear Lisa and Harrison,
>>>  Why am I not surprised with your answers :) Invite and breath :)
>>>  And I will! The theme is already set and so is the invitation and 
>>>  yes we think that some of the people "against" who are organizing 
>>>  the demonstration will come as well - and I think that is good - and 
>>>  I do hope that they respect the format and don't be "space invaders" 
>>>  - that is my biggest worry right now - that some of them will try to 
>>>  invade the freedom to everybody to bring forward what is on their 
>>>  heart and mind.
>>>  The meeting is about a proposal from a city about how to develop and 
>>>  build/change a part of a city - and it's a "hot potato" i.e a lot of 
>>>  feelings against and some pro of course. And the open space will be 
>>>  a step in the formal procedure that they have to have - to inform 
>>>  the citizens so that they have a chance to react on the proposal.
>>>  So - how do you handle a Space Invader? Any tips there?
>>>  Sooo grateful for you being out there!!!
>>>
>>>  :o)
>>>  Eva
>>>
>>>
>>>  Bästa hälsningar
>>>
>>>  Eva P Svensson
>>>
>>>  EPS Human Invest AB
>>>  Member of Beyond Performance Group
>>>
>>>  "Verksamhetsutveckling genom människor skapar långsiktigt välmående 
>>>  företag och organisationer"
>>>
>>>  Anåsbergsvägen 22, 439 34 ONSALA
>>>  Besöksadress; Norra Allégatan 8, Göteborg
>>>  Tfn: 0300-615 05, Mobil; 0706- 89 85 50
>>>  www.epshumaninvest.se
>>>  Skype: eva.p.svensson
>>>  Besök gärna min blogg; www.epshumaninvest.blogspot.com/
>>>  "Jag kan inte lära dig något. Allt jag kan göra är att ställa frågor 
>>>  till dig, och låta dig själv finna svaren." Sokrates
>>>
>>>  -----Ursprungligt meddelande-----
>>>  Från: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] För Harrison Owen
>>>  Skickat: den 22 februari 2010 14:58
>>>  Till: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
>>>  Ämne: Re: Any experiences of OS and demonstrations?
>>>
>>>  If you really want to blow everybody's mind invite the demonstrators 
>>>  to join the circle. When you have conflict (which it sort of looks 
>>>  like you do) the solution is to keep opening the space until there 
>>>  is room for everybody who cares to come. Of course if the 
>>>  demonstrators don't care to come -- just want to stand on the 
>>>  outside and do whatever, that is their choice.
>>>
>>>  Harrison
>>>
>>>  Harrison Owen
>>>  7808 River Falls Dr.
>>>  Potomac, MD 20854
>>>  USA
>>>  Phone 301-365-2093
>>>  www.openspaceworld.com
>>>  www.ho-image.com (Personal Website)
>>>  To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of
>> oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu
>>>  :
>>>  http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
>>>
>>>  -----Original Message-----
>>  > From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of 
>>>  Eva P Svensson
>>>  Sent: Monday, February 22, 2010 8:41 AM
>>>  To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
>>>  Subject: Any experiences of OS and demonstrations?
>>>
>>>  Hi all!
>>>  I'm on my way to hold spAce at an OST meeting where the organizers are
>>>  expecting a demonstration against the proposal that is the theme for
>>>  the meeting! Any of you that have any experience from that??   Would
>>>  be most grateful for advice how to handle a situation like that!!
>>>  Snowy greatings from Sweden
>>  > :o)
>>>  Eva
>>>
>>>  Skickat från min iPhone
>>>
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> 

-- 
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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