OSLIST Digest - 31 Dec 2009 to 1 Jan 2010 (#2010-2)

Sat Jan 2 08:01:13 PST 2010

awesome story, Suzanne!
best wishes,
Eleder

2010/1/2 OSLIST automatic digest system <LISTSERV at listserv.boisestate.edu>

> There is 1 message totalling 359 lines in this issue.
>
> Topics of the day:
>
>  1. An ``Open Space Family`` Christmas Story (very long)
>
> *
> *
> ==========================================================
> 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
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Date:    Fri, 1 Jan 2010 15:33:34 -0500
> From:    Suzanne Daigle <sdaigle4 at gmail.com>
> Subject: An ``Open Space Family`` Christmas Story (very long)
>
> --00504502e96d25132c047c204983
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
>
> On December 15th, Harrison invited some serious collective thinking about
> =93Opening space 24 X 7=94 and what that might mean. His reflective
> questio=
> n and
> invitation sparked the idea to =93open space=94 in my family over the
> Chris=
> tmas
> holidays. What transpired was an Open Space event on December 28th 2009
> =96=
> a
> day that touched our family and friends in a way that we will never forget.
>
> What began as a spark of an idea turned into Open Space pre-work leading to
> a family gathering invitation by my 16-year old niece Emily who became the
> official host and her 33-year-old cousin Charlie as co-collaborator.  We
> communicated by conference call: me in Florida, Emily in New York state and
> Charlie in New Brunswick, Canada. We decided to invite family *and *
> friend=
> s.
> We created a theme: *=93If I could change MY world or OUR world just a
> litt=
> le
> bit=85=94* We crafted a few supporting questions like (What am I passionate
> about? What makes me happy? Who am I? Who do I want to be? How can I make a
> difference?). We set up a NING site and my sister Monique in Canada took
> charge of finding a place to meet, handling a bunch of logistics. We
> planne=
> d
> a 4-hour event followed by supper and an evening of live music showcasing
> the homegrown talent of nieces, nephews and others. The excitement and
> anticipation was palpable. The traditional holiday gift-giving and eating
> seemed to take second place.
>
> Worth noting that I had not seen either Emily or Charlie in years and
> truthfully, we hardly knew each other=85in the sense of really knowing each
> other.  Like typical parents and siblings, my brother would speak of his
> kids (he has four), my sister would share happenings about her grown-up
> adolescents (2) and I would do the same with my daughter.  Like most
> families, when some of us got together, we=92d all greet and hug each
> other=
>  as
> everyone arrived and soon after, groups had formed with the young people
> hanging out in a corner of the house playing video games or watching a
> movi=
> e
> and the adults sitting on comfortable couches and chairs catching up over a
> beer or a glass of wine.  We=92d have meals in the same house, but
> typicall=
> y,
> we=92d be spread out all over the place.  *This* family gathering was very
> different=85a first and certainly not a last!
>
> One of the biggest firsts from this special day is that it was the
> *=93firs=
> t=94
> * time all of us siblings got together at Christmas in 30 years.  Had it
> no=
> t
> been for Open Space, this would not have happened.  I was supposed to be in
> Connecticut; my sister was planning to spend quiet time at home in Toronto,
> Canada, while my brother and  my other sister and their families would be
> i=
> n
> New Brunswick Canada for the holiday.  The =9324 x 7=94 invitation changed
> =
> all
> that. It sparked the idea to hold a family Open Space and before we knew
> it=
> ,
> we were scrambling to find cheap last minute airplane tickets to get to New
> Brunswick.
>
> Now to the Big Day!  We all had our name tags with lots of nervous energy
> and excitement to go with it. The chairs were set in a giant circle (we
> wer=
> e
> about 30), the posters were up, big white sheets on the floor with
> lots of  markers,
> our Empty Marketplace Wall was waiting for topics and the hand-drawn banner
> theme that Emily made was hung up.  Charlie welcomed everyone and handled
> the logistics (ie. bathroom, schedule, and turning off cell phones). He
> the=
> n
> introduced Emily. She starts by telling the story of how and why we were
> al=
> l
> here, expressing how happy she was and then introduces her Aunt Sue.  With
> =
> a
> lump in my throat, I walk the circle feeling all eyes on me, knowing
> how different it feels for them to be here sitting in a circle.  Like all
> the other Open Spaces I had facilitated, I recognized this nervousness and
> knew many of the unspoken questions in their heads:  =93Will I need to
> spea=
> k
> in public? What is going to happen? Why am I here? What are all these
> posters on the wall and white sheets in the middle of the floor?=94  I felt
> the nervousness too: this was my family and I knew how much they wanted
> thi=
> s
> to be a successful day for Emily, for Charlie and for me. I knew the family
> history =96 a typical loving and sometimes stressed out family, each
> juggli=
> ng
> busy lives as parents with active careers or kids with packed schedules,
> many of us working way too hard, doing the best we can, often feeling
> it=92=
> s
> never enough. Some were visibly uncomfortable having shared quietly with me
> before that they were introverts and didn=92t really like ``this kind of
> stuff``.
>
> Well as always happens in Open Space, any doubt anybody had was immediately
> erased. The worries wondering if anyone would write a topic disappeared in
> an instant with the most introvert attendee (an accountant) being the first
> on his knees writing a topic.  I had invited everyone in our opening
> remark=
> s
> to pretend they had no age and to remember what it felt like to be 10, 14
> o=
> r
> 16 again or if young, to imagine themselves older.  The most introvert, the
> one with little hair on his head, broke the ice as he announced his topic
> b=
> y
> saying: =93I=92m Dan and right now I am 19  -- a time when I had lots of
> ha=
> ir
> just like Charlie (his goes to his shoulders)=94.   The self-organizing
> mag=
> ic
> had done its thing!
> What surprised me though and truly brought tears to my eyes were the topics
> themselves, the depth, the passion, the caring and the universal subjects
> s=
> o
> common in Open Space.  Add to this the quality of the conversations that I,
> as a facilitator, could not be part of but heard much about; the awe the
> adults experienced listening to the depth from their kids about life and
> th=
> e
> world.
> People shopped the marketplace and we then had 2 rounds of conversations on
> 12 very meaningful topcs. *If you want to know more, please visit our NING
> site: http://ostwiththestpierres.ning.com/*
>
> But before you click the link, a last short open space tale about my
> 10=96year-old niece Laura (Emily=92s sister) who stole the day=85almost!
>  H=
> er
> topic:  =93How can we help the Earth?=94   As the initiator, she attracted
> =
> 4
> adults including Frank, a scientist and university professor with a PHD in
> marine geology. From what I hear, she more than held her own. Bumble bees
> joined and there was Laura engaging her group in shared leadership, she on
> the floor taking notes, others on their chairs above with all eyes on her
> flip chart, totally engrossed in the conversation. Within an hour, Laura
> wa=
> s
> at the newsroom, jumping on her computer (we had 5 computers) typing her
> report.  Big words, big thoughts, no matter, Laura was part of this group
> a=
> s
> equal and expert as any and all of them!
>
> So dear Open Space community, may we all =93Open up Space=94 in our lives
> 2=
> 4 X 7
> in family, in community or at work because I am convinced, without a shadow
> of a doubt, that opening space to have conversations that matter is how we
> will touch and improve the world we live in.  In 2009, I learned to `just
> d=
> o
> it`` and in 2010, on this first day of a brand New Year, I plan with
> courag=
> e
> and conviction to do more of it wherever and whenever I can.
>
> Feeling very grateful in this present moment!
>
> *Suzanne *
> http://ostwiththestpierres.ning.com/
>
> --=20
> Suzanne Daigle
> NuFocus Strategic Group
> 7159 Victoria Circle
> University Park, FL 34201
> FL 941-359-8877;  CT 203-722-2009
> www.nufocusgroup.com
> s.daigle at nufocusgroup.com
>
> *
> *
>
> =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
>
> --00504502e96d25132c047c204983
> Content-Type: text/html; charset=windows-1252
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
>
> <p style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=3D"MsoNormal"><font size=3D"3"
> face=
> =3D"Calibri">On December 15<sup>th</sup>, Harrison invited some serious
> col=
> lective thinking about =93Opening space 24 X 7=94 and what that might
> mean.=
>  His reflective question and invitation sparked the idea to =93open space=
> =94 in my family over the Christmas holidays. What transpired was an Open
> S=
> pace event on December 28<sup>th</sup> 2009 =96a day that touched our
> famil=
> y and friends in a way that we will never forget. </font></p>
>
> <p style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt 0.25in" class=3D"MsoNormal"><font
> size=3D"=
> 3" face=3D"Calibri">What began as a spark of an idea turned into Open
> Space=
>  pre-work leading to a family gathering invitation by my 16-year old niece
> =
> Emily who became the official host and her 33-year-old cousin Charlie as
> co=
> -collaborator.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">=A0 </span>We communicated
> =
> by conference call: me in Florida, Emily in New York state and Charlie in
> N=
> ew Brunswick, Canada. We decided to invite family <i
> style=3D"mso-bidi-font=
> -style: normal"><u>and</u> </i><span style=3D"mso-spacerun:
> yes">=A0</span>=
> friends. We created a theme: <b style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><i
> s=
> tyle=3D"mso-bidi-font-style: normal">=93If I could change MY world or OUR
> w=
> orld just a little bit=85=94</i></b> We crafted a few supporting questions
> =
> like (What am I passionate about? What makes me happy? Who am I? Who do I
> w=
> ant to be? How can I make a difference?). We set up a NING site and my
> sist=
> er Monique in Canada took charge of finding a place to meet, handling a
> bun=
> ch of logistics. We planned a 4-hour event followed by supper and an
> evenin=
> g of live music showcasing the homegrown talent of nieces, nephews and
> othe=
> rs. The excitement and anticipation was palpable. The traditional holiday
> g=
> ift-giving and eating seemed to take second place. </font></p>
>
> <p style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=3D"MsoNormal"><font size=3D"3"
> face=
> =3D"Calibri">Worth noting that I had not seen either Emily or Charlie in
> ye=
> ars and truthfully, we hardly knew each other=85in the sense of really
> know=
> ing each other. <span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">=A0</span>Like typical
> pa=
> rents and siblings, my brother would speak of his kids (he has four), my
> si=
> ster would share happenings about her grown-up adolescents (2) and I would
> =
> do the same with my daughter.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">=A0
> </span>L=
> ike most families, when some of us got together, we=92d all greet and hug
> e=
> ach other as everyone arrived and soon after, groups had formed with the
> yo=
> ung people hanging out in a corner of the house playing video games
> or=A0wa=
> tching a movie and the adults sitting on comfortable couches and chairs
> cat=
> ching up over a beer or a glass of wine.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">=
> =A0 </span>We=92d have meals in the same house, but typically, we=92d be
> sp=
> read out all over the place.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">=A0
> </span><b=
>  style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><i style=3D"mso-bidi-font-style:
> no=
> rmal">This</i></b> family gathering was very different=85a first and
> certai=
> nly not a last! </font></p>
>
> <p style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=3D"MsoNormal"><font size=3D"3"
> face=
> =3D"Calibri">One of the biggest firsts from this special day is that it
> was=
>  the <i style=3D"mso-bidi-font-style: normal">=93first=94 </i><span style=
> =3D"mso-spacerun: yes">=A0</span>time all of us siblings got together at
> Ch=
> ristmas in 30 years.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">=A0 </span>Had it
> not=
>  been for Open Space, this would not have happened. <span
> style=3D"mso-spac=
> erun: yes">=A0</span>I was supposed to be in Connecticut; my sister was
> pla=
> nning to spend quiet time at home in Toronto, Canada, while my brother and
> =
> <span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">=A0</span>my other sister and their
> famil=
> ies would be=A0in New Brunswick Canada for the holiday. <span
> style=3D"mso-=
> spacerun: yes">=A0</span>The =9324 x 7=94 invitation changed all that. It
> s=
> parked the idea to hold a family Open Space and before we knew it, we were
> =
> scrambling to find cheap last minute airplane tickets to get to New
> Brunswi=
> ck. </font></p>
>
> <p style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=3D"MsoNormal"><font size=3D"3"
> face=
> =3D"Calibri">Now to the Big Day!<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">=A0
> </spa=
> n>We all had our name tags with lots of nervous energy and excitement to
> go=
>  with it. The chairs were set in a giant circle (we were about 30), the
> pos=
> ters were up, big white sheets on the floor with lots of <span
> style=3D"mso=
> -spacerun: yes">=A0</span>markers, our Empty Marketplace Wall was waiting
> f=
> or topics and the hand-drawn banner theme that Emily made was hung
> up.<span=
>  style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">=A0 </span>Charlie welcomed everyone and
> handl=
> ed the logistics=A0(ie. bathroom, schedule, and turning off cell phones).
> H=
> e then introduced Emily. She starts by telling the story of how and why we
> =
> were all here, expressing how happy she was and then introduces her Aunt
> Su=
> e.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">=A0 </span>With a lump in my throat, I
> =
> walk the circle feeling all eyes on me, knowing how=A0different it=A0feels
> =
> for them to be here sitting in a circle. <span style=3D"mso-spacerun:
> yes">=
> =A0</span>Like all the other Open Spaces I had facilitated, I recognized
> th=
> is nervousness and knew many of the unspoken questions in their
> heads:<span=
>  style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">=A0 </span>=93Will I need to speak in public?
> =
> What is going to happen? Why am I here? What are all these posters on the
> w=
> all and white sheets in the middle of the floor?=94=A0<span
> style=3D"mso-sp=
> acerun: yes">=A0</span>I felt the nervousness too: this=A0was my family
> and=
>  I knew how much they wanted this to be a successful day for Emily, for
> Cha=
> rlie and for me. I knew the family history =96 a typical loving and
> sometim=
> es stressed out family, each juggling busy lives as=A0parents with active
> c=
> areers or kids with packed schedules, many of us working way too hard,
> doin=
> g the best we can, often feeling it=92s never enough. Some were visibly
> unc=
> omfortable having shared quietly with me before that they were introverts
> a=
> nd didn=92t really like ``this kind of stuff``.</font></p>
>
> <p style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=3D"MsoNormal"><font
> face=3D"Calibri=
> "><font size=3D"3">Well as always happens in Open Space, any doubt anybody
> =
> had was immediately erased. The worries wondering if anyone would write a
> t=
> opic disappeared in an instant with the most introvert attendee (an
> account=
> ant) being the first on his knees writing a topic.</font><span
> style=3D"mso=
> -spacerun: yes"><font size=3D"3">=A0 </font><font size=3D"3">I had invited
> =
> everyone in our opening remarks to pretend they had no age and to remember
> =
> what it felt like to be 10, 14 or 16 again or if young, to imagine
> themselv=
> es older.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">=A0 </span>The most introvert,
> t=
> he one with little hair on his head, broke the ice as he announced his
> topi=
> c by saying: =93I=92m Dan and right now I am 19 <span
> style=3D"mso-spacerun=
> : yes">=A0</span>-- a time when I had lots of hair just like Charlie (his
> g=
> oes to his shoulders)=94.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">=A0=A0
> </span>Th=
> e self-organizing magic had done its thing!</font></span></font></p>
>
> <div style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=3D"MsoNormal"><font
> size=3D"3">Wh=
> at surprised me though and truly brought tears to my eyes were the topics
> t=
> hemselves, the depth, the passion, the caring and the universal subjects
> so=
>  common in Open Space.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">=A0 </span>Add to
> t=
> his the quality of the conversations that I, as a facilitator, could not
> be=
>  part of but heard much about; the awe the adults experienced listening to
> =
> the depth from their kids=A0about life and the world.<span
> style=3D"mso-spa=
> cerun: yes">=A0</span></font></div>
>
> <div style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=3D"MsoNormal"><font
> size=3D"3"><f=
> ont face=3D"Calibri">People shopped the marketplace and we then had 2
> round=
> s of conversations on 12 very meaningful topcs. <b
> style=3D"mso-bidi-font-w=
> eight: normal">If you want to know more, please visit our NING site: <a
> hre=
> f=3D"http://ostwiththestpierres.ning.com/">
> http://ostwiththestpierres.ning.=
> com/</a></b></font></font></div>
>
> <p style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=3D"MsoNormal"><font
> size=3D"3"><fon=
> t face=3D"Calibri">But before you click the link, a last short open space
> t=
> ale about my 10=96year-old niece Laura (Emily=92s sister) who stole the
> day=
> =85almost!<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">=A0 </span>Her topic:<span
> styl=
> e=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">=A0 </span>=93How can we help the Earth?=94<span
> st=
> yle=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">=A0=A0 </span>As the initiator, she attracted 4
> a=
> dults including Frank, a scientist and university professor with a PHD in
> m=
> arine geology.=A0From what I hear, she more than held her own. Bumble bees
> =
> joined and there was Laura engaging her group in shared leadership, she on
> =
> the floor taking notes, others on their chairs above with all eyes on her
> f=
> lip chart, totally engrossed in the conversation. Within an hour, Laura
> was=
>  at the newsroom, jumping on her computer (we had 5 computers) typing her
> r=
> eport.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">=A0 </span>Big words, big
> thoughts,=
>  no matter, Laura was part of this group as equal and expert as any and
> all=
>  of them!<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">=A0 </span></font></font></p>
>
> <p style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=3D"MsoNormal"><font size=3D"3"
> face=
> =3D"Calibri">So dear Open Space community, may we all =93Open up Space=94
> i=
> n our lives 24 X 7 in family, in community or at work because I am
> convince=
> d, without a shadow of a doubt, that opening space to have conversations
> th=
> at matter is how we will touch and improve the world we live in.=A0 In
> 2009=
> , I learned to `just do it`` and in 2010,=A0on this first day of a brand
> Ne=
> w Year, I plan with courage and conviction to do more of it wherever and
> wh=
> enever I can. </font></p>
>
> <p style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=3D"MsoNormal"><font size=3D"3"
> face=
> =3D"Calibri">Feeling very grateful in this present moment!</font></p>
> <p style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=3D"MsoNormal"><b
> style=3D"mso-bidi-=
> font-weight: normal"><i style=3D"mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style=
> =3D"mso-ansi-language: FR-CA" lang=3D"FR-CA"><font size=3D"3"><font
> face=3D=
> "Calibri">Suzanne </font></font></span></i></b></p>
>
> <div style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=3D"MsoNormal"><font
> size=3D"3"><f=
> ont face=3D"Calibri"><a href=3D"http://ostwiththestpierres.ning.com/
> ">http:=
> //ostwiththestpierres.ning.com/</a></font></font></div>
> <div style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=3D"MsoNormal"><br>-- <br>Suzanne
> =
> Daigle<br>NuFocus Strategic Group<br>7159 Victoria Circle<br>University
> Par=
> k, FL 34201<br>FL 941-359-8877; =A0CT 203-722-2009<br><a href=3D"
> http://www=
> .nufocusgroup.com">www.nufocusgroup.com</a><br>
> <a href=3D"mailto:s.daigle at nufocusgroup.com">s.daigle at nufocusgroup.com
> </a><=
> br></div>
> *
> *
>
> =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
>
> --00504502e96d25132c047c204983--
>
> ------------------------------
>
> End of OSLIST Digest - 31 Dec 2009 to 1 Jan 2010 (#2010-2)
> **********************************************************
>

*
*
==========================================================
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
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.openspacetech.org/pipermail/oslist-openspacetech.org/attachments/20100102/b52d94a5/attachment-0015.htm>