Fwd: Testing with an Open Space story

Fri Mar 5 06:28:11 PST 2010

thank you Michael...like in Open Space, it's when we keep things
simple and pure that the magic happens.   with gratitude and many
sunny smiles from Florida!.

On Fri, Mar 5, 2010 at 9:21 AM, Michael Herman
<michael at michaelherman.com> wrote:
> now i just got this latest message from suzanne.  the thing that
> seemed to make the difference is that she's turned off "rich
> formatting" in gmail.  that might be what made the difference in my
> being able to post again last night.
>
> with the rich formatting turned on, i think, messages were actually
> getting to the archive, and getting to the digest, but were not
> actually getting to everyone who is on individual messages
> distribution.
>
> so... assuming this goes through, and assuming you get this lisa,
> might you see if you don't have a way to send using 'plain text' only
> option from your mail provider.  this might be the thing that makes
> the difference?
>
> christine and others on gmail, this might be the thing that makes your
> oslist life right again, too, but it's not just a gmail thing.  so --
> anyone -- if your messages aren't getting through, try turning off the
> rich formatting option and sending only plain text... back to *bold*
> and REALLY BOLD, i guess!  could there be a list where such simple
> formatting made any more sense than here? (!!!)
>
> m
>
>
>
> --
>
> Michael Herman
> Michael Herman Associates
>
> http://www.michaelherman.com
> http://www.ronanparktrail.com
> http://www.chicagoconservationcorps.org
> http://www.openspaceworld.org
>
> 312-280-7838 (mobile)
>
>
>
> On Fri, Mar 5, 2010 at 8:09 AM, Suzanne Daigle <sdaigle4 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Trying again as per Michael's instructions to use plain text only.
>>
>> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
>> From: Suzanne Daigle <sdaigle4 at gmail.com>
>> Date: Fri, Mar 5, 2010 at 7:15 AM
>> Subject: Testing with an Open Space story
>> To: OSLIST <OSLIST at listserv.boisestate.edu>
>>
>>
>> Testing if my posting (via gmail account) goes through this time with
>> an Open Space story; thx Michael for your work on this.  Like Lisa,
>> Diane Gibeault and others, my posts have not been going through these
>> past few months.
>>
>> A few weeks ago, I was referred a client by one of my business
>> partners.  A president of a family-owned mid-size business wanted to
>> have a retreat meeting with family members working for the business
>> (sons, son-in-law, others) and others, not working for the company who
>> he felt were interconnected with its success through their support
>> (spouses, children, and others).  In total a group of 12 who were on
>> vacation at Disney World, a few hours away from my home.
>>
>> I suggested Open Space.  We came up with a simple theme: My Company,
>> My Family, My Life and My Future.  We created an enticing invitation
>> with a few thought-provoking questions.   I stopped in briefly the
>> night before to introduce myself in person.  I had spoken with the
>> President, his 14-year-old daughter and 13-year-old nephew discussing
>> how they would be welcoming the group and how the host would describe
>> the context and purpose of the gathering.  Everyone was very nice
>> though it felt a little awkward as I could feel their questions and
>> the touch of nervousness that happens when people wonder “what the
>> heck will this meeting be about; who is this person anyway and will I
>> need to talk in front of everybody?”
>>
>> I drove home that night thinking WOW, will this really work?  I
>> quickly went through Harrison’s ideal conditions for an Open Space:
>> issue of major concern, high levels of complexity, diversity, actual
>> or potential conflict, and urgent decision time of yesterday.  Ouch,
>> except for diversity none of these really applied.!  Then somehow,
>> deep inside myself, I said, it worked with my family when we did Open
>> Space at Christmas, it will work with theirs. They’ll have an
>> opportunity to have intimate conversations with everyone equal sitting
>> in circle. We’ll be opening space and time so they can hear each other
>> in different ways, not according to their family roles, work roles or
>> age,  but as unique individuals with their own thoughts, feelings and
>> dreams.  That’s how I would open the circle.
>>
>> As usual, I should not have worried. From the moment I walked into
>> their rented house, I had an army of people helping set up the rooms,
>> the posters, the circle, everything. So much laughter and brimming
>> enthusiasm. Then, what a gift it was to see the topics emerge (14 in
>> all) and to hold the space as they jumped into their conversations
>> huddled in small groups then gathering in large groups as they became
>> bumble bees. I felt the spirit of play and the intensity of their
>> sharing.  I had set up a news room and WOW, they typed no less than
>> ten (10) reports generated from 3 sessions of 1 hour each. I quietly
>> took photos, and then sometimes went outside wanting to leave them
>> their privacy as I felt them discovering each other in new ways. The
>> timid 13 year old was coming into his own, all age groups (parents,
>> kids, spouses, nephews, etc) sitting on the floor or sprawled on
>> chairs totally engaged – no status, no experts, no set roles just
>> family sharing in new and different ways. I had introduced them to a
>> talking piece that they could use during their discussions knowing
>> from previous experience with my family that sometimes the adults
>> (moms and dads) talk too much.  It seemed to work. The closing circle
>> was touching and when I got home that night, looking at all the
>> photos, I knew that magic had happened again. The next day, I pulled
>> together their photo album capturing the theme, the basic principles
>> of Open Space and the 4 principles of life (and Law of 2 feet) that
>> they had been exposed to along with the special images of that day and
>> all their printed reports. It would anchor the experience and leave
>> them with a cellular memory of this gathering capturing in the moment
>> expressions and emotions. They had shared dreams, talked about work,
>> family and life.
>>
>> Yes opening space, everywhere and anywhere is what I want to do and
>> will do. And it feels so wonderful to be able to share these simple
>> stories here in our Open Space community.  Hope it goes through.   :-}
>>
>> Hugs to all, Suzanne
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> 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
>>
>> *
>> *
>> ==========================================================
>> 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
>

-- 
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

*
*
==========================================================
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