SV: Working group

[Thomas Herrmann]

Dear Allison
I have put quite a lot of energy into developing methods for distance
meetings, together with other collegues. We use an online version of Whole
Person Process Facilitation (The Genuine Contact Program) to facilitate
distance meetings - with great results.
Some pieces I also used in some of the telephone conferences we have had
with OS-Institutes through the last years. I start by asking each
participant to draw a circle on a piece of paper (can be prepared beforehand
by the facilitator if you have a suitable software which allows you to use
common whiteboards (we have a license for LiveMeeting).
Then each person has a seat in the circle. This gives you as facilitator at
least two options using rounds and placing an object in the center for
people to take if they want to speak. This way people may speak until they
are finished w/o being interrupted.

Using a good software can give you more options - showing documents,
whiteboards, textdocuments, spaces for break out groups, video and whatever.
That way it's easier to have variation, give space for different learning
styles and have high energy throughout the meeting and also achieve more! 

Maybe Skype is good enough these days, even if you will not have all the
functions mentioned above. Earlier we had lots of problems with
interruptions using Skype, MSN and other freeware. So now we had LiveMeeting
for a year.

We gathered some experiences (for facilitators and participants) in a
document a couple of years ago -time to update - but I could send it to you
if you like.
Warm regards
Thomas

-----Ursprungligt meddelande-----
Från: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] För Allison & Jim
Baensch
Skickat: den 11 mars 2010 23:32
Till: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Ämne: Working group

Hi All,
I am unsure how to proceed and would appreciate your suggestions or  
thoughts.

As one of a hundred members of an Australian professional  
association, I have offered to be on a new, nine person working group.
I was asked to set up this group, by ringing people who had expressed  
interest in the association's future.
(Concerns had been expressed by several members about our future and  
how to establish a suitable structure.)
The working group had been asked to look at structures including  
incorporation and to write a constitution for the association.

Members of the working group are scattered through much of Australia,  
so phone or similar meetings are more likely than face to face.

There is some interest in using Open Space.
One member of the group recently attended a 5 day Open Space  
gathering and was most impressed.
I have sent the openspaceworld web site to group members.

For some reason I am having difficulty with finding the next step.
I guess it has to do with invitation.
And with knowing how we can best 'meet' if Open Space is chosen as  
our group's meeting and operating structure.
It might be to do with finding a suitable technology.

The bodywork we all perform has many of the same principles as Open  
Space, in a physical way.

Greetings from a cool, clear Autumn day in South-East Victoria,  
Australia,
from Allison.

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