FW: Open Space with seniors

[Wendy Farmer-O'Neil]

Hi Catherine,

Love all of the contributions so far.  I have facilitated a number of  
OS events with a large number of seniors present.  Never any problems  
managing the usual process--like the rest of us, they are able to take  
care of their needs as the day goes along, naps and all.  The beauty  
of OS.

The only two things I take into extra consideration (other than the  
usual accessibility concerns as for any venue) are needing to be more  
mindful of hearing issues (make sure your sound system is the kind  
that doesn't produce feedback when it gets near a hearing aid!) and i  
have had multiple requests to have the markers and paper elevated off  
the floor (stiff joints and all) and possibly some writing surfaces  
available as getting down onto the floor to write out the topics is  
very challenging for some--and shaking hands can need something to  
help them steady.  If you tackle it as you would any group that has  
multiple physical challenges, rather than focusing on age, you'll do  
fine.

Best wishes and blessings,
Wendy


On 22-Nov-10, at 6:19 AM, Harrison Owen wrote:

>
> Having spent 75 years on this planet, I guess I could qualify as a  
> “senior,” and from that perspective I would judge that seniors are  
> pretty much like everybody else. If they have the passion, time will  
> not matter. As for storytelling, I think that is what OS is all  
> about, so I wouldn’t worry about a special time – it is going to  
> happen regardless. And being a senior in Open Space is the greatest  
> because you can go at your own pace. Need a nap – use your two feet  
> and find a comfortable place!
>
>
> 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
>
> From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of  
> Catherine Pfaehler
> Sent: Sunday, November 21, 2010 4:12 PM
> To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> Subject: Open Space with seniors
>
> Dear friends
>
> I have been asked by the Grey Panthers (a political organisation of  
> seniors) to briefly present OST to them on Tuesday, Nov. 30th. Most  
> of them are 55 years old or older. They want to have a one-day-event  
> dealing with their future and their image. At the same time, my  
> contact tells me that many of them like to tell stories from their  
> earlier lives when they were still working, and most of them think  
> that a whole day is too long for them. Some have also become a bit  
> fatalist, not caring too much about the future anymore.
>
> Please let me know what your experiences are when facilitating OST  
> for seniors, and how to deal with the above contradictions, i.e. how  
> to give enough time for storytelling when at the same time one  
> entire day might be too long for them to attend.
>
> I will be out of my office for a week now, but would be delighted to  
> find some of your answers in OSLIST by then. Thank you already!!!
>
> With gratitude, Catherine
>
> Catherine Pfaehler
> lic.oec.HSG
> Open Space Begleitung
> Burckhardtstrasse 2
> CH - 3008 Bern
> Telefon +41-(0)31 - 536 05 31
> Mobile  +41-(0)76 - 488 15 46
> c.pfaehler at open-space-begleitung.ch
> www.open-space-begleitung.ch
>
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Wendy Farmer-O'Neil
CEO Prospera Consulting
wendy at xe.net
1-800-713-2351

The moment of change is the only poem. -- Adrienne Rich





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