Open Space on Open Space 2011 San Francisco - March 2-4

[Raffi Aftandelian]

Amigos,

For those pondering attending this SF OSonOS, I'd like to post again a short
piece that Jo Toepfer wrote last year for Russian-speaking spaceholders and
friends of OST. His words were intended to answer the question, "Why attend
an OSonOS?"

Greetings from San Diego (considering the amount of rain we've had recently,
we might rename our town San Seattle!)

abrazos,
raphael

Whenever an OST Learning Exchange (LEX) is going to take place in my region
I try to attend these type of events. And, I always try to convince my
co-workers and clients to do so. There are a couple of good reasons for this:

First, I have a chance to be at an OST event as participant. This is a rare
chance for me as facilitator to be just a participant. But it implies a
massive learning opportunity to concentrate on my sensations and feeling
while I am just there. I also learn more about my own needs how and when to
apply the law of two feet. This gives me significant food for thoughts for
my work as facilitator.

Second, it is a brilliant opportunity to deepen my knowledge of OST. Every
single LEX is a practical exercise in Action Research. I discover new
countries, situations and fields where OST has been applied. I learn more
about possible occasions where OST is appropriate. Colleagues tell my about
their experience and their ways of applying OST in different countries,
situations and fields.

Third, since a whole bunch of colleagues with different backgrounds show up
the LEX represents a chance to meet new and old friends. OST folks are
normally easy going people and it is very easy to get in touch. The LEX
itself transforms into a playground for new ideas and projects that I would
never ever have been able to create on my own. When I go home and browse
through the Book of Proceeding with all the projects and agreements made I
am normally surprised and feel gifted with a lot of new opportunities.

Fourth, at a LEX I advance my facilitation skills. I have a chance to
reflect upon the way to facilitate OST events. This includes reflection
about pre- and after work and logistical aspects. We tell each other the way
we work and this is a tremendous rich resource of differences. This includes
not only behavioural aspects of the facilitation work but also technical
details of materials used, timing for set-up and take-down, size of the
team, type of paper used, computing and software applications.

Fifth, there is normally an issues like "One thing less to do" and I love
it. For me this represents a very productive mental exercise to find out
things that are not necessary to do and we can call the result still an OST
event. This makes life much easier for me.

Sixth, Every single LEX is a good chance to spread OST. Since the group of
participants is diverse it includes not only facilitators (which would turn
the event into a boring occasion) but also assistants, helpers, sponsors, to
name just a few. I walked never away from a LEX without at least a prospect
of a future assignment. It simply have the chance to advertise myself for
free and this supports my business.

I hope to see you at one of these events in future!
Jo Toepfer

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