[OSList] Sharing the pre-work of our New Jersey upcoming event
Christine Whitney Sanchez
cwhitneysanchez at gmail.com
Thu Jun 16 22:13:35 PDT 2011
Dear Suzanne and Chuni,
So much life, beautifully captured in the video interviews.
Congratulations on what appears to be spectacular success!
I know that you and Chuni have held the space for this event over many
months, through thick and thin. Your sincere hearts, wise minds and
skillful actions made it possible for this explosion of passion
bounded by responsibility.
Suzanne, I bow to your ability to support your client in opening the
space. Sounds like he may have caught the OS bug.
Love,
Christine
Christine Whitney Sanchez, Partner
Innovation Partners International
480.759.0262
www.innovationpartners.com
On Jun 16, 2011, at 9:50 PM, Suzanne Daigle wrote:
> Hi again everyone!
>
> The New Jersey event held on June 14th and 15th was absolutely
> amazing.
>
> For once, I don't feel I can describe what happened in New Jersey.
> It is beyond words. And somehow I feel that the success, intensity
> and excitement of this event belongs to all of you in this worldwide
> community. I know that what happened in New Jersey happens in so
> many places all around the world. I feel so grateful and connected
> to all of you in the process of doing this work.
>
> To hear people describe how they feel when they are in open space
> engaged in topics that they are passionate about defies words. I
> will never tire of hearing them describe their experiences.
>
> The stats can only give one sliver of description of what happened
> at this 2-day event: 150 diverse people in attendance, many on a
> wait list, 73 topics posted; 50+ summary reports and they're still
> coming in; hundreds of photos, lots of tweets, about 25 or more
> video interviews and a book of proceedings of nearly 110 pages. All
> of this in 2 short (or long) days. Many volunteers, a dedicated
> committee, the best partner ever (Chuni Li) plus many others (most
> of all the participants!) created the magic.
>
> Rather than me describing more, I invite you to check these sample
> videos
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-0BWV6Vf-E
>
> and
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFq6NYWb7mg&feature=related.
>
> If you search You Tube and type the key words creativenewjersey, you
> will find 20 or 25 more interviews with people talking about
> "Revitalizing New Jersey through Innovation and Creativity".
> Sprinkled here and there, you will also hear how they felt about
> Open Space.
>
> You can also check the event website http://creativenj.org/ which
> gives another flavor of what happened.
>
> Sleep deprived these past few days, I could not help but share my
> awe and gratitude with you before catching a few winks. I will also
> confide that it was tough not facilitating this event, letting the
> client take on this role that I love so much. I had provided him
> with some behind the scenes coaching. In the end, it felt like the
> right thing to do. Today he kindly sent me a note that said: "I now
> understand why you were a little regretful about not facilitating.
> It was great fun and a real high to see it all happen so
> brilliantly. It could be very addictive." In my mind's eye, I smile
> remembering the people lined up by his side to announce their topics
> and later seeing him pick up coffee cups and arranging the chairs in
> the circles for evening news and closing circle. I believe we may
> well have another facilitator in our midst. Life will never quite be
> the same for him as indeed it has never been quite the same for me
> and many of you.
>
> Thank you dear friends for being there always, wherever you are on
> this planet, as I once again share with you how I feel and what I
> have lived these past few days.
>
> Suzanne
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> On Sun, Jun 12, 2011 at 5:10 PM, Suzanne Daigle <sdaigle4 at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> Dear OS friends and colleagues:
>
> So many times during this project, I have wanted to write to you to
> share the exuberance, the challenges, the questioning, the
> commitment and the awe, pride and admiration I have felt for
> everyone involved in the two-day Creative New Jersey Open Space
> event scheduled to take place on June 14th and 15th of this week.
>
>
> Check out the site http://creativenj.org/ and to witness what’s
> happening live this week. You can even twitter if you’d like. Just
> don't forget to include #creativenj if you do tweet.
>
> For Chuni Li and me, co-facilitators on this Open Space project with
> Creative New Jersey, our work began a little over two months ago.
> For the organizing host team, the Vision had started about 18 months
> ago.
>
>
> A compelling white paper described the burning platform of a state
> (like most across the country) facing enormous economic, social,
> cultural, educational and environmental challenges. It spoke of a
> proud history of innovation, creativity and success. Their goal was
> a Call to Action to spark a movement that recognizes, fosters and
> sustains creativity and innovation as catalysts for a vital,
> prosperous and sustainable New Jersey.
>
>
> After an Open Space simulation, introduced as part of our pre-work,
> the organizing committee agreed to go with an OS process. Then
> began the work of creating an invitation which led to the theme
> question: “How can Creativity and Innovation Revitalize New Jersey?”
> Excitement was building with the committee though not without a
> certain degree of anxiety wondering how we would attract a group of
> 150 diverse individuals to commit two full days in mid-June. A
> weekly meeting schedule by conference call was established with the
> Host Team taking the lead on most of the pre-work assignments. With
> each passing week, the energy and enthusiasm kept building. Chuni
> and I became resources, assisting and guiding with the intention of
> not only helping them have a successful event but also transferring
> knowledge about Open Space, the mechanics and the depth of this self-
> organizing leadership process.
>
>
> Mid-stream, we also decided to call upon Gerry Kirk, from the Scrum
> Community, an avid supporter of Open Space, asking him to lead us on
> the technology side. Chuni became his right arm person, avid to
> learn and do. A host website with many simple tools was quickly
> created. Again the mission was about transferring the learning to
> the New Jersey team of volunteers. Now a few days before the event,
> the conversations are happening on line; many participants have
> already posted their profiles and we know that the site will be a
> welcoming place for blogs, live twitters, summary reports and short
> videos to capture impressions and highlights during the event. It
> will also serve as an important vehicle to continue the
> conversations afterwards and to share ideas and engage action and to
> invite more people to join.
>
>
> Initially the intent was that I would facilitate the event but in
> the course of our preparations, a request came asking if we would
> agree to have Larry Capo, one of the leads on this project,
> facilitate. For a split second I hesitated but then quickly agreed
> that yes, this was the way to go. Now as I listen to Larry
> counseling others on our weekly conference calls saying “whatever
> happens, happens”, “letting go is what we need to do ” or quoting a
> passage in Harrison’s Open Space Technology book, I know without a
> shadow of a doubt that this was the right decision and that in a
> different and very invisible way, I too will be holding space with
> him, working at the newsroom.
>
> Today, a diverse group of nearly 170 people have confirmed from
> business and industry, education, arts and culture, science and
> technology, government, communities, medical and pharmaceuticals,
> faith based, media and others.
>
> As I reflect on what has happened these past few months, I can
> almost hear Harrison’s voice to us the facilitators of Open Space
> saying “one less thing to do” is one more thing the clients can do
> for themselves. Chuni and I have contributed in a different way,
> wrestling at times as it was not always easy watching our clients
> struggle and work as hard as they have. In the end, as we look
> forward to our upcoming event, I feel and hear the pride and
> ownership of what has been achieved to date and I can only imagine
> how wonderful and great it will be when we get to the end of the
> closing circle “when it’s over, it’s over”. Of course, we will
> know that it’s really just the beginning … of a transformative
> change to revitalize New Jersey.
>
>
> There are no words to express the joy at the emergent collaboration
> of working with this wonderful team. Wish us all luck and please
> hold the space for us and with us. Thank you Harrison for your wise
> counsel and support along the way; Lisa Heft for your expert
> guidance on the simulation and pre-work; and Diane Gibeault, my
> teacher and friend, for the opportunity to ponder deeply together
> and to exchange ideas in Ottawa last week and over the phone.
>
>
> Suzanne (with Chuni Li)
>
>
>
> --
> 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
> twitter @suzannedaigle
>
>
>
>
> --
> 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
> twitter @suzannedaigle
>
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