[OSList] Signing up for sessions

Sun Nov 6 03:22:12 PST 2011

To those who opt not to do the "Sign ups"

Is there not, then, a "Marketplace?" as I think Harrison is referencing.

So , , , Does the "One thing less" mean that the OST flow goes from Opening
to posting sessions then to sessions without marketplace.

I know it always works . . . and I know it would still work most probably
even with as "silent Opening" . . . but I'm also wondering about the "BUZZ"

My way is that I do the sign-ups as in during my comments after the topics
are on the wall include an invitation to sign up for the sessions for which
folks have passion . . . and I know secretly inside that many folks won't -
or they'll sign up for things they never show up for . . . That's life :-)

I DO believe it adds something to the overall experience - That BUZZ of the
Marketplace which "for me" always seems akin to "Horse-trading" and giving
the participants the opportunity to "make deals" by combining sessions etc.

This thing about "following people" is going to happen regardless . . . Of
course doing the sign-ups facilitates that, and there are 2 sides of that
coin . . . Sign ups are a handy way for a person to be in sessions with
people they really wish to be with . . . The flip side is that they might
be excluding self from meeting other interesting people (and ideas) . . .

Again, each person can choose her own level of participation in the sign-up
process.

All of this to say that I do it and see real value in doing it . . . and
honoring the practice of others who don't with tremendous success.

Good thing we have our differences . . . otherwise life would be dull and
learning would be shallow.

:-)

>From a Blissfully crisp Nashville morning

b

On Sat, Nov 5, 2011 at 9:42 AM, Birgitt Williams <
birgitt at dalarinternational.com> wrote:

> Warm greetings,****
>
> This is a subject I will chime in on. I don’t have anyone sign up onto the
> session of their choosing. In thinking of one thing less to do, there was
> very little point to do so. In the end, people end up going where they feel
> inspired to go, and the signing up process didn’t add value. I always keep
> the space in the plenary area free of small group sessions…and simply
> invite the groups, if they discover they are too big, to come back and use
> space in the plenary area. I remember a meeting that Harrison and I did
> some years back, and a large group of about 40 people stayed in the plenary
> session for the full four session times of the day…the session was ‘the
> conflict’ and was able facilitated all day long by three amazing women. The
> same 40 people didn’t stay but it was always about 40 in the room.****
>
> ** **
>
> One additional reason I stopped doing sign ups for the sessions is about
> the marking pens. I had a terrible incident in a community OST meeting
> commissioned by a government, in which as people dropped the marking pens
> onto the floor after signing up, they became a safety hazard as some
> seniors slipped on them and tumbled to the floor…never again for me. The
> marking pens at the start are kept in the center until the topics go up,
> and then are available later on a table…but not along that congested agenda
> wall.****
>
> ** **
>
> Good luck with your event,****
>
> Birgitt****
>
> ** **
>
> *From:* oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org [mailto:
> oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] *On Behalf Of *Harrison Owen
> *Sent:* Saturday, November 05, 2011 9:07 AM
> *To:* 'World wide Open Space Technology email list'
> *Subject:* Re: [OSList] Signing up for sessions****
>
> ** **
>
> I always invite the participants to take a writing implement and sign
> their name on the session(s) of their choosing – always making clear that
> this is not a “firm contract” – but an indication of intention and
> interest. At the end of the day, it remains true – that whoever comes are
> the right people. But the signatures do give some useful information as to
> whether the “right people” will be a lot or a few. In smaller groups with
> lots of free space, that information really doesn’t make a lot of
> difference. But when you have a large number of participants, it can be
> helpful, especially when the break out space are confined. When you see a
> session paper covered with signatures that can suggest that a change of
> venue to a larger space may be in order. This is not something you need to
> worry about as facilitator. The folks will take care of the business. For
> yourself just count it as one more thing NOT to do.****
>
> ** **
>
> Harrison****
>
> ** **
>
> Harrison Owen****
>
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> *From:* oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org [mailto:
> oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] *On Behalf Of *Rob van der Eyden
> *Sent:* Saturday, November 05, 2011 3:10 AM
> *To:* oslist at lists.openspacetech.org
> *Subject:* [OSList] Signing up for sessions****
>
> ** **
>
> Hi all,****
>
> ** **
>
> I am preparing an Open space later this week. My first one… So was going
> through the book yesterday. Sounds all good and exciting.****
>
> ** **
>
> On – probably stupid – question though: after the issues have been raised,
> agenda made and marketplace opened, how do participants sign up for
> sessions? Is that really by subscribing on paper or just by showing up at
> the time and place that was planned for the session?****
>
> ** **
>
> Thanks & best regards, Rob****
>
> ** **
>
> De Veranderarchitect B.V.****
>
>  ****
>
> Rob A.I. van der Eyden****
>
>  ****
>
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> done by us" (K. Moss Kanter)*****
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