[OSList] FW: Reflections and an Invitation
Harrison Owen
hhowen at verizon.net
Fri Sep 2 08:30:32 PDT 2011
Somehow this came back to me??? And never made OSLIST. Is there a message
here? Something about going in circles.
Harrison
From: Harrison Owen [mailto:hhowen at verizon.net]
Sent: Friday, September 02, 2011 11:19 AM
To: 'World wide Open Space Technology email list'
Subject: RE: [OSList] Reflections and an Invitation
Birgitt - I think Open Space Technology is just a beginning, but definitely
a useful place to start. As for hoped for outcomes, I'd settle for the
continuation of Homo sapiens with dignity and respect. No small task, but it
should be fun. As for the legacy bit - I don't really know what my legacy is
or will be. I think it is in the nature of such things that they are best
determined by others. One way or another - including nothing at all. Or
something. And now have I totally confused the situation? J
Harrison
Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Dr.
Potomac, MD 20854
USA
189 Beaucaire Ave. (summer)
Camden, Maine 20854
Phone 301-365-2093
(summer) 207-763-3261
www.openspaceworld.com
www.ho-image.com (Personal Website)
To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of OSLIST
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From: oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org
[mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of Birgitt
Williams
Sent: Friday, September 02, 2011 10:44 AM
To: 'World wide Open Space Technology email list'
Subject: Re: [OSList] Reflections and an Invitation
Dear Harrison,
I have given your reflections and invitation a lot of thought, not wanting
to rush with a response, and wanting to search my heart. I find that before
I can respond, I wish for more information from you. You see, there is the
tale and there are the details. I can see the details, but I am unclear of
what the tale is. I wish to respond to the tale, and not the details.
1. Is the tale that you are telling here your desire to leave a legacy
beyond the legacy of leaving Open Space Technology in the world?
2. If this is a request regarding the legacy you wish to leave in the
world, could you please put your desire of what you wish the legacy to be,
into about three sentences for clarity. This would assist with the tale.
3. What is the outcome for humanity that you wish to achieve with this
legacy, assuming that the details of who works on it and how are taken care
of without you needing to concern yourself with details?
Love to you, Birgitt
From: Harrison Owen [mailto:hhowen at verizon.net]
Sent: Friday, September 02, 2011 8:41 AM
To: 'World wide Open Space Technology email list'
Subject: Re: [OSList] Reflections and an Invitation
Suzanne
Not to put words in Chris's mouth - but I think what he had reference to was
all those "Grand Summits" that were going to solve the problems of the
world. Seems like everybody is doing it. I agree with Chris that their
success rate is minimal at best, and that is being charitable. The reason,,
from where I sit was that everybody got together and talked about what they
had always been talking about, in the way that they had always been talking.
Not surprisingly, doing more and more of what they had always done brought
them to the same old places. But it is not so much the content as the manner
of speaking. The Chair ruled and papers were presented. Genuine and useful
conversations were at a minimum. So I don't think it is a matter of "big" or
"small" - but how it is all done. A conference for 7 Billion is not exactly
a small one but for sure no Chair could rule.
I understand your feelings of overwhelm. And I strongly suspect that anybody
currently living on the planet and even remotely connected to something more
than their family or village will have those feelings. I sure do. On
especially bad days, I find it useful to remember that - Given all the
things that have happened, might have happened, shouldn't have happened in
the history of the species Homo sapiens, it is totally remarkable that we
are still here to complain about how bad things have gotten. No doubt we
have a full plate, and clearly no single person, small group, or even Grand
Summit is going to come up with the magic bullet. That said, I know we have
assets and resources we haven't even begun to use. Definitely not the "same
old, same old," but that is what makes the present moment about as exciting
as it gets. So don't weaken and for sure you can't do it all yourself -
nobody can. But collectively, calling upon the wisdom of all the people, I
think we have a damn good shot. A deep conversation with 7 Billion folks!
Now that is something to conjure with and it is more than a theoretical
possibility.
So Keep the Faith Baby - and for sure it ain't boring.
Harrison
Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Dr.
Potomac, MD 20854
USA
189 Beaucaire Ave. (summer)
Camden, Maine 20854
Phone 301-365-2093
(summer) 207-763-3261
www.openspaceworld.com
www.ho-image.com (Personal Website)
To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of OSLIST
Go to:http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
From: oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org
[mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of Suzanne Daigle
Sent: Friday, September 02, 2011 7:57 AM
To: World wide Open Space Technology email list
Subject: Re: [OSList] Reflections and an Invitation
Chris thank you for sharing these insights,
So much of what you said resonates especially what Eleder also mentioned
that "None of us are innocent bystanders anymore...".
For days since you wrote what you did I haven't been able to get something
out of my mind. I fear that I risk confusing myself and others as I think it
out loud struggling for clarity on the matter. Perhaps that is Harrison's
invitation.
My pondering refers to the 2 thoughts in bold:
1. "Big meetings aren't going to change things." and "In working with
clients these days I make sure that they aren't in love with the idea that
their big Open Space is going to change the world. It's not."
and.....
2. "Instead billions of small and connected conversations,
self-organizing their own insights and futures, hanging together and
learning how to deal with the new reality and then sharing their stories
with others"
I am often conflicted by this "big" and "small"!
Like so many people these days, I feel overwhelmed by the magnitude and
complexity of issues that are out there at a national and global level. As
hard as I try, I cannot ignore these. Whether it is sadness, fear and the
feeling that my (our) efforts are like a small drop in a very big bucket or
the feeling I have of hope and and bliss mixed with purpose and gratitude
as we connect in small group conversations finding each other in the
vulnerability of who we are and giving each other courage to create
possibilities for a better future...
I think a lot about this "big" and "small".
It often seems that we cannot be satisfied making small changes in our small
piece of the world be it our neighborhood, a department in a company, one
hospital or one school, etc.
When small groups achieve amazing things, it is often with an eye on the
whole. It is where we find the greatest inspiration (or is that ego?). Where
we bump into problems is when others in the whole, who are not involved,
perceive we are fixing, imposing or intimating that something should be done
for which they feel no ownership or connection. That we are better than
they are. It seems we all want to invent and create for ourselves and yet we
need each other so we are not forever re-inventing the wheel or worse being
exclusive rather than inclusive towards each other. Bottom line, we're all
connected.
Which takes me to the "big meetings". For right or for wrong, I cannot give
up on those big Open Space meetings. I have attended/facilitated some
(300+) where it seemed there were pockets of magic in the room. Granted some
sessions seemed better than others. Big groups less effective than smaller
groups. Whether is was the exhiliration of watching people write their
topics or the intimacy felt in the big whole at closing circle, I know there
is something courageous and special happening when people let themselves be
seen and heard where many are present. Where things unravel is afterwards at
least from the perspective of being able to replicate this feeling of the
whole connected as it was. What I can't always know however is how many
hubs connected, how many individuals were moved, touched and inspired
leading them to initiate things they would not have had the courage to do
before. What I do know is that I have been affected much in small and in
large groups.
These days, on the basis of what I learned working with the Creative New
Jersey Open Space team, I am initiating and planning an event that has the
potential to be big (150 - 200 or more people) working with a large planning
group. Until New Jersey, I had never worked with such a large planning group
(12 - 15 people) over many months to prepare an OS event before. It was not
always easy but there were elements of greatness that stayed with me
Now I see that by having many people involved in the planning, it's as if we
are all hosts creating the invitation, knowing more deeply the intent of
what we want to create with others, imagining those who will attend,
speaking of them with the anticipation of friends meeting friends,
colleagues meeting colleagues, struggling together about what will happen
afterwards trying hard not to predict and control, being playful, working
through conflicts and frustrations, etc.
I smile thinking that as we do this planning work now, few on the committee
have experienced Open Space which was also the case in New Jersey. It is
truly a giant leap of faith for them to invite people they know to a 2-day
meeting where there are no speakers, power point presentations or even an
agenda. Lots of bonding and trust happens because of this.
In summary then, on the big and the small, I hope there are ways that we can
have it all. I'm still learning and experimenting. Maybe in the end, I will
come to the conclusion that small is beautiful and where I most want to be.
In the meantime, permit me to wish that WOSonOS in Chile be as big as it can
be!
.
Suzanne
.
.
On Tue, Aug 30, 2011 at 11:41 AM, Chris Corrigan <chris.corrigan at gmail.com>
wrote:
Thanks Harrison for these reflections from the Maine coast. I have given up
on the power of the convened conference to make the changes that are needed
in the world. Copenhagen was the final straw in that line of thought. Big
meetings aren't going to change things. Instead billions of small and
connected conversations, self-organizing their own insights and futures,
hanging together and learning how to deal with the new reality and then
sharing their stories with others. This is the power of the web and the
social architectures that surround us now: we are all potential authors of
our future and present states. None of us are innocent bystanders anymore,
and thus we all have a stake in creating the solutions that are needed for
the myriad acute problems thrown at us from the present moment.
OST is a gift in this sense, but beyond that, it gives us a sense of how it
feels to work in that unfamiliar, strange and ultimately empowering way.
OST points the way to a skillful and hair-raising way to address the
emerging future.
In working with clients these days I make sure that they aren't in love with
the idea that their big Open Space is going to change the world. It's not.
But it might activate enough leadership that a community or organization
ends up finding a way out of whatever pickle they are in. Come to this
gathering...you are invited to start something, and who knows where it will
go...
Much love to you my friend, and my friends.
Chris
---
CHRIS CORRIGAN
http://www.chriscorrigan.com
+1 604 947 9236 <tel:%2B1%20604%20947%209236>
On 2011-08-28, at 8:09 AM, Harrison Owen <hhowen at verizon.net> wrote:
While waiting for Irene - she has now come and largely gone - but the
waiting went on for a week or so. And in that time I started to write a note
to myself. That note took on a life of its own and led me to some places I
have been pondering, but never quite reached. I shared it with a few friends
and they seemed to enjoy. So I make bold to offer it to you my friends on
OSLIST. I guess that is appropriate, for the note has a lot to do with Open
Space, our collective learning, and where we might go from here. Actually it
is an invitation. and if curious go to:
http://openspaceworld.com/August%20Morning.pdf
Enjoy!
Harrison
Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Dr.
Potomac, MD 20854
USA
189 Beaucaire Ave. (summer)
Camden, Maine 20854
Phone 301-365-2093
(summer) 207-763-3261
www.openspaceworld.com
www.ho-image.com (Personal Website)
To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of OSLIST
Go to:http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
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--
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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