[OSList] Occupy OST: Sonoma County

Thu Jan 12 11:49:24 PST 2012

Thanks Jeff, 

I note that the assignment of the three facilitators is now ended. I also
think it would be wise if it could continue a while longer. This is a great
opportunity to demonstrate that what surfaces in an OST meeting can achieve
results, beyond an enthusiastic meeting. It is also, in my experience, where
the work gets really tough as the recommendations, themes, and enthusiasm
from the event hit the reality of existing structures (beliefs and patterns)
such as the ones that you refer to.the explicit structures plus the implicit
ones. They always seem to exist.

I would recommend to be very invitational in who works with the data, even
in clustering it.

I would call another meeting, with the reports in hand, possibly clustered,
as well as any other information that is deemed useful and relevant.

And then I would open the space again, after a reading circle time, for
people to post topics from the reports (whether a whole report or a single
idea from a report) for which they feel passion and are willing to take
leadership to move it forward. And then do the usual posting to create an
agenda wall, breakout groups around the topics, etc. The difference is that
this is not new topics to be explored, but topics that have already been
raised and discussed and now the task is commitment to action. I would have
a template for the groups for their reports from this. And then, from this,
there would be more clarity about a group of champions for topic specific
action that could be convened as a council. How this would work in relation
to the existing structures would need to be worked out in some kind of
'cross cutting' concept.

The challenge of moving items into action when existing leadership and
structures could get in the way includes different competencies for
leadership including relationship capacity, collaboration, and being able to
handle content that is cross cutting.

I would pursue 'what' needs to be done and the very important 'how' so that
the how remains invitational, inclusive, participative, within liberating
rather than confining structures.

Blessings,

Birgitt

From: oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org
[mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of Jeff Aitken
Sent: Thursday, January 12, 2012 11:37 AM
To: World wide Open Space Technology email list
Subject: Re: [OSList] Occupy OST: Sonoma County

hi birgitt, in our debrief meeting and emails with the hosting affinity
group we discussed a range of options.

for example, we found we could tentatively cluster the 26 topics into three
areas: national occupy issues (mostly around the financial system), local
occupy projects (such as a new exciting collaboration between occupy
Sebastopol and transition sebastopol), and movement strategy/tactics
(discussions on nonviolence and so forth.) these clusters may inform the
themes of subsequent town halls.

we also identified the 26 convenors as local leaders who had invited fresh
occupy working groups into existence, whose work could be nurtured in
different ways. the proceedings will be published on a local listserv for
followup.

the local occupy groups who were present also have their own general
assemblies for decision making and action planning.

the town hall affinity group will continue to meet and implement ideas as
they plan the next town hall. we three facilitators ended our pro bono
contract after the debrief.

I welcome your thoughts.

Jeff

On Thursday, January 12, 2012, Birgitt Williams
<birgitt at dalarinternational.com> wrote:
> Hi Jeff,
> Can you say a little more please about the ideas for forwarding 'the
action'
> from what emerges from the discussions. What is the approach being taken
to
> going from concern to commitment to action?
>
> I am always curious about this aspect....the sustainability and emergence
in
> relation to action and results.
>
> Blessings of good health to you,
> Birgitt
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org
> [mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of Jeff Aitken
> Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2012 10:12 PM
> To: OSList at lists.openspacetech.org
> Subject: [OSList] Occupy OST: Sonoma County
>
>
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/shepherd-bliss/northern-california-occup_b_120
> 0447.html
>
> Here is today's Huffington Post blog post on our OST Occupy Town Hall
> in Sonoma County, California.
>
> We were working with a time constraint of 2 hours, and it was a little
> crazy to try it! (we had over 120 participants) -
>
> But we had 26 lively breakouts, and a satisfying closing with enthused
> quick reports from each session, and lots of occupy applause (hands in
> the air, wiggling fingers!)
>
> Their first town hall in December was in world cafe format and the
> participants loved it. This one kinda raised the roof!
>
> The host team later agreed to a 3 hour time for subsequent evening
> events... they will shepherd the proceedings and design the next event
> to forward the action...
>
> Onward!
>
> Jeff
> San Francisco
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