[OSList] Occupy OST: Sonoma County

[Birgitt Williams]

Hi Jeff..indeed, my 'how I would go at this' bit that I sent is for you to
use if you find it useful. I think that there is a fascinating paradox to be
worked through of the existing (albeit fairly new) structures that have
emerged and the information/passion from OST meetings. And another
fascinating paradox to be worked through of keeping the space sufficiently
open and getting action/results that require convergence. It is like a dance
between chaos and order.

Blessings,
Birgitt

-----Original Message-----
From: oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org
[mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of Jeff Aitken
Sent: Thursday, January 12, 2012 3:43 PM
To: World wide Open Space Technology email list
Subject: Re: [OSList] Occupy OST: Sonoma County

thank you Birgitt!

One of the reasons I felt comfortable ending my involvement is that a
very good OST (and other process) facilitator is a strong member of
the affinity group and already was thinking creatively about these
issues in our short debrief.

I like and appreciate your suggestions! and will (assuming your
permission) forward them to him and to my original contact in the
group.

blessings!

Jeff

On Thu, Jan 12, 2012 at 11:49 AM, Birgitt Williams
<birgitt at dalarinternational.com> wrote:
> 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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>
>
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