[OSList] Fwd: My first OS

Mon Jun 25 07:36:08 PDT 2012

Whoops, sorry. That was supposed to have been a private note...

On Mon, Jun 25, 2012 at 4:34 PM, Marie Ann Östlund
<marieann.ostlund at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi Peggy,
>
> Thank you for writing! It was nice to have the opportunity to open
> space, and we'll do more of it (and I hope for the changes you say
> will be there). Just when you wrote I was supporting Johann here in
> Sweden in one of his OS events, and it went really well.
>
> Thank you!
>
> gratefully,
> Marie Ann
>
> On Fri, Jun 15, 2012 at 7:14 AM, Peggy Holman <peggy at peggyholman.com> wrote:
>> Hi Marie,
>>
>> I am catching up on my listserv reading and just ran across your story.
>>  Congratulations!  I'm so glad that you jumped in and ran an Open Space.
>>  You'll find if you continue to do it from time to time that it will change
>> the character of the community, increasing listening, laughter, resilience,
>> creativity, and so much more.
>>
>> appreciatively,
>> Peggy
>>
>>
>> _________________________________
>> Peggy Holman
>> peggy at peggyholman.com
>>
>> 15347 SE 49th Place
>> Bellevue, WA  98006
>> 425-746-6274
>> www.peggyholman.com
>> www.journalismthatmatters.org
>>
>> Enjoy the award winning Engaging Emergence: Turning Upheaval into
>> Opportunity
>>
>> "An angel told me that the only way to step into the fire and not get burnt,
>> is to become
>> the fire".
>>   -- Drew Dellinger
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Begin forwarded message:
>>
>> From: Marie Ann Östlund <marieann.ostlund at gmail.com>
>> Subject: Re: [OSList] My first OS
>> Date: April 9, 2012 12:49:46 PM PDT
>> To: World wide Open Space Technology email list
>> <oslist at lists.openspacetech.org>
>> Reply-To: World wide Open Space Technology email list
>> <oslist at lists.openspacetech.org>
>>
>> Thank you all for your valuable comments and advice. You're all very kind.
>>
>> I hope you had a great Easter weekend!
>>
>> Marie Ann
>>
>> On Sat, Apr 7, 2012 at 3:15 AM, Stanley Park <spark.osk at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> Child is father of the man.
>>
>>
>> Both children and adults would learn about themselves if the theme is
>>
>> inviting the both group.
>>
>>
>> Appreciatively,
>>
>>
>> spark
>>
>>
>> 2012. 4. 6. 오후 8:58에 "Marie Ann Östlund" <marieann.ostlund at gmail.com>님이 작성:
>>
>>
>> Thanks for all your insights and advice! It makes sense to be flexible
>>
>> to the situation and adjust time slots to the needs of the group,
>>
>> sometimes mixing their length (if not too much to confuse them). And
>>
>> Eva: "why didn't they continue the session?" Exactly! I guess they
>>
>> wanted to go to the next one, but you're right - they could have
>>
>> continued....
>>
>>
>> Harrison: Yes, children got it! The challenge, I guess, are the
>>
>> parents - and now that they got this experience they might see how
>>
>> children can be part of it. This is great.
>>
>>
>> But at what age have you included children in open space? These were 7-8-9
>>
>> yrs.
>>
>>
>> Marie Ann
>>
>>
>> On Thu, Apr 5, 2012 at 8:08 PM, Diane Gibeault
>>
>> <diane.gibeault at rogers.com> wrote:
>>
>> I agree with you Chris.
>>
>>
>> If I have limitations, I will favor a longer 1st round (1h30 or
>>
>> minimally 75
>>
>> min) for flexibility in the opening, also giving time for participants
>>
>> to
>>
>> choose topics at the market place and get to their group (can take more
>>
>> time
>>
>> since they are not yet familiar with the process and the physical
>>
>> space).
>>
>>
>> Diane
>>
>>
>> ________________________________
>>
>> From: Chris Corrigan <chris at chriscorrigan.com>
>>
>>
>> To: World wide Open Space Technology email list
>>
>> <oslist at lists.openspacetech.org>
>>
>> Sent: Thursday, April 5, 2012 2:00:44 PM
>>
>> Subject: Re: [OSList] My first OS
>>
>>
>> Echoing many things said here.  Congrats on your first one, and yes to
>>
>> the
>>
>> kids noticing passion and responsibility showing up.
>>
>>
>> I like to err on the side of more time in the sessions.  With 1.5 hour
>>
>> sessions, we have a nice breath in the agenda and people can take as
>>
>> much or
>>
>> as little time as they need.  An hour for me is usually the minimum, but
>>
>> I've even had 75 minute sessions instead of 60.
>>
>>
>> Of course all this depends on context and so on, and with very large
>>
>> groups
>>
>> anything less than 1.5 hours makes things very difficult logistically,
>>
>> and
>>
>> with groups working on well defined issues, 45 mins can work very well.
>>
>>
>> Chris.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Thu, Apr 5, 2012 at 10:31 AM, Harrison Owen <hhowen at verizon.net>
>>
>> wrote:
>>
>>
>> Marie -- Many thanks for sharing! And I loved the part about the
>>
>> children at
>>
>> the end. My finding: Kids do get Open Space -- more better, quicker, and
>>
>> deeper than their (sometimes) recalcitrant parents. Next time try just
>>
>> treating them like people along with everybody else. We had some young
>>
>> people at our recent OSONOS in Manila. They raised provocative issues
>>
>> (not
>>
>> just about "young people") and convened rich (mostly adult participants)
>>
>> sessions. No problems and lots of good surprise!
>>
>>
>> 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
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>>
>> From: oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org
>>
>> [mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of Marie Ann
>>
>> Östlund
>>
>> Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2012 3:20 AM
>>
>> To: World wide Open Space Technology email list
>>
>> Subject: [OSList] My first OS
>>
>>
>> Dear all,
>>
>>
>> I sent this letter Saturday but it got stuck as I had added a photo to
>>
>> it,
>>
>> but here it is again:
>>
>>
>> There is only one open space that will be the first, even if all of them
>>
>> certainly will be unique. Since I facilitated my first open space last
>>
>> weekend March 23-24, I thought to write something about it. I find this
>>
>> email list both generous and helpful, and I admire the way you're all
>>
>> supporting each other. In any case, here is my little peanut of a
>>
>> contribution to the OSList bowl.
>>
>>
>> I held the open space at the Hare Krishna farm/village community in
>>
>> Sweden
>>
>> (Järna), which hosts around 35 adults and 30 kids (most of them below
>>
>> 10!).
>>
>> There are mostly independent families with kids living there. I had
>>
>> suggested to them that they try OS. A few of them got it immediately,
>>
>> but
>>
>> there was some scepticism as they suffer from quite some meeting-fatigue
>>
>> .
>>
>>
>> Some desired we hold it around the spring equinox and an astrologer
>>
>> pointed
>>
>> out the weekend after as excellent, if we could start on the Friday.
>>
>> Considering people's work commitments, that they are early risers, the
>>
>> children, we decided to hold a short inauguration of the meetings in the
>>
>> evening instead of starting the OS or doing some storytelling. They
>>
>> arranged
>>
>> for some recitation of mantras and chanting, and the children led a big
>>
>> part
>>
>> of it. They were so good! We also had some food, and the whole thing was
>>
>> really appreciated.
>>
>>
>> The main challenge for the community in regards to the meeting was to
>>
>> engage
>>
>> the children so that the parents could attend. In the end they sorted
>>
>> something out by themselves (as is of course the best).
>>
>>
>> By the end of the weekend (it was a 1 1/2 day event) they were surprised
>>
>> of
>>
>> how relaxed the meetings were while being very efficient.
>>
>> They experienced how OS got them into a collaborative instead of an
>>
>> adversarial mood, and had a really good time. They would like to
>>
>> continue
>>
>> the process. They also noticed who did not come and started to think
>>
>> more
>>
>> deeply about who feels included and who does not. It's nice to see how
>>
>> OS
>>
>> creates the clarity needed for action.
>>
>>
>> Some learnings/reflections:
>>
>>
>> We did one hour sessions, which was too short for some topics. Next we
>>
>> time
>>
>> we could use 1 1/2hrs per session. Anyone having experiences of mixing
>>
>> the
>>
>> length of time, like using 1 1/2 hr sessions in the morning and 1hr
>>
>> sessions
>>
>> in the afternoon?
>>
>>
>> I could do a better introduction. I didn't prepare enough, and what I
>>
>> had
>>
>> prepared was in English - and had to switch to Swedish on the spot. I
>>
>> think
>>
>> simplicity really is the key, and getting out of the way. :)
>>
>>
>> One person took the opportunity to organise a meeting demanding parents
>>
>> attendance. I let that go, as they were discussing an important topic
>>
>> for
>>
>> them. He also organised another one like that, but this time people
>>
>> voted
>>
>> with their feet. I should have been more alert to this.
>>
>>
>> In the end, some kids sat by me drawing, and one started to come up with
>>
>> his
>>
>> own topics. I then gave them a part of the wall and asked what they
>>
>> wanted
>>
>> and they came up with really good stuff. I think they were really
>>
>> pleased to
>>
>> be asked. They wanted e.g. a more quiet temple room and less running
>>
>> around
>>
>> in it, which surprised me as they usually are the cause to the
>>
>> cacophony. It
>>
>> was a great learning, both in terms of how kids can do OS quite
>>
>> effectively,
>>
>> and how it's so much better to create the ground rules together than
>>
>> dictating them. And as someone told me afterwards, the 'cause' of a
>>
>> problem
>>
>> should be included in solving it as they are the experts in it.
>>
>>
>> I hope you're well. We're getting some snow tomorrow in Stockholm, but
>>
>> are
>>
>> still keeping our hopes for spring alive! Happy Easter!
>>
>>
>> Best wishes,
>>
>>
>> Marie Ann Östlund
>>
>>
>> PS. A few pictures of the weekend:
>>
>>
>> https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150663955813785.392314.730693784
>>
>> &type=3&l=29b6f85440
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>>
>> OSList mailing list
>>
>> To post send emails to OSList at lists.openspacetech.org To unsubscribe
>>
>> send an
>>
>> email to OSList-leave at lists.openspacetech.org
>>
>> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below:
>>
>> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>>
>> OSList mailing list
>>
>> To post send emails to OSList at lists.openspacetech.org
>>
>> To unsubscribe send an email to OSList-leave at lists.openspacetech.org
>>
>> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below:
>>
>> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> ---
>>
>> CHRIS CORRIGAN
>>
>> Facilitation - Training - Process Design
>>
>> Open Space Technology
>>
>>
>> Weblog: http://www.chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot
>>
>> Site: http://www.chriscorrigan.com
>>
>>
>> Upcoming workshops (click for invitations)
>>
>>
>> Art of Hosting Water dialogues
>>
>> (for people involved with water issues)
>>
>> April 13-15, 2012, Bowen Island BC, Canada
>>
>>
>>
>> YET: the improv-based facilitation course you have always wanted to
>>
>> take!
>>
>> September 2012, Bowen Island, BC, Canada
>>
>> (email me for more information)
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>>
>> OSList mailing list
>>
>> To post send emails to OSList at lists.openspacetech.org
>>
>> To unsubscribe send an email to OSList-leave at lists.openspacetech.org
>>
>> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below:
>>
>> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>>
>> OSList mailing list
>>
>> To post send emails to OSList at lists.openspacetech.org
>>
>> To unsubscribe send an email to OSList-leave at lists.openspacetech.org
>>
>> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below:
>>
>> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>>
>> OSList mailing list
>>
>> To post send emails to OSList at lists.openspacetech.org
>>
>> To unsubscribe send an email to OSList-leave at lists.openspacetech.org
>>
>> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below:
>>
>> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>>
>> OSList mailing list
>>
>> To post send emails to OSList at lists.openspacetech.org
>>
>> To unsubscribe send an email to OSList-leave at lists.openspacetech.org
>>
>> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below:
>>
>> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> OSList mailing list
>> To post send emails to OSList at lists.openspacetech.org
>> To unsubscribe send an email to OSList-leave at lists.openspacetech.org
>> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below:
>> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> OSList mailing list
>> To post send emails to OSList at lists.openspacetech.org
>> To unsubscribe send an email to OSList-leave at lists.openspacetech.org
>> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below:
>> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
>>