[OSList] Half the conference participants doing open space?

Fri May 25 15:03:32 PDT 2012

oh dear Harrison, I take no offense.  I consulted you and others at the
time. You told me the same thing then though not as directly.  Yes I'll
agree that when they sent their SOS last minute, I jumped in too soon
without realizing the limitations of what was.  If it happened again, I
probably would not offer or at the very least, I'd now speak more
confidently to the leaders and organizers to invite a real opening of
space.   That said, there were still moments of magic as the space
awkwardly opened.

Old Curmudgeon that you are not...!

Suzanne

On Fri, May 25, 2012 at 5:43 PM, Harrison Owen <hhowen at verizon.net> wrote:

> Suzanne (and anybody else who cares) – what you did was outstanding, in
> addition to probably being the only thing you could pull off. That said, I
> just wince (shudder?) when I read stories like yours – certainly NOT
> because of what you did or did not do – but because of the shear waste of
> human energy and talent that was subverted so that the conference
> organizers could maintain their  illusion of proper order and control. Talk
> about shooting themselves in the foot, and then – worse yet – some folks
> will go out and complain about lack of creativity and innovation. Or some
> such thing. Truly they get what they deserve – which is a pretty low order
> of human performance. We really can and should do better. And the worst of
> it all is we know how to do all that and it is really quite easy. Oh Well.
> ****
>
> ** **
>
> The old Curmudgeon,****
>
> ** **
>
> 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, May 25, 2012 2:34 PM
> *To:* World wide Open Space Technology email list
> *Subject:* Re: [OSList] Half the conference participants doing open space?
> ****
>
> ** **
>
> Dear Sandy,
>
> I faced a similar situation two or three years ago in Boston.  No circle
> of chairs, no big open space in the middle and for a while, I thought no
> wall space for the marketplace wall. People were sitting around tables with
> a stage in the front -- long rectangle type room with ornate chandeliers,
> precious wallpaper, and a balcony up above.  A national conference; 325-350
> people. It was a last minute request for facilitation. I nearly jumped ship
> and had many sleepless nights.
>
> The Theme: The Future of Arts, Media and Culture- Shifting, Evolving and
> Emerging.
>
> The Open Space was integrated into a 3-day conference.  Speakers kicked
> off  the meeting from 9 to 10:30 and then I opened the Space from 11:00 til
> 12:00 (with the first session blending into lunch until 2). The rest of the
> conference featured traditional concurrent speakers and workshops. People
> had the opportunity to substitute and attend Open Space sessions instead.
>
> In the end, it worked and the feedback was quite positive because the
> participants made it work. As I opened the space, I invited people to
> create an "imaginary circle" in their mind as if we were sitting around a
> giant camp fire. I invited them to look around the room and let their eyes
> gaze on all the people who were there who shared a passion for the theme.
> We had created little post cards with the theme and placed them on the
> tables so they would be prominent. I invited people to choose among the
> assigned times but also consider others times and other places to gather.
>
> Well it ended up that people found each other and found spaces to meet
> from the get-go whether over breakfast, late afternoon and even at night
> around the bar. They wrote the place and time where they would be on
> individual post-it notes on the topics.   Sometimes they even put signs in
> the corridor of the hotel with arrows indicating they'd be at a nearby
> restaurant.
>
> Sandy I know the circumstances are not the same but I share it with you
> remembering what was going through my mind then. I was totally scared.  I
> also feared I was betraying the integrity of Open Space and that people
> would leave having a very bad impression of the Open Space process. Somehow
> it worked because of the invitation for people themselves to figure it
> out.  From what I know, the organization is continuing to open virtual
> space as a result of that event.
>
> I know an auditorium with theater seats is not at all the same; I still
> offer it in case it sparks possibilities for you in your situation.
>
> Suzanne
>
>
> ****
>
> On Fri, May 25, 2012 at 12:08 PM, Peggy Holman <peggy at peggyholman.com>
> wrote:****
>
> Hi Sandy,****
>
> ** **
>
> What a challenge!  I have heard stories of spaces opened successfully in
> auditoriums.  I believe Lisa Heft has a story about it somewhere in the
> archives.  If you take that approach, those I know  who have done it say
> the work is to set a metaphorical circle. In other words, invite people to
> imagine themselves sitting in a circle, what that means, how that feels.
>  That creates the openness in which people will come forward.****
>
> ** **
>
> I've had two experiences as a participant in non-circle settings.  In one,
> no attention was paid to the quality of the space before inviting people to
> post sessions.  No one did.  So the organizers named sessions iaead.  In
> other words, the space wasn't very open.  ****
>
> ** **
>
> In the other case, the session began with a meditation that invited people
> to get clear on what mattered to them.  When the invitation to post a
> session happened, they were primed.  It worked beautifully.****
>
> ** **
>
> So it can be done.****
>
> ** **
>
> If you go the route of having people sign up, I encourage you to do it
> loosely.  If someone changes their mind and shows up for the Open Space
> instead, welcome them.  People will figure out how to make room.****
>
> ** **
>
> To Bhav's comment about running an OS in parallel with pre-set sessions,
> it has been done many times.  Check the list archive for stories. I've seen
> it done where the pre-set sessions were announced and posted side by side
> the spontaneous sessions.  I've run an OS in a room off the main conference
> space in parallel to a traditional conference.  Both can work, though the
> containers are a bit "leaky".  ****
>
> ** **
>
> I think the main question is what do you want to accomplish?  Given your
> purpose, what form best serves the need?****
>
> ** **
>
> 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 <http://peggyholman.com/papers/engaging-emergence/>****
>
>
> "An angel told me that the only way to step into the fire and not get
> burnt, is to become
> the fire".
>   -- Drew Dellinger****
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> On May 25, 2012, at 6:47 AM, Barbara B. Bunker wrote:****
>
>
>
> ****
>
> Sandy... I understand the logistics dilemma but however you decide, I
> missed what
> the compelling theme for this OST will be that will attract people to it.
>  B3
>
>
> Barbara B. Bunker Ph.D.
> Professor of Psychology Emerita
> The University at Buffalo
> 117 Highland Avenue
> Buffalo, NY 14222
> 716-881-2166
>
> On Fri 05/25/12  9:29 AM , "Harrison Owen" hhowen at verizon.net sent:
>
> ****
>
> Gee Sandy - You do have yourself in a tight spot. I'd go for the****
>
> garden, if there is one. Then - Does the Auditorium have a stage? If****
>
> so, half the group might be on the stage, and the remainder in the 1st****
>
> rows facing… It is not that the folks will have to be there very****
>
> long. I did something like this once, and it was rather amusing. Lots****
>
> of hopping up and down sort of thing. But as usual it worked out. ****
>
> 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***
> *
>
> [1]****
>
> FROM: oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org****
>
> [mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] ON BEHALF OF Sandy Gee****
>
> SENT: Friday, May 25, 2012 4:49 AM****
>
> TO: oslist at lists.openspacetech.org****
>
> SUBJECT: [OSList] Half the conference participants doing open space? ****
>
> Dear colleagues,****
>
> ** **
>
> ME & REQUEST FOR HELP:****
>
> ** **
>
> I've informally been around OST for over a decade and facilitated a****
>
> number of events. But this latest I've been asked to do is a challenge****
>
> I'd appreciate your thoughts/comments on....****
>
> THE CHALLENGE: ****
>
> ** **
>
> Its a one day psychotherapy conference with expected attendance of****
>
> 100+ participants. But unfortunately the venue has already been booked****
>
> and paid for and the only large enough space for all is an auditorium****
>
> with fixed rows. The next largest room is a space that could hold a****
>
> circle of a little over 50 (and no room for 2nd concentric circle).****
>
> They already want most of the morning to be conventional presentations****
>
> so the OST slot was to be for the afternoon (maybe with the****
>
> marketplace the last slot before lunch). ****
>
> ** **
>
> I'm thinking that a fixed row auditorium just won't work for OST.****
>
> MY IDEA:****
>
> ** **
>
> So I'm wondering about having just _half the conference_ do OST! (and****
>
> the other half sign up in advance to pre-offered workshops) - I've no****
>
> idea if this could work or if it would be too divisive. This group****
>
> have always had a very conventional set up before, they're a fairly****
>
> straight/conventional crowd and the organisers are anyway worried****
>
> about introducing OST and how it'll go down. ****
>
> ** **
>
> But maybe the more stuffy conventional ones could do the****
>
> pre-scheduled (and big name) workshops (and sign up in advance). And****
>
> we've got a 50 max space for OST participants.****
>
> COMMENTS?****
>
> ** **
>
> Has anyone ever tried something like this? ****
>
> ** **
>
> What are your thoughts?  ****
>
> ** **
>
> Do you think it could work?****
>
> I'd SO appreciate any input!****
>
> ** **
>
> Thanks****
>
> ** **
>
> Sandy****
>
> ** **
>
> Links:****
>
> ------****
>
> [1]****
>
> 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****
>
>
>
>
> --
> 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****
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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
>
>

-- 
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
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.openspacetech.org/pipermail/oslist-openspacetech.org/attachments/20120525/0dee62f2/attachment-0008.htm>