[OSList] OSONOS Whenever, Wherever, with Whomsoever

[Michael Herman]

Harold, you said: But I'd be saddened if we somehow forbid the "W". It
feels like closing, not opening space.

What if instead we agreed to stretch the W, Harold?  What if anyone could
indeed convene an osonos?  what if anyone could indeed convene an osonos
gathering and what if it was as simple as posting an invitation to the
oslist and to a website shared by all osonos events?  what if the notes
from all of these osonos events were posted to this one site?  ...so that
the W came to denote ALL of our work IN open space ON open space?  wouldn't
this be a gem of a demonstration that we are living our practice and
inviting anyone to join us as colleagues, not just as trainees?  what if
learning open space came to mean buy the book, try it out, and find an
osonos gathering to process it with others who cared about open space?
 what if there were than many osonos's happening all around the world?

maintaining this special label on one annual event feels an awful lot like
the preferential treatment other groups give to the keynote speaker.  often
it's quite and interesting talk, people spend a lot of energy choosing
these people and setting up a big room and podium and screens and such...
but we know they're missing something magical, because everyone is not
talking with everyone.

how can we be sure that we're not missing something amazing because we
insist on having this annual keynote event?  and asking if there were any
other offers to host is a bit misleading, because the structure of the
process precludes most from even considering it.  I was actually thinking
about convening one, but given the invitation presentation hoopla, my plan
was to offer to do all the admin details if harrison would reserve that
camden church again.  but suzanned called me before i could call harrison.
 the point is the habit/structure we have makes many things impossible to
consider, in the same way that a keynote speaker makes it hard (not
impossible, but harder) for people to connect with others who share their
passion.  we can't assume that because everyone is listening to the speaker
politely that they all care or that they don't have other, greater passions
and gifts to offer.

m


--

Michael Herman
Michael Herman Associates
312-280-7838 (mobile)

http://MichaelHerman.com
http://OpenSpaceWorld.org




On Tue, Oct 23, 2012 at 5:04 PM, Harold Shinsato <harold at shinsato.com>wrote:

>  About the question of getting rid of the "W" - I find it hard to engage
> in that question - so I'll counter with another.
>
> The first place I heard about a World Open Space on Open Space was at an
> Agile Open in San Francisco several years ago. Hearing one of the
> participants speak in the morning announcements that parallel to our geeky
> agile software OST conference there were also brave fortunate souls were
> convening a World Open Space on Open Space. It felt authenticating,
> energizing, and empowering to know that people cared enough about the Open
> Space format to meet in a global context.
>
> So my counter question is "What is the value of having the 'W'?"
>
> For me the 'W' indicates the presence of a world community that cares
> enough to nurture and support and advance this powerful philosophy and way
> for people to come together.
>
> The 'W' gives some focus for people who may have limited resources to both
> get to a world wide event, and to help others get to a world wide event
> where this lively and heart filled community can meet face to face and keep
> friendships, relationships, and connections alive.
>
> Also, the 'W' brings up valuable conversations about our global context. I
> really love that we have a focal annual World event. If there were enough
> energy - I'd love to see more than one World event co-created by the World
> Open Space community. But I'd be saddened if we somehow forbid the "W". It
> feels like closing, not opening space.
>
> Anyone who wants to have a OSonOS can do one.
> Anyone who wants to have a WOSonOS can do one. Did anyone else besides
> Suzanne really have the ambition, energy, and drive to host the 2013 event?
> Anyone who wants to can host an XOSonOS - where X is whatever
> amplification to OSonOS you want. An Agile Open Space on Open Space. A
> Pilots Open Space on Open Space. A Food Open Space on Open Space. It's not
> licensed. Just do it.
>
>     Harold
>
>
>
> --
> Harold Shinsato
> harold at shinsato.com
> http://shinsato.com
> twitter: @hajush <http://twitter.com/hajush>
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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
>
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.openspacetech.org/pipermail/oslist-openspacetech.org/attachments/20121023/9295101d/attachment-0008.htm>