[OSList] WOSonOS - future hosts? Wisdom to share...

Lisa Heft lisaheft at openingspace.net
Tue May 7 15:50:14 PDT 2013


Oh. I laugh at myself. And my errors.
I will not be in Florida this October. Or maybe I will be. Who can  
say. But more immediately, I will be in Florida next week!
(I've corrected, that, below)
Lisa



On May 7, 2013, at 3:42 PM, Lisa Heft wrote:

> Hello, dear colleagues -
>
> As you know, the 2013 World Open Space on Open Space will be  
> happening next week in St. Petersburg, Florida, USA on May 16-19.
>
> (there is still time to register - see more at http://wosonos2013.crowdvine.com/ 
>  and there is also a tab there to register for the May 14-16 workshop)
>
> Several of us host regional ‘OSonOSs’ whenever we wish to - a  
> marvelous thing.
> And then we usually have one WOSonOS a year.
> Even though almost all the OSonOS events we do are international as  
> well because we are a very diverse community.
>
> We try to have each next WOSonOS in a part of the world that is  
> harder for some of us to get to because it is easier for others of  
> us to get to.
> So it moves back and forth across the world geographically, though  
> there is no set formula.
>
> What works best is not when we say ‘we should bring Open Space to x  
> country’ - because it works best when the invitation comes from  
> someone within that country, who knows they have capacity, and who  
> feels ready.
>
> We do not yet know where our 2014 WOSonOS will be - that is still a  
> mystery.
> If we do not have one next year, life will continue, I know.
> And then again, a few of you have been sharing thoughts with me over  
> the years and I wonder if you feel ready to invite.
>
> I will share with you a recommendation, a tradition, and some wisdom  
> from past hosts.
>
> The recommendation:
> It is very helpful to hear a year or more in advance of where a  
> future WOSonOS will be - so we can save our pennies and euros and  
> rands with enough advance notice to do so - and put our dreams in  
> our calendars. And for some Host Teams - it can take a year or more  
> to plan, find resources, connect to each other and grow as  
> community, share learning and get ready to host - though some teams  
> with strong OST communities need less advance time for their own  
> efforts. It can also take some time for the behind-the-scenes  
> support to individual participants such as my own Access Queen  
> project.
> So: thinking and knowing about it in advance is useful.
>
> And: It is very helpful for me and the current Host Team to know if  
> you are thinking of inviting - before the WOSonOS begins. Both  
> because I can share with you some background to help you think and  
> also because we need to create time within the conference design for  
> one or more colleagues to invite and for a lovely, celebratory  
> decision-making process. Which typically happens at the WOSonOS, as  
> each year the participants represent great diversity of country,  
> experienced and emergent OST facilitators learners and enthusiasts,  
> and also includes a number of us who can support lovely future hosts  
> with our pre-work time and energy.
>
> The tradition:
> Historically, a marvelous way to invite the world to your country  
> for a WOSonOS is to either come yourself to a WOSonOS or send a  
> message through a representative (from any country) who is coming to  
> the WOSonOS. That representative can represent you and make your  
> invitation for you.
>
> Past inviters have given us such a lovely flavor of their country’s  
> culture and have illustrated how a growing community of Open Space  
> practitioners in their geographic region is waiting and ready to  
> host this international gathering - so this is something fun to  
> think about - how your invitation will include the flavor and  
> personality of your culture.
>
> I underline: you do not have to be able to attend the WOSonOS in  
> order to invite - though it may be helpful to have attended at least  
> one if your resources will allow - to experience some of the  
> traditions of WOSonOSs and see how other Host Teams do it.
>
> However in past, I or Brian or Thomas and Eva have invited on  
> others' behalf, for those future Host Teams who are unable to send a  
> representative. And we are happy and honored to do so for you.
>
> And now, the wisdom:
> I have a letter I have grown, fertilized and fed over the years  
> since 2001 - with wisdom from past WOSonOS Host Teams to future Host  
> Teams. Super-good ideas to read *before* you think about inviting -  
> as their lessons learned are similar from year to year and their  
> wisdom is very helpful to those of you thinking of inviting for  
> future years.  Again: hosting this particular event does not have to  
> be complicated but it may include some important differences and  
> things to know that may help you see if your community of local Open  
> Space practitioners has capacity and resourcing to know best when to  
> host.
>
> Please do let me know if you / your country mates are thinking of  
> inviting - by contacting me directly at lisaheft at openingspace.net  
> - and I can send you this letter of wise advice. Again: not that you  
> have to do it in the same way - but the lessons learned from across  
> the years are useful. Remember that the most people who can come,  
> come over land or short plane trips - because that is what is most  
> affordable. So your largest participant group will come from your  
> own region. And instead of this just being a fun international event  
> that we folks-from-outside-your-region get to go to - a 'one-off' -  
> my recommendation is to think of how the Taiwan, Berlin, Chile,  
> London, Florida and other Host Teams have done it - growing the  
> capacity of facilitators in their own region through workshops,  
> gatherings, local OSonOSs and more - long before the event date.  
> Building a community of practice in Open Space. Not just doing a  
> WOSonOS event as the way to bring attention to Open Space in your  
> region. So that an Open Space community existed before, supports  
> during, and continues after your event.
>
> Who will invite us for 2014, and for 2015?
> Do you have a plan for building capacity in your community? Do you  
> have an existing community of Open Space practitioners?
> I will be in Florida this May so perhaps I will see you there or  
> even be the one to help you make your invitation...
>
> I look forward to hearing from you,
> Lisa
>
> Lisa Heft
> (also known as Access Queen)
>
>
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