[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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