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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>First of all - hello to all! I believe this is my
first time speaking up with this group, though I have been following the
conversations avidly for some months.Your spirit and words are a real
inspiration, and often a good laugh too!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Here's the situation. I am a member of a local
professional group "ACCORD" (Association for Creative Change and Organizational
Renewal and Development - what a mouthful!) It is a small, primarily Toronto/
southern Ontario based group of OD types, some academics, community
people, a few students, etc. - in my experience, a neat group of people!
About half are self-employed consultants (like myself!) The organization has
offered inexpensive learning programs with leading edge types, and opportunites
for networking and informal learning.They have also had, at least some of the
time, a focus on spirit. Their "Spirit at Work" conference in '96 is still
talked about (I believe Harrison, that you gave a session there!).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Anyway, the organization is unravelling, membership
declining, program attendance declining, $ dwindling........... the usual. I am
on a task force of volunteers that have agreed to advise the Board on the road
they should follow/ the type of large scale intervention they should use to
engage the membership and determine their future - if they have one! I am going
to present how Open Space would work..... and then we'll see if that is the way
they want to go!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>SO - here is the question!! How do you
provide the opportunity for input and participation from those who can't
actually attend the OS day(s)? Many of the membership are self-employed
consultants, who book their time well in advance, or may be struggling
financially and can't afford to give up billable time. Other members or ex-
members may care about the issues, but not enough to give up their
time!!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I was thinking</FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2> to
include with the invitation:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> 1)a fax-back/ e-mail back response sheet
(e.g. "give us your thoughts around...theme...) which could then be posted on
the marketplace, and sorted and incorporated by those there in person, as they
saw fit and</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> 2)a tick list indicating their desired degree
of involvement in action going forward</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I've also been pondering some sort of dial-in
teleconferencing input, e.g. at agenda creation time, and at convergence time,
but I don't like this as much because it creates the illusion of involvement
without any real responsibility.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I'd really appreciate your feedback and ideas on
how to create opportunities for involvement for those who truly care, but just
cannot be there at the time. (For those who don't care - well that's a
different story!)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Many thanks........ I'm looking forward to some
interesting stuff!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Meg Salter</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>MegaSpace Consulting</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>416-486-6660</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A
href="mailto:meg.salter@sympatico.ca">meg.salter@sympatico.ca</A></FONT></DIV>
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