<html>
I guess maybe I am a purist -- but somehow this really seems like the
start of The New Millennium, as indeed it is. Last year was just a
practice run, albeit a very noisy one. Best part about this year is that
it seems so normal. Even quiet. Just one more year in all the Billions.
Rather puts things in perspective. <br>
<br>
Heard from Michael Pannwitz, who like the rest of us is sort of
reflecting on things past an future... I hope he won't mind if I share it
-- but even if he does, I don't care. I guess that sort of lapse of
correctitude comes the passage of 65 (years) and the onset of
senility... Anyhow, this is what he had to say ---<br>
<br>
The most wonderful of the 17os I facilitated in 2000 just a couple of
weeks ago with 30 student representatives from a local high school aged
13 through 19: 2,5 days, action planning, the whole bill. They took to it
like fish to water. And then they invited us to their regular session in
their school a week later. They did it in open space...I have never seen
such immediate transfer. Of course, it worked, everyone was
flabbergasted...after decades the first productive session: 2 hours total
with next steps being reported from 8 issue groups...pretty close to what
I think could be an inspired organization.<br>
<br>
Irmi Gruensteidel, she had come to OSonOS part time and attended the
training in Hungary, was my partner, all she could do was cry at the
event at the school I just described.<br>
<br>
I shed a few tears myself, and the thought occurred to me that if the
kids take to Open Space (and we know that they do) there may well be hope
for our species on this planet.<br>
<br>
Happy New Millennium.<br>
<br>
<br>
Harrison<br>
<br>
<br>
<x-sigsep><p></x-sigsep>
<div align="center">
Harrison Owen<br>
7808 River Falls Drive<br>
Potomac, MD 20854 USA<br>
phone 301-469-9269<br>
fax 301-983-9314<br>
Open Space Training
<a href="http://www.openspaceworld.com/" eudora="autourl">www.openspaceworld.com</a>
<br>
Open Space Institute <a href="http://www.openspaceworld.org/" eudora="autourl">www.openspaceworld.org</a><br>
Personal website <a href="http://www.mindspring.com/~owenhh" eudora="autourl">www.mindspring.com/~owenhh</a><br>
</div>
</html>