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<P class=MsoNormal dir=ltr
style="DIRECTION: ltr; TEXT-ALIGN: left; unicode-bidi: embed">My dear <SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">OSList friends!<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal dir=ltr
style="DIRECTION: ltr; TEXT-ALIGN: left; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; unicode-bidi: embed"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">It is about two months now that I am a silent part of
this beautiful community. Since I do not have the habit of invading other
people’s space without contributing to it this type of deficit equations cause
me unease.</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal dir=ltr
style="DIRECTION: ltr; TEXT-ALIGN: left; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; unicode-bidi: embed"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Here are the fruit of my trail to break through
unanimity in this forum. Please read it with care since Hebrew is my mother
tongue my English expressions may be very ‘creative’ and somewhat lengthy for a
start.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal dir=ltr
style="DIRECTION: ltr; TEXT-ALIGN: left; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; unicode-bidi: embed"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN> </P>
<P align=left class=MsoBodyText dir=ltr
style="DIRECTION: ltr; TEXT-ALIGN: left; unicode-bidi: embed"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>I’ll join today by presenting myself and sharing my OS
story:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P align=left class=MsoBodyText dir=ltr
style="DIRECTION: ltr; TEXT-ALIGN: left; unicode-bidi: embed"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">My name is Tova Averbuch and I m am OD consultant and
group facilitator since 1978.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P align=left class=MsoBodyText dir=ltr
style="DIRECTION: ltr; TEXT-ALIGN: left; TEXT-INDENT: 3pt; unicode-bidi: embed"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">On 1989, as I started training mangers in a program
at the Tel-Aviv university in Israel, I got the notion that decision making
processes in schools acts very much like</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>‘ a
dress in the wind ‘ : after you have reached an agreement with one or two
stakeholders and you hold it on one side the wind will push the dress up in the
other end and your ‘underwear’ will be for disposition anyway you look at it.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P align=left class=MsoBodyText dir=ltr
style="DIRECTION: ltr; TEXT-ALIGN: left; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; unicode-bidi: embed"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I
realized that if I what to stop this crazy dance I will have to find a way to
put everybody, concerned about an issue, together. Hold a meeting in utter
transparency, and then let the Wind/Spirit<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>(in Hebrew “wind’ and ‘spirit’ are the same word: ’roach”) carry us up
instead of tear us apart …<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P align=left class=MsoBodyText dir=ltr
style="DIRECTION: ltr; TEXT-ALIGN: left; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; unicode-bidi: embed"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I have
been looking for 7 years (not very effectively…) for a methodology that will
enable putting together everybody concerned to dialogue and make decisions
around issues they have deep concern about. Leaving in the Middle east I
realized that when there are a lot of emotions concerned a methodology is
desperately needed if we want to be able to see clearly . When it is so
emotionally lauded it is hard to notice even rhe things that we agree upon...and
not waste our best energies on drops of nothing (this of corse can be true of
organizations and individuals in any setting).<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P align=left class=MsoBodyText dir=ltr
style="DIRECTION: ltr; TEXT-ALIGN: left; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; unicode-bidi: embed"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">1997-1999 I have lived in Maryland with my family. On
August 1998 someone forwarded me an invitation she got of an Organizational
gatheringof Russian and American Psychlogists, OST facilitated by the blessed
Carolyn Kinsman,and that was it. I knew I have found what I have been looking
for and I knew I have to return to Israel with adequate training.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In the next year I participated in
another OST gathering in Santa Fe, read and eventually took training with
Harrison Owen and Robbins Hopkins a month before I went back to
Israel!<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P align=left class=MsoBodyText dir=ltr
style="DIRECTION: ltr; TEXT-ALIGN: left; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; unicode-bidi: embed"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Meeting the OST and the people who facilitate it was
very powerful for me. It was like meeting the known, the internal. Facing, with
longing, lost/torn parts from my self and having them meet and make friends. At
the same time I was horrified because I knew I was going to try to open and hold
some space in the crowded/lauded/layered Holy land.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P align=left class=MsoBodyText dir=ltr
style="DIRECTION: ltr; TEXT-ALIGN: left; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; unicode-bidi: embed"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Since July 1999 I am living and working in Israel
again. Very happy to tell you that within a year 10 OST gathering (for Tel Aviv
municipality, the IDF, “Besod Shiach”-a NPO for promoting dialogue, and others)
took place in Israel with length of half day to 2 days
meetings.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P align=left class=MsoBodyText dir=ltr
style="DIRECTION: ltr; TEXT-ALIGN: left; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; unicode-bidi: embed"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I am
well aware and thankful OST started way back in the 80"s but I must admit I work
from a pioneer stand. I have great joy in that there is some more knowledge and
interest in OST in Israel and by Harrioson Owens gentile but steady
encouragement that he and I will start training for facilitators in Israel later
this year and hope to make this space wider and more sustainable.</SPAN></P>
<P align=left class=MsoBodyText dir=ltr
style="DIRECTION: ltr; TEXT-ALIGN: left; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; unicode-bidi: embed"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P align=left class=MsoBodyText dir=ltr
style="DIRECTION: ltr; TEXT-ALIGN: left; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; unicode-bidi: embed"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Thank you for being here and thank you all for giving
room for my voice</SPAN></P>
<P align=left class=MsoBodyText dir=ltr
style="DIRECTION: ltr; TEXT-ALIGN: left; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; unicode-bidi: embed"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">With much live</SPAN></P>
<P align=left class=MsoBodyText dir=ltr
style="DIRECTION: ltr; TEXT-ALIGN: left; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; unicode-bidi: embed">Tova
Averbuch</P>
<P align=left class=MsoBodyText dir=ltr
style="DIRECTION: ltr; TEXT-ALIGN: left; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; unicode-bidi: embed"> </P>
<P align=left class=MsoBodyText dir=ltr
style="DIRECTION: ltr; TEXT-ALIGN: left; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; unicode-bidi: embed">Shalom
for Now</P>
<P align=left class=MsoBodyText dir=ltr
style="DIRECTION: ltr; TEXT-ALIGN: left; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; unicode-bidi: embed">Email
: averbuch@post.tau.ac.il<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
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