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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I am co-facilitating, along with Bruce Craig, a one
day open space event sponsored by the FAST Co. Toronto Chapter of Friends, on
Thriving in Change. We are expecting anywhere from 75 - 150 people; will know
more closer to the day, but so far 50 have signed up. The location is the
Business School at the University of Toronto, who are donating not only their
central atrium but multiple rooms for breakouts throughout the entire
school.</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>So here is my picky logistics question. The
breakout rooms are of different size; small rooms have space for 8 - 10 people,
larger rooms can hold 25. How do we ensure that discussion groups have a room
adequate to their numbers??</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>We have two ideas so far - I'd like your
reaction.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>1)The usual, and let people work it out for
themselves. i.e. issue nominators take a post-it with both time and room number
on it (maybe it would also say "small, medium, large capacity" on it), and once
people have signed up at the marketplace, then it is up to the nominator to
ensure that their room is adequate to the numbers, swap rooms with others, etc.
Certainly in line with the spirit of self-organization, but some folks on the
planning committee are worried about needless confusion, time wasting, and
sorting out rooms that no-one is familiar with.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>2)We do a two-stage sign-up process. Nominators
pick a time slot for their issues, and then once people have signed up at the
marketplace wall, the OS facilitator can very quickly give them a post-it
for room adequate to their needs. Smoother, more hassle-free, and more planned.
The control-freak in me likes this one (yes, that's why I like OS - it's
remedial!), but I'm worried it might close down the space a bit??</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Would welcome your thoughts and
experiences.............. ever grateful to the vast experience and wisdom we
collectively access!!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Meg Salter</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>MegaSpace Consulting</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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