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<blockquote type="cite" cite>The objective is to give over some
KNOWLEDGE about the European Union and</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>use this topic as a political
communication practice field.</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite><br></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>My expected role is to handle the group
dynamics and create situations where</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>they can practice their communication
skills.</blockquote>
<div><br>
<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>Up till this point I don't think the OS
could be much help.</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite><br></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>BUT: There are the evenings, where we
have to create some combination of</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>learning, having formal and informal
discussion and make fun. And here I</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>think, the OST could be a
method.</blockquote>
<div><br></div>
<div><br></div>
<div>What this and Harrison's story reminds me of is the origin of
the t-group process. What actually happened (or so the story
goes) is that NTL was holding some trainings during the day and the
staff was meeting at night. The members of the training group
asked to attend and what the session developed into was an open and
honest dialog on what had happened during the day. The process was so
rich that people looked at what was happening and realized the power
in being able to have a forum that encouraged talking about the
quality of each persons immediate experience. This developed
into the t-group process.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>I am thinking that what you might do is to host an evening open
space and frame it around talking about what the experience of the
day has been like. Encourage openness and honestly and the use
of the communication skills you have introduced people to.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>I think you might discover that the session could develop into a
powerful experience.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>I only wish the possibility for something like this existed in
our American political parties. (Encourage them to stand their
ground against our nebish of a president. He does not represent
the desires of the large majority of the people of this
country. they'll be doing us a favor.)</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Kenoli Oleari</div>
<div><br></div>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>At 09:41 AM 6/22/01 +0200, Gyuri
wrote:<br>
<blockquote type="cite" cite><br>
<br>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite><br>
Several years ago, a major national organization in the United States
was having its annual convention. The issues were very hot and
contentions, and some people were pretty sure the organization would
not survive, at least in any meaningful fashion. Actually the
convention was sort of do or die thing -- and folks were really into
giving it their best. However it was also a very old and conservative
organization so their method of procedure was lots of presented
papers from all the people who had created the mess in the beginning,
followed by a brief discussion from those who had the status to
discus... At least that was the proposed design, and who would think
of doing anything else. After all that is what we have done for
hundreds of years.<br>
<br>
And then somebody recognized -- "we have the
evenings" -- and space was opened every night. I didn't do
it, and when asked about the possibility of success, I was pretty
negative. But I was profoundly wrong. Every evening 1200-1500 folks
had the opportunity to sort through all the stuff of the day... Some
say those evenings made the difference... Who knows. But anyhow, I
would give it a go. What have you got to lose? Just be prepared for
the fact that everybody might rather go to the bar. A different kind
of Open Space. But there is usually plenty of spirit of all sorts.<br>
<br>
Harrison <br>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>Harrison Owen<br>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite align="center">7808 River Falls Drive<br>
Potomac, MD 20854 USA<br>
phone 301-469-9269<br>
fax 301-983-9314<br>
Summer Phone 207-763-3261<br>
Summer Address<br>
189 Beaucaire Ave.<br>
Camden, ME 04843<br>
Personal website www.mindspring.com/~owenhh<br>
Open Space Institute website www.openspaceworld.org<br>
Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com</blockquote>
<div><br></div>
<div>-- <br>
Kenoli Oleari, Horizons of Change, http://www.horizonsofchange.com<br>
1801 Fairview Street, Berkeley, CA 94703 Voice
Phone: 510-601-8217, <br>
Fax: 510-595-8369, Email: kenoli@igc.org (or click on:
mailto://kenoli@igc.org)</div>
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