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<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face="Arial Narrow" size=2><SPAN
class=090353616-10052002>Dear Peggy,</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face="Arial Narrow" size=2><SPAN
class=090353616-10052002>I had a lot of pleasure from an OST meeting within a
larger meeting with everyone from what was two tracks coming in to the closing
circle. This was at the National level in Canada for an issue regarding public
health. My colleague Susan Lilley was with me and if she is still on this list,
might add her perspective. It worked, and it worked well. </SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face="Arial Narrow" size=2><SPAN
class=090353616-10052002></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face="Arial Narrow" size=2><SPAN
class=090353616-10052002>Before I say a little more about that, I wish to
address decision making regarding Working with Open Space Technology. You are
aware that we have a four day workshop by that name. Within that program, we
emphasize that every facilitator must make his or her own mind up about the key
ingredients of the form of an OST meeting. For him/her--what is his/her bottom
line of what he/she won't compromise. Each person handles this differently. We
then turn the attention of our participants to the essence of OST, encouraging
each person to make his/her determination of what is OST, what is the "opening
of space" and what is the "holding of space". We suggest that it is from this
understanding, which is also subject to individual interpretation, perception,
experience, that will serve well into the future for decision making. >From that
personal understanding, as the twists and turns come up both in planning the
meeting (and you are right, most have twists and turns already at that stage)
and when one is actually facilitating. The number of decisions to make are often
very many. </SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face="Arial Narrow" size=2><SPAN
class=090353616-10052002></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face="Arial Narrow" size=2><SPAN
class=090353616-10052002>For years, I handled these intuitively and didn't know
how many decisions I was making both as I was opening the space and as I was
holding the space. It was not until I had other facilitators working with me,
that I became aware of all of the questions that were raised in their minds
regarding the minute to minute decision making. I equip those learning with me
with developing their own understanding of their own bottom line regarding both
form and essence (I realize this is an artificial separation but it helps).
</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face="Arial Narrow" size=2><SPAN
class=090353616-10052002></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face="Arial Narrow" size=2><SPAN
class=090353616-10052002>When I was faced with a challenge just as you are
facing now, I used my understanding of the form but more importantly, my
understanding of the essence to make my decision. I decided that the space was
not closed, based on my understanding of what "open space" is, if there were
such a large number who joined us in the closing circle. The majority of the
participants at the conference were in a traditional strategic planning process
"to get the real work done". As we approached the end of day 2, our group in OST
had generated many reports, many strategies for future action, and had developed
the action plans to go along with the strategies. All of them understood that
there was no funding to move their work forward as a "given" stated in the
opening. </SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face="Arial Narrow" size=2><SPAN
class=090353616-10052002></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face="Arial Narrow" size=2><SPAN
class=090353616-10052002>Early in the day, I chose to develop a quick evaluation
form and had them photocopied onto two different colors of paper. It was my
intention to have one color filled out by those in the traditional strategic
planning group and another color for those who had been in the OST throughout. I
thought that was a brilliant way to get some research done. The sponsor agreed.
</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face="Arial Narrow" size=2><SPAN
class=090353616-10052002></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face="Arial Narrow" size=2><SPAN
class=090353616-10052002>And again, more twists and turns and decision making
and I had to put this plan of evaluations aside (it was brilliant but alas was
not done). Our closing circle was scheduled for 4pm. At 2:30 pm we had a
contingent of guests arrive, mostly men, in business suits looking very
official. What gave away to me what they were doing and who they were was that
they had a ladder with them and a cameraman with camera. Oh dear----the typical
team of a federal cabinet minister. A cabinet minister had originally planned on
attending the conference but at the last, gave her regrets. I marched over to
this group (of about 6 people) and asked who they were and what their intention
was. They said they were the staff of this cabinet minister and that she had
decided she would come and that she was going to make a speech for the closing.
And of course, the intention was to film it. I have had previous experience with
such people and I know their total job is to "make the Minister" look good. I
suggested strongly to them that they were on the wrong track and that if they
truly wanted to "make their Minister look good", they should dispense with the
plan for the speech, let the closing circle progress as planned, and that they
should sit her immediately to my right. I explained that our microphone would be
passed to my left and that each person would have the opportunity to say
something and by placing her to my right, she would be the last person (except
for me) to speak. If she still chose to give her speech, so be it, but I
suggested to them that this would not likely be the case. </SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face="Arial Narrow" size=2><SPAN
class=090353616-10052002></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face="Arial Narrow" size=2><SPAN
class=090353616-10052002>The closing circle could not have gone any better if it
had been planned. People from both the "traditional strategic planning" and the
OST spoke. There was a huge and clear difference between the passion, the
innovation, the inspiration, the commitment to action, and great action plans
between the two groups. I think you can guess which of the two groups of people
shone in the brightness of their passion and commitment. The "traditional
strategic planning group" had a plan that was going forward for approval. The
OST group had a plan for approval AND they each had action steps they were
taking whether the plan ever moved forward or not. And in their contributions in
the closing, they said that their actions did not require funding but that they
had figured out how to move ahead despite the government and the bureaucracy
going so slow on what to them was a critical matter. By the way, when we sorted
out the "givens" ahead of time in our planning, a given was that items could
move forward for action in the different communities if someone so chose, just
so long as they could do so without additional government funding". The cabinet
minister was so impressed, she gave a very moving and short speech when it was
her turn. She never used her planned speech. And she spoke elequently and with
passion about the passion and commitment and her joy about this. As people were
leaving, there was a lot of chatter about what had come out of the OST group.
And the others were in awe, impressed, and in disbelief. It did not compute
logically for them. </SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face="Arial Narrow" size=2><SPAN
class=090353616-10052002></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face="Arial Narrow" size=2><SPAN
class=090353616-10052002>I think there were so many important lessons in this
for everyone concerned. If I had not taken the risk, based on my understanding
of OST, I would have denied them the opportunity. </SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face="Arial Narrow" size=2><SPAN
class=090353616-10052002></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face="Arial Narrow" size=2><SPAN
class=090353616-10052002>As for the evaluations, I had to give up on that plan
because for me to "hold the space" for the two groups, the cabinet minister, and
the cameraman, I could not turn any of my attention to talking about the
evaluations or dealing with them. I felt if I did this, I would not be able to
keep the space open. There were already too many variables at hand.
</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face="Arial Narrow" size=2><SPAN
class=090353616-10052002></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face="Arial Narrow" size=2><SPAN
class=090353616-10052002>I hope this helps.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV class=Section1>
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<BLOCKQUOTE style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV align=left class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> OSLIST
[mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU]<B>On Behalf Of </B>Peggy
Holman<BR><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, May 07, 2002 12:33 PM<BR><B>To:</B>
OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: OST as a conference
track<BR><BR></DIV></FONT>
<DIV>Wow, my query sure turned up a lot of stuff! </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>Harrison -- I would love to hear the story that leads to your unequivocal
advice.</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>To the questions:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>(Koos)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>What is the reasoning behind this? Why do OST for
just a part of the conference? </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>It has to do with the purpose of the
Open Space. <FONT face=Arial size=2> </FONT><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>It is focused on a particular project that won't
be of interest to everyone. </FONT>Artur said it quite clearly:
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><FONT face=Arial size=2>> It is
(1) to do it for the sub-community that cares about "Building a<BR>>
Pattern Language of Living Communication" </FONT></FONT></DIV><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><FONT
face=Arial size=2>
<DIV><BR></DIV></FONT></FONT>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3>We did explore doing the whole
conference in OS. This didn't seem to make sense 1) because speakers
were already committed; 2) the purpose and passion for the OS was tied not to
the conference theme but to the specific topic of creating the pattern
language, which is a track within the conference. BTW, the OS will have
it's own physical space. <BR></FONT></DIV></FONT>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3></FONT> </DIV>(Winston)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Has the session been advertised/promoted as open
to everyone at the conference? Could it possibly be of interest to
everyone? (sounds like not from the nature of the topic but...)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT>We're planning on providing an
invitation flyer as part of the conference packet
and the sponsor will say a few words of invitation at the
opening plenary that introduces the concept of a pattern language. It
will be open to everyone. I doubt it will be of interest to
everyone. </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>ON THE CLOSING CIRCLE:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Atur said:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>> Now, what I would try is to talk with the
organizing committee and say them<BR>> that IF they want the closing circle
to be open to all the participants,<BR>> then the opening circle should be
scheduled for a time slot where there are<BR>> no other simultaneous
events, so that every participant that cares can<BR>> come. Then I would
not care about the fact that someone's will not show up<BR>> for the
opening, neither for the fact that many will not participate in the<BR>>
rest of the OST sessions. I would treat them has butterflies ;-)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>There is nothing competing with the closing circle. It is the time
for the conference close. Artur, I really appreciate your image of
those coming in from outside the OS as butterflies. That helps.
It's just that there may be a LOT more butterflies than OS
participants. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>What makes me think it could work is that a closing question on what
people are taking home from the conference works no matter where they've
been. </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>So, guess I'm taking a real leap with this one. Any other thoughts
are welcome since the dates are May 18-19.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Will let you know what the water's like (or if the pool was
dry....)</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>Peggy</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> </DIV>
<DIV>> *<BR>> *<BR>>
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