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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hello, Open Spacers,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>This email is to introduce myself to the list.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>My name is David and I have been a research
physiologist, TV producer/presenter, author and museum exhibition developer. I
gained interest in Open Space through a period of intense frustration with
'conventional' management systems, especially within - but clearly not
restricted to - government. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>In November this year I video'd the OSonOSinOZ, at
Marysville in Australia, partly to discover more about what Open Space "is". I
learned a lot. You may have the chance to see my 4-minute distillation from 10
fascinating hours of tape...</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>My first email to Birgitt Bolton/Williams
is copied below to illustrate something of where I came
from.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I found the Open Space in Australia uplifting and
deeply moving. I can explain more about that if anyone is interested. I look
forward to dialogues with open-minded, flexible, creative and positive
minds.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Best</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>David</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT color=#000080>Dear
Birgitt,</FONT></SPAN><FONT color=#000080><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>
<BR></FONT><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">I heard you
speaking on the radio when you were in Melbourne last year and was impressed to
the point of amazement. </SPAN><BR><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">You asked - "Why is it that
companies spend so much time and energy selecting and appointing the best suited
and most creative people and then prevent them from being creative?"
</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT color=#000080>As a film maker
and writer with a very strong drive to be creative, I find myself shackled in my
current position as a Program Director at Melbourne Museum.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT color=#000080>Consider this:
Last year was International Year of Elderly Persons. I had established a great
relationsjhip with staff at the National Ageing Research Institute here in
Melbourne. Together with our Outreach Services group I set up a Public Forum on
the theme "Use it or lose it!". My line manager chided me for doing this, saying
" But it's not in the Business Plan, can't you organise it for the
following year?" This, quite frankly enraged me, though I really felt very much
alone with that reaction. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT color=#000080>Then consider
this: I have on my desk an A3 form which sets out in extraordinary detail the
process required in order to produce a publication. This chart has to be seen to
be believed. It is in 10 point type, has five columns of steps and there, right
in the middle, is a single line "AUTHOR WRITES BOOK". When this was tabled at
one of our interminable meetings I was the only one who laughed.
</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT color=#000080>Then I heard
your interview and I felt immensely relieved that there were other people -
perhaps <STRONG>many</STRONG> other people around the world who smelled the same
big fat rat in the way corporations seemed to be stifling people while espousing
all sorts of lofty ideals in their mission statements etc.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"><FONT color=#000080><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">So I contacted Brian Bainbridge and
began exploring your Open Space ideas. I purchased</SPAN><I><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></I><I><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The Rise & Fall of Strategic
Planning</SPAN></I><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> which
forms a wonderful companion read to</SPAN><I><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></I><I><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The
Unconscious Civilisation.</SPAN></I><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> Then I learned that my friends at
Hamilton in western Victoria had worked very successfully with Open
Space.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT color=#000080>I mentioned my
concerns and Open Space to one of our senior managers here at the museum and he
said he would be very interested in hearing more about Open Space. (He's a
rather unusual manager in this place in that he retains a high level of
flexibility - thinks right OUTSIDE the box). As I mentioned to Brian, I would
love to have Open Space presented to our management, but I'm concerned that it
be done really well from the outset - that's why I asked whether you would be in
Australia in 2000. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT color=#000080>Can you advise
me how to proceed? I'd be happy to provide far more information about the
organisation and the sort of issues that concern me, but really wanted to touch
base first and get your initial reaction.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT color=#000080>I look forward
to hearing from you!</FONT></SPAN><FONT color=#000080><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> <BR></FONT><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Best regards,</SPAN></FONT><FONT
color=#000080><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3> <BR></FONT><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">David</SPAN></FONT></P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>