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<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2></FONT></DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=3><SPAN
class=560053019-21072003>Michael (Herman),</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=3><SPAN class=560053019-21072003>I
apologize for taking so long to continue this conversation with you. Life
happened and today is my first real computer day in weeks. I wanted to draft a
thorough response regarding the conversation that we had about the new <A
href="http://www.openspaceworld.net">www.openspaceworld.net</A> site. I notice
that you have posted our OS list conversation on that site. For now, I feel that
the right place for my posting is on the OS list because it involves our OS list
community--and I am fine if you also post it on the website in your questions
section.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=3><SPAN
class=560053019-21072003></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=3><SPAN class=560053019-21072003>I
admire all that you are doing with the websites, your energy and passion,
commitment and discipline. I wanted to be very clear about that so that you will
hopefully see that where I am coming from is a supportive place. I note your
invitations for us to participate in the websites and I would like to do this
but first I seek clarity about whether it is the right place for me to commit
some of my energy. This e-mail is about seeking that clarity and I will be
pleased to have the discussion that helps me to decide.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=3><SPAN
class=560053019-21072003></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=3><SPAN class=560053019-21072003>I also
choose to recognize that by being the webmaster for the community Open Space
websites, that you are in a position of power. From that position, by shaping
the "givens" or what is not negotiable, you have great power in shaping how Open
Space Technology is perceived in the world now and into the future. This is
neither good nor bad. It simply is power of position added to the power that we
all have including power of presence and power of communication. I believe that
you will hold and carry out this power of position well, with recognition that
many people rely on the reputation of OST for their ongoing business as
independent consultants who have focused their business on
OST.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=3><SPAN
class=560053019-21072003></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=3><SPAN class=560053019-21072003>I know
that our participants in OST meetings go through the same thing. They receive an
invitation and then they have to make a decision about whether they choose to
attend or not. Offering as much information in the invitation as possible
is helpful so that they can make an informed choice. And so, I was seeking more
information about what I was being invited into. I am not wanting to interupt
your opening circle, but wanting to go back to what this is and what it is not
so that I can make an informed choice.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=3><SPAN
class=560053019-21072003></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=3><SPAN class=560053019-21072003>There
are always "givens" or non-negotiables in life, whether we like them or not.
Collectives of individuals (organizations) run into real problems when the
"givens" are implicit rather than explicit. This leads to the making of
assumptions that are not useful. And implicit assumptions, in my experience,
lead to the potential for misuse of and misunderstanding of power. This happened
to me within the <A
href="http://www.openspaceworld.org">www.openspaceworld.org</A> site which I
brought to your attention. The pages that are "read only" shape the
tone/philosophy of the site and how it presents OST to the world.
</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=3><SPAN
class=560053019-21072003></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=3><SPAN class=560053019-21072003>When
you invited us to contribute into that site as a wiki site, it appeared that ALL
was open to editing and change. And then I ran right into the "givens" that were
implied but never clearly stated, because the very pages I wanted to put changes
on where the ones that were "read only". You replied saying that this was what
gave the site its structure and so it could not be changed except through you.
In this circle of people that we are, there are 360 degrees of perspectives of
what OST is and how to present it. It is no surprise that my perspective is
different than yours. Both are valid. However, one perspective (may be shared by
many) is created for the site by structuring the implicit "givens" on that site.
I think if it was the site of one individual rather than the community site,
this would be fine. But, with a community site (assuming the community is the
community on the OS list), I would say that the "givens" should have a chance
for conversation and agreement so that the site is truly representative of the
community. Maybe you did initiate this discussion to let us help in
shaping the givens and I missed it. If so, I apologize for raising
this.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=3><SPAN
class=560053019-21072003></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=3><SPAN class=560053019-21072003>So now
to the <A href="http://www.openspaceworld.net">www.openspaceworld.net</A> site.
I want to participate if it is a place that is in alignment with my energy and I
want to support your work. A question for me is, is my perspective about OST and
how to work with OST welcome on the site? Another question for me is will I
accept the invitation to participating in the site, when there is something in
the invitation that is philisophically different to what I believe in and
different to the message I want to give to the world about my work with OST.
This took me to asking you why the site focuses on OST "practitioners". In using
this on the splash page, there is already a philisophical shaping, an implicit
"given". I in no way want to challenge your (or others) personal use of that
word for your own business. My challenge arises when this is an implicit given
on the community site. I personally do not want to be viewed by my clients as
someone who is practicing OST. And so, my question arose for you about the
"givens" for the site. Who has set them, what are they, and can they be changed?
I know that there are thousands of people in the world involved with OST and
only about 300 on this list but the list is what we have as what can be
perceived as a community. I recommend that the "givens" for the community Open
Space Websites be discussed and decided on on this list. I appreciate your
invitation to sort out the "givens" within the wiki site, but that does not seem
to be the place to sort out the overarching givens that govern the whole site
(those that are already in place).</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=3><SPAN
class=560053019-21072003></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=3><SPAN class=560053019-21072003>I
think this is such important work that you are leading in Michael, and I see the
power in it to deeply affect all who are working with OST now and into the
future. I thank you and I hope that you find my contribution here to be helpful.
</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=3><SPAN
class=560053019-21072003></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV class=Section1>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Blessings to
you and to all with whom you make Genuine Contact,<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: fuchsia; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Birgitt<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Birgitt
Williams of Dalar International Consultancy <A
href="http://www.dalarinternational.com/">www.dalarinternational.com</A>
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #333399">As mentors to leaders and
organizations we assist you in going beyond what has been before. We provide
inspirational and practical “how to” guidance for leaders who want to achieve
healthy and balanced organizations to produce exciting, tangible results for the
organization and for its people. Our approach is holistic, creating a better
future by tapping into ancient wisdom.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #333399"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>We believe that Spirit matters and people are precious. We
know that organizations incorporating these values have exciting, tangible
results including wealth, prosperity, and abundance. These organizations tend to
their health and balance on a daily basis.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">View the calendar for
upcoming training in the Organizational Health and Balance series of workshops
featuring the Genuine Contact</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol"><SPAN
style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol">Ô</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> program at
</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><A
href="http://www.openspacetechnology.com/training.html"><SPAN
style="COLOR: navy; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">http://www.openspacetechnology.com/training.html</SPAN></A></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
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style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">We invite you to join
the Genuine Contact list serve at <A
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<P class=MsoAutoSig><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Contact information for
Dalar International Consultancy: Po Box 19373, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
27619 Raleigh, North Carolina USA </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Phone:
919-522-7750<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Fax:
919-870-6599<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN> </SPAN></P>
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