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<FONT FACE="Times New Roman" DEFAULT="FACE"><FONT SIZE="3" POINTSIZE="12" DEFAULT="SIZE">Dear Marks,<BR>
I had the privilege to be a coach for a couple of fellows who had the role of facilitators for an os-t "retreat" for the staff of 20 of their own organisation ( a 1,5 days just plain old os with the half day at the end being the "third day").<BR>
Here are some of the things that seemed to make it possible (it actually worked very well)<BR>
1. In the meeting of the planning group it was reaffirmed that the sponsor for this event was the whole group<BR>
2. A person other than the fellows who facilitated was chosen to be in the role of the sponsor to open the space (thats that little part in the beginning that lasts just 4 minutes)<BR>
3. It was decided to have 2 facilitators in the sense that they would not facilitate simultaneously but take turns in facilitating (actually, one of them did the whole intro, another the piece where the bulletin board is created to organize issues and the marketplace.... they took turns in facilitating morning and evening news and managing the "third day") so that they could both contribute to holding space and time.<BR>
4. It was decided to have an experienced, paid os-assitant (someone who had been in this role several times not in any way associated with the organisation)<BR>
5. The two members of the group that did the facilitation would be regular participants while not facilitating<BR>
6. The coach (lucky me) would be present for the entire event and everyone knew clearly why he was there.<BR>
<BR>
>From my observation (and this is in fact no different from any regular os) these were the key factors for making it possible:<BR>
a) have the roles clear (sponsor, facilitator, assistant, participants, etc.)<BR>
b) have an experienced assistant who intuitively knows what to do to relieve the facilitator(s) from doing any of the "chores" that might distract him from the "holding time and space" work<BR>
<BR>
What also helped was:<BR>
c) one of the two facilitators had been participant in several os-events, been trained as os-facilitator (in the standard 5-day training offered in these realms) and had facilitated several os-events himself<BR>
d) the other facilitator had been participant and had the benefit of training, too<BR>
e) the staff of the organisation had used os for their work several times with external facilitators (both for themselves and in projects that they run)<BR>
<BR>
A short word on my role:<BR>
I think I managed brilliantly to do absolutely nothing during the event.<BR>
Perhaps that contributed a little to the peace of mind of the facilitators and their work holding space and time.<BR>
<BR>
So, now to the advice you asked for:<BR>
-have someone other than you be designated to speak for the sponsor of the event (open the space)<BR>
-get yourself a co-facilitator<BR>
-get yourself an external assistant<BR>
and<BR>
ask Chris Corrigan to sit in as coach.<BR>
<BR>
Greetings from Berlin and a Happy New Year<BR>
mmp<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
--Original Message Text---<BR>
<B>From:</B> Marks & Margaret McAvity<BR>
<B>Date:</B> Tue, 30 Dec 2003 19:31:27 -0800<BR>
<BR>
Message <FONT FACE="Arial"><FONT SIZE="2" POINTSIZE="10">Hi folks; <BR>
<BR>
And Happy New Year. <BR>
<BR>
I would appreciate a little advice. I am part of a well knit "Christian" community of 13 persons that steward the life of a wonderful little Retreat Centre called Rivendell on Bowen Island near Vancouver (just down the road from Chris Corrigan). We have been developing the centre's philosophy, offering spiritual hospitality and companionship as well as being available as facilitators to the wide variety of groups that come here. In a way we are the centre's staff, though it is a non-stipendiary service. As a community we have a community retreat ourselves three times a year ( normally there are only 2 or 3 here hosting the centre at any one time). <BR>
<BR>
Our next retreat is early next week. And we have just decided that for the "content" of this retreat that we would like to explore developing a covenant for ourselves to both deepen our commitment to each other, and to state clearly who we are and what we are endeavouring to do. <BR>
<BR>
Now here is the "rub" and the challenge. I have volunteered to facilitate an Open Space for this exploration- something I have done about half a dozen times over the past 3 years, with much satisfaction and seeming success. However, in this case, I want to be able to "open" and "hold" space, AND to be a full participant. Has anyone had any experience of doing this? In our case, it seems necessary to do this exploration totally "in house", but it ought to include us all. <BR>
<BR>
Any advice you might have for me as I prepare for this venture would be much appreciated- short of telling me I shouldn't do it as I am now committed. <BR>
<BR>
Cheers and thanks in advance. <BR>
<BR>
Marks <BR>
of <BR>
Margaret & Marks McAvity<BR>
S50, C16<BR>
Galiano, BC<BR>
Canada V0N 1P0<BR>
<FONT COLOR=0000ff><U>mcavity@primus.ca<FONT COLOR=000000 DEFAULT="COLOR"></U><BR>
<BR>
<BR>
604-616-7260(cell-Marks),250-539-2881(Galiano)<BR>
604-328-4406(cell-Marg), 604-947-0077(Bowen-us) <BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
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