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<DIV><SPAN class=770325819-30032004><FONT face=Arial>Chris,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=770325819-30032004><FONT face=Arial>I think you have steered us
in a very valuable direction with this posting so that we can examine the
purpose of the list, developing a shared sense of the purpose, noting the
purpose on Chris Corrigan's FAQ list, and being clear with others what it is and
what it is not. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=770325819-30032004><FONT face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=770325819-30032004><FONT face=Arial>I also thank you for
recognizing that my posting was not about fear of a free exchange of ideas nor
about emotional hurt, but about something deeper.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>
<P><FONT face=Arial>With light and love I wish you joy, peace, God's grace and
blessings, and that you prosper in all things,</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial>Birgitt</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </P></DIV>
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<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> OSLIST
[mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU]<B>On Behalf Of </B>chris
weaver<BR><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, March 30, 2004 6:23 AM<BR><B>To:</B>
OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU<BR><B>Subject:</B> oslist core purpose &
the exchange of "ideas"<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>hmm.<BR><BR>as i read birgitt's
posting and the replies, it arises for me that the free exchange of "ideas"
from this list is a value for many people, and that an ever-widening and
indiscriminate availability of what has been posted to this list is a value
for many people. these appear to be "givens" for many people in their
understanding of what the list is and means.<BR><BR>noted.<BR><BR>oslist
doesn't have a stated, agreed-upon purpose. the FAQs describe it as an
"international mailing list" and a "lively forum" of open space facilitators
and others interested in the process. i would suggest that as an
organization, the fact that oslist does not have a stated purpose is an
important awareness. <BR><BR>in my own use of Open Space
Technology and other ways of opening and holding space, the free exchange of
ideas is an integrated part of what is going on. but where do these
"ideas" come from? in face-to-face Open Space work, each idea is born in
individual passion and intensely filtered through layers of meaning-making and
personal responsibility before it is shared in the space. and that
process within individuals of refining an "idea" for sharing is deeply
influenced by the context of the Open Space, including the givens, the theme
(which relates to the purpose of the organization), the specific people in the
room, the spirit in the room, and the meaning and motion of this meeting in
the life of the organization or community. an idea born and refined this
way is, in my experience, much more than just an idea.<BR><BR>in my world of
Open Space, these elements are about creating sacred space which invites in
the wholeness of the people in the circle. in my world, the larger
purpose always connects somehow to healing, integration, the expansion of
awareness, the creative collaborative move toward wholeness - even when the
theme is very practical.<BR><BR>if oslist's core purpose is the free and
indiscriminately-available exchange of "ideas," then so be it. if that
were the core purpose of the other Open Space experiences i am involved in,
then i reckon we'd have a digital video camera tuned into that circle all the
time and linked to the web. we don't, and the reasons we don't have to
do with purpose.<BR><BR>oslist <I>could</I> have other core purposes.
perhaps oslist <I>has</I> had other core purposes. perhaps it
<I>does</I>. it is clear to me that birgitt's posting is not about fear
of the free exchange of ideas, nor is it about emotional hurt, except in the
way that vulnerability shared is always a finger pointing to something
important. i suggest we look deeply.<BR><BR>with love,<BR>chris<BR><BR>*
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