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<div class=Section1>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Elena – what a treat! And so fast!! We
really have been missing you here, so it is just wonderful that you could show
up. As for the Rotary folks, I know some of them quite well, and think very
highly of them and the work they do. And I certainly can see where Future
Search can be of real benefit to people who need to think about a future they
would like to have. However, as I have said on several occasions to Marv
Weisbord – I think he is working just too hard. To be sure, you can
invite people to explore their past, present and desired future – and it
appears as a nice, comfortable linear sequence. I find, however, that if you
invite people to explore their passions (what they care about) and expectations
(what they hope for) – they will inevitably go through the past (all the
things that didn’t work and a few that did), the present (how they are
feeling at the moment) – and then it is own to the future, which in fact
they are creating even as they speak. Something like – What are the
issues and opportunities for building a life we can love? Or something. Anyhow,
it is really great to hear from you and CONGRATULATIONS on your presidency –
And when you get done with Rotary, please come to the </span></font><font
color=red face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial;color:red'>United States</span></font><font
color=red face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial;color:red'>. We could use
your help! Some folks over here have forgotten totally about Democracy, ethical
actions, good behavior, and the like.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Harrison</span></font><font color=red
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=2
color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:red'>Harrison Owen</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=2
color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:red'>7808 River Falls Drive</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=2
color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:red'>Potomac, Maryland 20845</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=2
color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:red'>Phone 301-365-2093</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'></X-SIGSEP><font
size=3 color=red face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:red'><!--StartFragment --><X-SIGSEP>Open Space Training <a
href="http://www.openspaceworld.com/" eudora=autourl>www.openspaceworld.com</a>
</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
color=red face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:red'>Open
Space Institute <a href="http://www.openspaceworld.org" eudora=autourl>www.openspaceworld.org</a></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
color=red face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:red'>Personal
website <a href="http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hhowen/index.htm"
eudora=autourl>http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hhowen/index.htm</a></span></font><font
color=blue><span style='color:blue'><br>
<a href="mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU">OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU</a></span></font><font
color=red><span style='color:red'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;text-align:center'><font
size=3 color=red face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:red'>To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the
archives Visit: <a
href="http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html" eudora=autourl>http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html</a></span></font></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>-----Original Message-----<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>From:</span></b> </span></font><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>OSLIST</span></font><font
size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> [mailto:</span></font><font
size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>OSLIST</span></font><font
size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU]
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>Elena A. Marchuk<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Saturday, May 29, 2004 1:41
PM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> </span></font><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>OSLIST</span></font><font
size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> Re: meeting with a
Russian colleague and more (thoughts on OS's limitations; getting into
consulting work)</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Hi Harrison,</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>I answered to Raffi's questions about what are the
benefits of FSC vs OS for me... but next meeting will be again OS for Rotary as
there would be about 100 people, firstly the presidents-elect (presidents to be
in a new Rotary year which will start on the 1st of July. And you know already,
that our District 5010 is Alaska(US), Yukon(CA), and the 2/3 of Russia -
Siberia and Far East (of Russia), so it will be "Questions and
opportunities for Russian Rotary in the nearest futrure" as this year will
be a 100 year aniversary of Rotary. Do you know any other organization, which
existed 100 years and in which every year ALL leaders are changed? Starting
from the President of Rotary International with the head quarter in Chicago,
Il, and then to the governours of the districts and Rotary club presidents...</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>I would never believe it if I did not join Rotary. And
here ... a lack of leaders skills in democratic way of leading the volunteers
in Russia - is a separate chapter of my future book (if I write some at
last...). Every year new president is saying: It is my year, don't listen to
him/her - he/she is not a president any more..., yes, some clubs are very
succesful, some are always in turbulence, but the question here is not in the
Rotary, ...</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>people can not talk, and sometimes future search gives
them opportunity to go through past, present and desired future.. which is hard
to imagine for some people. they do no what they don't want but to put in a
positive way and draw the picture of the desired future in some concrete forms
- hard...</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>and I was just from the FSC Learning Exchange
workshop, so I really did retell all the nice stories about my learnings and
meeting nice people... not that I forgot about OS, but thank you for posting
your letter, Raffi, and you, Harrison, for you deep thoughts again... as I do
try to work with OS every time I can, and that will be opportunity to work
again... and I will try the Michael Pannwitz idea (as it just happened like
this - to have a break before planning session for lunch) as we shall have time
for work on the issues and opportunities from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., than lunch
(we will try to keep it shorter... ) and then the planning session, which is
usually supposed to be on the next day, but there will be no next day... so it
will be time from 2:45 to 4:30, from which I should take off some half an hour
for closing session, but still there will be another half an hour for analyses
of the results for some good leaders and thinkers in Siberian Rotary, who I
hope will speak to people interactively and not autoritatively.</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>so we are moving, slowly but in the direction of
learning hearing and listening, though some people are saying - OS? again? and
others: what is it? how wonderful! I thought I knew everything in types of
meeting and this is a new one... so le'ts see what will happen again. OS in
organizations works more concretely, but Rotary is a volunteer organization,
where everybody came from usually succesful business as they need to pay a
Rotary fee...but still a new feeling of being volunteer needs to be learned.
Especially it is difficult for leaders - they can not just fire people, they
need to learn their motivations (which are usually hired) and learn how to lead
without leading.... just asking what people would like to do. People don't
trust each other, don't talk, can not be open (there is always somebody who
tries to hide behind the column and not seeting in a circle... and so on.... ),
but some - just feels themselves as fish in a water as we say....</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>ok, looking forward to hearing from you soon</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>elena</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>president of the Rotary club Novosibirsk-Akademgorodok
2003-04</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Governour 5010 Assistant in West Siberia 2004-05</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>sorry for the long letter again</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>best wishes</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>elena</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid black 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 3.0pt;
margin-left:2.5pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt'>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>----- Original Message ----- </span></font></p>
</div>
<div style='font-color:black'>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;background:#E4E4E4'><b><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> <a
href="mailto:hhowen@comcast.net" title="hhowen@comcast.net">Harrison Owen</a> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>To:</span></font></b><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> <a
href="mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU"
title="OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU">OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU</a> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></font></b><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> Saturday,
May 29, 2004 10:10 PM</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></font></b><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> Re: meeting
with a Russian colleague and more (thoughts on OS's limitations; getting into
consulting work)</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Raffi – Per usual,
there is a lot of good stuff here. And it is good to hear that you and Elena
have hooked up. Should you see her again, tell her we have missed her on
OSLIST. Her preference for Future Search in the Russian context is something
she has shared before, so it does not come as a surprise, nor would I question
her preference or her experience – but I am curious. This is not about OS
vs FS – indeed, I have infinite respect for Marv Weisbord and the FS
crowd. However, if it is true that FS “works better in the Russian
context” we have a very interesting cultural discriminator. A sort of
litmus paper test of some sort. Briefly put – Are there some cultures
where Open Space doesn’t work? And if there were, I think we might learn
some useful things about culture, cultures, and Open Space. But of course, we
would need to be quite precise about what we meant when we said “worked.”</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>I would suppose that there
are at least three levels of “worked.” 1) The process worked
formally – people sat in a circle, created and agenda, and formed work
groups. . .) 2) The process worked experientially – people became
engaged, issues were seriously discussed, “useful” things happened
(minds were changed, ideas were generated, projects initiated/terminated, etc.)
3) The process worked over time – there was some perceptible, continuing
impact. </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>In my personal experience,
I have never seen an instance where Open Space failed to “work” at
the first and second levels – no matter the group involved, the issue
under discussion, or the cultural context. Now obviously, my experience is
limited, and my perception doubtless biased -- but that has been my experience.
It is absolutely true that I have never had the privilege of opening space in
Russia, but I have done just that in what I think are similar cultural
environments, including parts of the old USSR. The truly interesting thing to
me is that over the almost 20 years of Opening Space, I have never been able to
identify any significant difference of group performance regardless of culture,
ethnicity, economics, education, national origin, or any other variable that I
can think of. I have, of course, heard of instances where it was reported that
Open Space did not “work” as advertised, but in every instance
where I was able to dig deeper, it turned out that the problem wasn’t
Open Space, but rather the way it was done. The most usual offenders were those
situations where it was decided to try “a little Open Space.”
Typically this meant “doing Open Space” in a one hour time slot in
the midst of a formal conference. Another example would be when it was decided
to “demonstrate Open Space.” In those cases an arbitrary theme (or
no theme at all) was announced, people sat in a circle, and nothing (or little)
happened. Typical reactions of participants was something like “It that
all there is?” And the reason, of course was that there was no passion
and no responsibility – and therefore nothing moved. Anyhow, that has
been my experience, and it would be great to have lot more experiences.
Personally, I would love to hear about some situation where all the conditions
were met (real issue, lots of diversity, complexity, conflict – and a
decision time of yesterday), the process was followed (sit in a circle, create
bulletin board . . ) and the facilitator got out of the way – and the
whole thing just went nowhere. A case book of such instances could teach us a
mountain of good stuff. </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>And then we come to Level
3 “working.” Genuine answers here are hard to come by – not
only for Open Space, but for any other approach as well. To really get an
answer here we would need long term studies, but even if we had them, I am not
sure that the changing variables of the environment would not be such that real
certainty would be denied. However, it is interesting that after 20 years, Open
Space is still around, and its use seems to be growing. This, despite the fact
that OS flies in the face of just about every theoretical and practical
principle of organizational behavior – at least all the mainline ones.
Briefly put, Open Space cannot work – but it seems to. So there you are.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>At the end of the day, the
choice of method (OS, FS, Real Time Strategic Change, etc) is dependant (I
think) on </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>At least three factors 1)
The situation (when the space is already closed – don’t use Open
Space) 2) Client preference – What does the client feel comfortable with?
3) Facilitator preference (what does the facilitator feel comfortable with?).
Client and Facilitator preferences are not unimportant! And certainly should
never be contravened. Doing an Open Space by force, simply does not make it!</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>So there are some thoughts
Raffi. I guess you will have to pick you pathway any way you can. On the face
of it, putting your faith in the Open Space basket as a young consultant is
probably the worst thing you could do. Since it organizes so quickly and you do
so little, billable hours go down quickly. Of course all that implies that you
were able to “sell” an Open Space – which is a doubtful
undertaking. Who on earth would hire an expert to do something that any fool
with a good head and a good heart could do all by themselves? Everybody knows
that really good interventions have to be complex, confusing, hard to do, and
take a long time. Open Space is really hard on the wallet. So my advice, Raffi,
is get another gig. And should you ever get hooked, I take no responsibility.
Just remember you were warned.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Harrison </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-left:.5in;text-align:center'><font
size=2 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:red'>Harrison Owen</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-left:.5in;text-align:center'><font
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>-----Original Message-----<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>From:</span></b> OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU]
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>Raffi Aftandelian<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Saturday, May 29, 2004 1:51
AM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> meeting with a Russian
colleague and more (thoughts on OS's limitations; getting into consulting work)</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=2 face="Arial CYR"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial CYR"'> [OS'rs! I don't think
this made it's way to the digest; my apologies if you've already seen it]</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=2 face="Arial CYR"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial CYR"'>Dear OpenSpacers,</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=2 face="Arial CYR"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial CYR"'>I had the fortune the other
day of meeting up briefly with Lena Marchuk in Moscow. This is a real treat
because the distance between Moscow and Novosibirsk (where she is from) is
essentially the same distance as between Moscow and London. Far away. She had
just come from the FS Learning Exchange.</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=2 face="Arial CYR"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial CYR"'>It was a chance to reconnect
and also to share experiences and to be mentored by her in Future Search (FS),
which I hope to conduct some day and also. And it was a chance to be
mentored in Open Space. </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=2 face="Arial CYR"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial CYR"'>Lena spoke
of her preference for using FS (she has conducted minimum 10 such
conferences) over OS (of course she uses OS during the action planning at an
FS) -as a large group intervention tool - in the Russian context. She frames
the global givens, so to speak, that Russians (speaking generally) haven't had
an experience of democracy yet. And an FS provides this experience. And
curiously, she sees that FS's in Russia for the most part don't necessarily
lead to action planning and the like. The whole notion of goal-setting, she
noted, virtually leads to people drawing a blank look. It is too bad Lena and I
didn't have more time so that she could elaborate on this thought because I
suspect there's much more behind it. Now this may be less true when doing an
FS/OS in a large town. Much of her work, as I understand, is conducted in
provincial centers in Siberia where maybe that kind of linear thinking -- goal
setting, making action plans-- hasn't filtered to. </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=2 face="Arial CYR"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial CYR"'>She sees the value of FS in
Russia in, first of all, creating dialog, community, building connections. As I
understood her, before even thinking about creating action plans for the
future, people need to learn a whole new way of being together. They have a
true experience of democracy. They see that totally different people can be
together in a constructive way. In one sense of the metaphor, an FS
is not about planting the seeds for change, but rather working the soil
so that seeds can be planted at a later point. And, to extrapolate, this is a
very important result. That Maybe this is true of OS here, too.</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=2 face="Arial CYR"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial CYR"'>I liked a Yakutian (in
Siberia) joke that Lena told me (as I recall it). "The difference between
the East and West: "The Westerner says: "Ok, so what are the
results?" The Easterner says, "Notice the process." The
Russian says, "I'd like to say a toast to the process we are using so that
we may achieve results."</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=2 face="Arial CYR"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial CYR"'>It is too bad we didn't have
time to hear more about why OS doesn't necessarily provide that in her opinion.
FS's plus is that it provides a structure to develop a picture of the past,
present, future. </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=2 face="Arial CYR"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial CYR"'>
********</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=2 face="Arial CYR"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial CYR"'>A few days ago I had the
fortune of speaking to a mentor in social change work (since I haven't
checked out with him-- in contrast to the message with Lena, where I did check
out with her before posting-- somebody I'd been trying to arrange a phone
conversation with for 1 1/2 years (!). I am thinking more about my life/work
plans, and want to consult with him. I am getting my start in consulting work,
yet don't have that clear vision of where I am going. I was very interested in
seeing his read on OS and FS. OS, in his opinion, is a tool. And it's oversold.
Yes, it can be valuable, but it's one of many tools. But, if I am going to be
an OD consultant (and I am not sure I would want to describe myself that way),
for one thing I would need to have a more varied toolbag. He would never want
to hire an OD (organizational development) consultant with only one tool: OS.
And, in his book, anyone who is an OD consultant does need to get management
experience, to have acquired the body of experience/knowledge of a manager.
This way a potential client is likely to understand what the client is going
through, and is less apt to be in the clouds. Your thoughts?</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=2 face="Arial CYR"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial CYR"'>In other words, if the only
tool (OD) I have is a hammer, I'm apt to see every problem as a nail. </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=2 face="Arial CYR"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial CYR"'>And yet curiously, he saw as a
potential life/work path to totally get into OS and achieve excellence in it. I
think the contradiction here is a surface one. Because OS's potential is not
just in OD work, to beat a dead horse. It has a myriad of applications. I am
fascinated, for example, by its potential as a career/life planning tool. I am
curious if there are folks who use it in this way as paid/unpaid work (as a
career counselor/personal coach). </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=2 face="Arial CYR"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial CYR"'>I also asked him about OS
being a tool for social change. Again, yes, it is one of many tools. And I
shouldn't expect to get rich off of OS on this score.</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=2 face="Arial CYR"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial CYR"'>This talk put me in my "discomfort
zone." I realized how much more thinking I need to do before going on. </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=2 face="Arial CYR"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial CYR"'>I would be curious as to how
people got in to consulting work. Maybe this is something people may be
uncomfortable sharing so openly, even offlist. </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=2 face="Arial CYR"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial CYR"'>With lotsa questions and
sitting with them,</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=2 face="Arial CYR"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial CYR"'>(trying to) trust that my
background/subconscious inner-OS program will find the answers,</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=2 face="Arial CYR"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial CYR"'>raffi</span></font></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>* *
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