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<DIV><FONT face=Verdana color=#000080 size=2>Dear Alexander,<BR><BR>thank you so
much for your beautiful pictures!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana color=#000080 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana color=#000080 size=2>I was unfortunatley not in Goa,
but last year I was also in Denmark. The organizers of OSonOS 2003 did also
a great job - the location was beautiful - the bufett was perfect. I was so
happy to meet "old and new" wonderful colleagues. But at the same time I felt,
that I missed my own passion to participate in the sessions. I thought "Oh,
whats that?" ... "why do I feel so?". Beside two or three good sessions I
followed my two feets and enjoyed more, very good one-to-one talks. But my "open
space´ler heart" was not really happy and I asked my self "why?".</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana color=#000080 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana color=#000080 size=2>Later back home, it came into my
mind, that I missed something like an exciting "main theme". Of course it
is an OST on OST. But from my personal point of view I would prefer to have each
year a new "powerful question" on top of >OSonOS<. This title should give
enough space for diversity, but could give an orientation
and direction for new and deep conversations (space for sharing deep
experiences, for telling stories, and for creativity). I think it would not
minimize the community aspect - I guess, it would enrich the community feeling
at such OSonOS AND the further development of OST.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana color=#000080 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana color=#000080 size=2>My desire would be, that OSonOS
would go more in such direction, instead of having additional
staff.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana color=#000080 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana color=#000080 size=2>Warm regards from
Berlin,<BR>Gabriela</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana color=#000080 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000080 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=alexander@kjerulf.com href="mailto:alexander@kjerulf.com">Alexander
Kjerulf</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
href="mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU">OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Monday, October 04, 2004 11:34
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> My reflections on the Goa OSonOS
(longish)</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>Hi<BR><BR>I just got back from India, and here are my
reflections on this years<BR>OSonOS.<BR><BR>First of all there were lots of
things I enjoyed about the OSonOS:<BR><BR> * I met some
wonderful people, some for the first time; some again<BR> *
The place was absolutely wonderful - See for yourself, I
posted<BR> some pictures here: <A
href="http://www.positivesharing.com/Goa">http://www.positivesharing.com/Goa</A><BR>
* I had many great and inspiring conversations outside of the
sessions<BR> * And best of all, we (the Happy at Work
Project) may now have a<BR> shot at creating the
Happy at Work Project, India<BR><BR>BUT :-)<BR><BR>Those of you who were there
know that I was frustrated with the<BR>conference itself. This was also true
at last years event in Denmark<BR>(the first OSonOS I attended) but at that
time I chose not to express it.<BR><BR>During the evening news on the second
day, I presented my observations<BR>on what frustrated me. I realize of course
that these are only my<BR>experiences. Other people may have (and indeed did
have) totally<BR>different experiences. Anyway, here's what frustrated me at
the OSonOS:<BR>*Not much listening.* People seemed more eager to speak than to
listen.<BR>*Not much depth.* Few conversations achieved any real depth, since
many<BR>comments didn't seem to build on what was said earlier in the
conversation.<BR>*Too large groups.* Many (most?) groups had 10 - 20 people in
them,<BR>which of course makes deep conversation and listening more
difficult.<BR>For my taste, I prefer groups with at most 8 people.<BR>*Too
much weird stuff.* Every day of the OSonOS opened with singing,<BR>chanting,
laughter exercises and other "weird stuff" :-) . I have<BR>nothing against
that in itself (and indeed use some of it once in a<BR>while), but it didn't
really add to my experience.<BR>*Experienced OS'ers don't seem open to input*.
The experienced OS people<BR>in the crowd were wonderfully willing to share
their experiences, but<BR>seemed less willing to listen to new
ideas.<BR>*Evening circle takes too long*. The evening circle went on for a
long<BR>time - too long in my opinion.<BR><BR>I say this without any intention
of blame or indictment. Please also<BR>remember that this kind of thing always
looks worse in worse in writing.<BR>And as I said at the conference, I only
say this, because I think the OS<BR>community can deal with it, and should be
given a chance to do so -<BR>rather than just me dealing with it on my own by
not coming to any more<BR>OSonOS'es.<BR><BR>The paradox here is, that all the
conversations I had outside of the<BR>sessions really made my coming there
worthwhile, so my time there was<BR>certainly not wasted. It's just that I
KNOW that OS conversations can be<BR>so much more than what I saw at both this
and last years OSonOS'es.<BR><BR>Now, I'm not going to throw something like
this out there, without also<BR>thinking about what we can do about it, and so
we did a session on that<BR>on the third day. We saw some ideas brewing as to
what we could do to<BR>improve the OSonOS, while at the same time maintaining
(and maybe even<BR>strengthening) all the good things the OSonOS does for the
OS community<BR>already. This is not about revolution, it's about taking an
appreciative<BR>approach to what already works in the OSonOS, and how we can
build on that.<BR><BR>But before we start that, there should be some sort of
buy-in from the<BR>OS community. If the prevailing mood is, that "the OSonOS
is fine, don't<BR>mess with it", then we'll leave it at the. If the mood is
"The OSonOS is<BR>fine, let's make it even more fine", then we might start
with an<BR>appreciative inquiry right here on the list - I'd be happy to get
it going.<BR><BR>What do you
think?<BR><BR>Cheers<BR><BR>Alex<BR><BR>--<BR>Alexander Kjerulf<BR><A
href="mailto:alexander@kjerulf.com">alexander@kjerulf.com</A><BR><A
href="http://www.positivesharing.com">http://www.positivesharing.com</A><BR><BR>+45
2688 2373<BR>Tagensvej 126, lejl. 613<BR>2200 København
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