<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><HTML><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Geneva" FAMILY="SANSSERIF" SIZE="2">Joe--<BR>
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I have observed that groups are very creative when it comes to finding additional meeting spaces, or sometimes splitting a time slot to make room for more sessions. I don't usually have to do anything about this.<BR>
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However, I wonder if the number of breakout spaces that are set up encourages people to think that there are "supposed to be" a certain number of sessions per time slot. I wonder whether at some, perhaps subconscious, level that some people see the number of identified spaces as an upper limit.<BR>
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I usually make the time space grid with the breakout rooms or spaces which are identified, and which usually have a flip chart for groups who wish to use it. But at the bottom of each time slot, I add a handful of Post-Its marked "Other," and encourage people to find informal spaces in and around the facility. <BR>
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In nice weather, groups often work outside. In a hotel setting, some find a spot in the coffee shop or lounge. Many facilities have a hallway or reception area that is very comfortable for small groups or butterfly conversations. One OSmeeting took place in a brand-new spa hotel, and the meeting room was really too small. However, there were no other groups and only a few other guests present, so they told us to use any space in the hotel. A number of sessions took place in the beautiful Great Room, a large lobby with a central fireplace and clusters of comfy leather chairs, and some were on a mezzanine overlooking that space, which had room for 3-4 well-separated groups. Plus a couple of groups met in the room we used for meals.<BR>
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I also like the buzz of having several groups meeting in the space used for the opening and closing circles. The noise level rises, but so does the energy level, and it makes it very easy to be a bumblebee.<BR>
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Joelle<BR>
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