<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML xmlns:o = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:st1 =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2627" name=GENERATOR>
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=#ffffff>
<DIV><SPAN lang=EN-AU><FONT face=Arial size=2>Raffi, your notion of ‘The Next
Big Thing will likely not be a tool, but rather an attitude’ resonates strongly
with my experience of being an OST facilitator since 1994, a longstanding member
of this list and also with my observings related to coming to live in Hong
Kong a few months ago. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN lang=EN-AU><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN lang=EN-AU><FONT face=Arial size=2>And with your notion
Seamus of 'For me it comes down to people. People who are willing to be
open to others.' </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-AU><o:p><FONT
face=Arial size=2> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-AU><FONT face=Arial
size=2>Here is a brief account of what I have observed in a little
microcosm - through the lens of a solid background in
OST - recently. Is what I have noted in line with the
direction in which you both are pointing ...</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-AU><o:p><FONT
face=Arial size=2> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT face=Arial><FONT
size=2><SPAN lang=EN-AU>By a stroke of remarkable fortune I am connected to
a very lively group of people in <st1:place w:st="on">Hong Kong</st1:place>.
This started in May of last year when I had a day here between flights en
route from Australia to Europe and the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">US</st1:place></st1:country-region>. The connecting happened
through my ‘putting out’ to listserv colleagues, including Gail West in
<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:place></st1:country-region>, about contacts here. Back
came a flood of invitations to meet with people, among which was one from a
group who call themselves the <SPAN style="COLOR: red">SPIRIT of Hong
Kong:</SPAN> <SPAN style="COLOR: lime">Consciously creating <st1:place
w:st="on">Hong Kong</st1:place>, together</SPAN>.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN lang=EN-AU
style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><A
href="http://www.spiritofhongkong.org">www.spiritofhongkong.org</A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-AU
style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Arial
size=2> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT face=Arial><FONT
size=2><SPAN lang=EN-AU>They asked me to talk about about ‘open
agenda processes’ and reportedly found this very useful. On my
way home (to Adelaide) a month later I arranged to attend another of their
gatherings to report on ideas picked up on my travels, particularly
OpenSpace-Online from Gabriela Ender. </SPAN><SPAN lang=EN-AU
style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-AU
style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Arial
size=2> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-AU
style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2>Meeting with
this group was likely part of the decision process in my wife Carmen and I
taking up an opportunity to come to live here.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-AU
style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Arial
size=2> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-AU
style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT face=Arial size=2>For what I sensed
from the earlier encounter and since being a resident is that this
group manifests an attitude that is thrilling, welcoming, enlivening and
inspiring. The core participants are warm, open, interesting -
and interested - people. Perhaps this can be characterised as their having
an attitude of cheerfulness and gratitude. (Arun Wakhlu and I have
corresponded recently on these elements in preparing people for OST
facilitation). </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-AU
style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Arial
size=2> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-AU
style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT face=Arial size=2>Coupled with a caring
for each other which I would call ‘We are here to treat each other well.’
</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-AU
style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Arial
size=2> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-AU
style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2>And a knowing –
which is brought up regularly – that every gathering will only happen once in
human history and that those present would do well to make the most of their
time together. <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-AU
style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Arial
size=2> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-AU
style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2>The mission of
the group is to fill the void – since it is not happening at ‘official' levels –
of creating a vision of what this World City could be.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-AU
style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Arial
size=2> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-AU
style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT face=Arial size=2>They are doing
this through inviting <STRONG>anyone</STRONG> to contribute ideas on this.
Consciously or not, the principles of OST are implicit - while the format
is not - in the weekly gatherings. These are underpinned, in my
interpretation, with a spirit of 'delicious anticipation' of what may
happen. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-AU
style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Arial
size=2> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT face=Arial><FONT
size=2><SPAN lang=EN-AU style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt">The Spirit of
Hong Kong group - I can happily now say ‘We’ – see that outcome
is not paramount. A</SPAN><SPAN style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US">s a media
article on the enterprise indicates:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p><FONT face=Arial
size=2> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2>“We're not trying
to reach a definite point. We're just trying to facilitate a process of thinking
and sharing."<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p><FONT face=Arial
size=2> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2>"Nature is full
of chain reactions - links that don't necessarily know what they're doing in the
big picture. We're a breeding ground, creating chain reactions and enabling
things to evolve. You can do this without consciously knowing what you're
doing."</FONT></FONT></SPAN><SPAN style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p><FONT
face=Arial size=2> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-AU><A
href="http://www.spiritofhongkong.org/eng/default.asp"><FONT face=Arial
size=2>http://www.spiritofhongkong.org/eng/default.asp</FONT></A></SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p><FONT face=Arial
size=2> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-AU><FONT face=Arial
size=2>I wonder if these personal experiences and impressions contribute to
what you feel about what might be being breathed into
becoming? </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-AU><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-AU><FONT face=Arial
size=2><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">With love</SPAN></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-AU><FONT face=Arial
size=2><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"></SPAN></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-AU><FONT face=Arial
size=2><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">Alan </SPAN></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-AU><FONT face=Arial
size=2><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">Hong
Kong </SPAN></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-AU><FONT face=Arial
size=2><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"></SPAN></FONT></SPAN> </P><SPAN
lang=EN-AU><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>----- Original Message ----- </FONT>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>From: "Raffi Aftandelian" <</FONT><A
href="mailto:raffi@bk.ru"><FONT face=Arial size=2>raffi@bk.ru</FONT></A><FONT
face=Arial size=2>></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>To: <</FONT><A
href="mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU"><FONT face=Arial
size=2>OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial
size=2>></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Sent: Thursday, May 19, 2005 11:43 AM</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Subject: Re: a very simple
reason...indeed</FONT></DIV></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><BR><FONT size=2></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hi
Elwin!<BR>I never believed that Harrison taught anything. I know you can't
teach<BR>it, that all one can do in the framework of an OST
facilitator<BR>workshop is help (at best) for participants to remember it.
So,<BR>Harrison for me was never in that conventional sense a
teacher.<BR><BR>Yes, OST is timeless...and it's wonderful, and for now it's all
we<BR>got. The Next Big Thing will likely not be a tool, but rather
an<BR>attitude, I believe, an attitude that like OST will be a simple
formalization<BR>of what has always been around.<BR><BR>Harrison, I am arguing,
perhaps by holding on to her child, who is now<BR>a young adult, is doing his
baby some disservice.<BR><BR>I sense some fear from him that OST will not spread
as it should. And<BR>that inability to let go may very well be keeping OST from
spreading<BR>as it should. What was that crazy anthropologist with Basque
roots<BR>saying about "let go of outcome"? Oh, I bet she was just talking
out<BR>of her ___? Nevermind, I think I was just imagining things :
))<BR><BR>Aside to Harrison, I got the message about the hat. I'll try not to
go<BR>there unless the situation calls for it.<BR><BR>Obnoxious OST koan: Who is
more of a space invader, me or Harrison?<BR><BR>Warmly,<BR>Raffi<BR><BR>Raffi
Aftandelian wrote 19 мая 2005 г., 2:52:21:<BR><BR><BR>> --- Raffi Aftandelian
<</FONT><A href="mailto:raffi@bk.ru"><FONT face=Arial
size=2>raffi@bk.ru</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial size=2>> wrote:<BR>>> I
recall a number of years back that I wondered, well, what comes<BR>>>
after the last paradigm. And now I think I realize that many people<BR>>>
have already probably answered the question. I don't think it's<BR>>>
appropriate to try to answer it on the listserv, maybe for the same<BR>>>
reason that it may no longer be appropriate for you, Harrison, to be<BR>>>
on this listserv or to continue "teaching" or "doing" open space.<BR><BR>> Oh
Raffi, Dear Child,<BR><BR>> I think all that is missing is enough "number of
years back" for you to<BR>> appreciate the true timelessness of Open Space
Technology.<BR><BR>> Harrison isn't teaching anything, and never did.
Harrison opened space<BR>> period.<BR><BR>> OSLIST is a learning forum
yes. But it is not teaching. It is<BR>> questioning and listening. Raffi,
this is all about meditating and<BR>> practicing in search of one less thing
to do in persuit of problem<BR>> solving and peace.<BR><BR>> The learning
takes place ONLY when we are DOING!<BR><BR>> peace from Bawlmer<BR><BR>>
eg<BR><BR>> Elwin Guild<BR>> Future Development International<BR>>
Baltimore<BR>> </FONT><A href="mailto:elwinandjoan@yahoo.co"><FONT face=Arial
size=2>elwinandjoan@yahoo.co</FONT></A><BR><BR></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT face=Arial size=2>From:
"Raffi Aftandelian" <<A href="mailto:raffi@bk.ru">raffi@bk.ru</A>><BR>To:
<<A
href="mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU">OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU</A>><BR>Subject:
a very simple reason<BR>Date: Wednesday, 18 May 2005 3:52 PM</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT face=Arial size=2>There's a
very simple reason, I believe, why something else will<BR>probably come to
replace OST in some 5 years time.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT face=Arial size=2>I believe
that when Harrison says that all there is is Open Space, he<BR>is right...but
only in reference to our current prevailing worldview,<BR>our current
paradigm.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT face=Arial size=2>I believe
that a new paradigm is being born right now, it may become<BR>clearer in the
next 5 years. But we don't talk about new paradigms in<BR>polite company. It's
kinda like farting loudly. You just don't do it.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT face=Arial size=2>One way
of framing our current paradigm is to open to p.2 of Marv<BR>Weisbord and Sandra
Janoff's 1995 book "Future Search: An Action Guide<BR>to Finding Common Ground
in Organizations and Communities."--</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT face=Arial size=2>The
Learning Curve<BR>1900 Experts Solve problems<BR>1950 "Everybody" solves
problems<BR>1965 Experts improve whole systems<BR>2000 "Everybody" improves
whole systems</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT face=Arial size=2>I recall
a number of years back that I wondered, well, what comes<BR>after the last
paradigm. And now I think I realize that many people<BR>have already probably
answered the question. I don't think it's<BR>appropriate to try to answer it on
the listserv, maybe for the same<BR>reason that it may no longer be appropriate
for you, Harrison, to be<BR>on this listserv or to continue "teaching" or
"doing" open space.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT face=Arial size=2>In Goa,
if I recall correctly, you spoke about how a new generation of<BR>folks have
started doing OST, and that maybe it is time for you to<BR>step aside. More than
six months have passed and you haven't stepped<BR>aside. Your baby, OST, is
college age, the age of majority. It is<BR>voting age, it can get married, it
can have children, it can get<BR>drafted in the military, and do all the other
interesting things in life.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT face=Arial size=2>Might the
walk of the warrior for you, Harrison, be to auction your<BR>hat on e-bay and
walk out of the circle?</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=2>Warmly,<BR>Raffi</FONT></P><FONT face=Arial size=2>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><BR>
<A href="mailto:raffi@bk.ru">mailto:raffi@bk.ru</A></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt">*<BR>*<BR>==========================================================<BR><A
href="mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU">OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU</A><BR>------------------------------<BR>To
subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,<BR>view the archives of <A
href="mailto:oslist@listserv.boisestate.edu">oslist@listserv.boisestate.edu</A>:<BR><A
href="http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html">http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html</A></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt">To learn about
OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:<BR><A
href="http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist">http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist</A><BR></FONT></P></SPAN></SPAN></DIV></BODY></HTML>
*
*
==========================================================
OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
------------------------------
To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
view the archives of oslist@listserv.boisestate.edu:
http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist