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<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Why go to the Wall? I think there are practical and
symbolic reasons (and symbols help us create our reality -- they are IMPORTANT).
The practical ones include putting people in proximity with each other so that
they can negotiate times, combine sessions, seek understanding as to what the
convener had in mind... and a whole mess more. The notion of putting signup
sheets at the place of meeting would work with very small groups, I guess, but
with anything more than 100 people I think you would have even more
confusion that by going to the wall. And of course, when you place a sign that
says This group will meet here -- it is implied that the group will actually
meet. However, when a sign goes up on the wall that only expresses an intention
-- which may be changed to a different time, a different place, or even a
different subject. In fact it may be changed out of existence. In
short a whole mess of really good and essential things take place at the
Wall. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Seen through the eyes of a "standard conference organizer"
-- I grant you the whole thing appears chaotic, disorderly, and a real
mess. It might also seem to be very inefficient. Much better to have
everything in proper order with clear procedure. But I think it is worth while
to notice how efficient it really is. When Michael Pannwitz and I did
our gathering of 2008 -- all those folks sorted out the issues (236 of them) and
themselves in about 20 minutes. If all of that had been done with the aid of a
facilitator, it might have taken a week or so. And I don't think I am
exaggerating. There is a large group process called Technology of Participation
(TOP) which filters everything through the facilitator, can only work with much
smaller groups, and for my impatient soul just seems to go on and on and on. At
the end of which the facilitator is exhausted, and the people have expended
several hours doing what could have taken place in 20 min or less. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>But for me the most compelling reason to "Go to the Wall"
is symbolic. When 300, or better 2000 people charge that wall, the facilitator
is definitely out of the picture. The point is made graphically, emotionally,
kinesthetically -- that The People are in charge. And all those folks who have
been convinced by training, prior experience, or whatever -- that The People
left to themselves (that is without the careful attention of a controlling
manager/facilitator) can only end up in destructive chaos -- discover that
despite their direst predictions that the People can do it. And while the
Doubting Thomases, control freaks and other nervous sorts are muttering, "This
can never work" -- it is already working. In fact, unless they mutter very
quickly, it has already Worked! And everything is just rolling out. I think this
experience may be one of the most valuable gained in Open Space. Obviously not
everybody is pleased or convinced, after all -- if what just happened, happened
with some regularity, a lot of folks who make their living controlling/managing
other folks might have to seek alternate employment.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Harrison</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>Harrison Owen<BR>7808 River Falls Dr.<BR>Potomac, MD
20854<BR>USA<BR>301-365-2093<BR>207-763-3261 (summer)<BR>website <A
href="http://www.openspaceworld.com">www.openspaceworld.com</A></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
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style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 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=JLHurley@hfadesign.com href="mailto:JLHurley@hfadesign.com">Jennifer
Hurley</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> Tuesday, June 21, 2005 6:01
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: Timing for really large
groups</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV><FONT face=Verdana><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10px">On 6/16/05
12:33 AM, "Joelle Lyons Everett" <<A
href="mailto:JLEShelton@aol.com">JLEShelton@aol.com</A>>
wrote:<BR><BR></SPAN></FONT>
<BLOCKQUOTE><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10px"><FONT face=Geneva>From my
experience as a participant in an Open Space of 700 or 800, I would endorse
Lisa's suggestion to skip the sign-up at the wall. It was hard
to get close enough to the wall posters to read or write. The
large screen will help with the reading, so it will not be necessary for
everyone to get to the wall at the start.<BR></FONT></SPAN></BLOCKQUOTE><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10px"><FONT face=Verdana><BR>I have never really understood
the purpose of having people sign up at the wall. It seems cumbersome to
have people write on the wall. Instead, I have been putting sign-up
sheets wherever the discussion circles are. Does anyone have a good
reason for asking people to sign up at the wall?<BR><BR>Thanks,<BR>Jennifer
Hurley<BR>-------------------------------<BR>Hurley~Franks and
Associates<BR>Planning & Urban Design<BR><BR>1429 Walnut St., Ste.
601<BR>Philadelphia, PA 19102<BR><BR>P:
215-988-9440<BR>JLHurley@HFAdesign.com<BR><A
href="http://www.hfadesign.com">http://www.hfadesign.com</A><BR><BR>Association
for the New Urbanism in PennsylvaniA (ANUPA)<BR><A
href="http://www.anupa.org">http://www.anupa.org</A><BR><BR>**********************************************************************
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