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<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Judi -- thank God for you! I FEEL REDEEMED!! Even if
you were just being kind. But I really do think there is some good stuff
here to be plowed through, as in "turning over Sh__."</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>ho</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>
<BLOCKQUOTE
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=judir@accesswave.ca href="mailto:judir@accesswave.ca">Judi
Richardson</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> Wednesday, June 29, 2005 4:49
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: Empowerment,
Self-Organization an d Open Space</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=124583420-29062005><FONT face="Book Antiqua" color=#008080
size=4><STRONG><EM>Harrison - great thoughts on OS and Education -- and
definite interest in empowerment. As many here know it has been a
passion of mine -- and I really believe and have evidence that the time is
here for the system opening up. Michael H, Chris C., Julie and I had
great fun playing in OST in a state-wide conference in Alaska, followed by
giving a workshop in using it for teachers, administrators,
etc.</EM></STRONG></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=124583420-29062005><STRONG><EM><FONT face="Book Antiqua"
color=#008080 size=4></FONT></EM></STRONG></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=124583420-29062005><STRONG><EM><FONT face="Book Antiqua"
color=#008080 size=4>I've been having the same fun with Professors at the
Siberian Academy for Public Administration (University age), Ministry of Ed.
in Jamaica (public and University of the West Indies) and other
North American groups.</FONT></EM></STRONG></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=124583420-29062005><STRONG><EM><FONT face="Book Antiqua"
color=#008080 size=4></FONT></EM></STRONG></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=124583420-29062005><STRONG><EM><FONT face="Book Antiqua"
color=#008080 size=4>An Educators magazine just published an article about OS
in the Classroom -- as I was working with Bachelor of Education students -- if
anyone is interested </FONT></EM></STRONG></SPAN><SPAN
class=124583420-29062005><STRONG><EM><FONT face="Book Antiqua" color=#008080
size=4><A
href="http://www.nstu.ca/pklot/AvisoSpring05.pdf">http://www.nstu.ca/pklot/AvisoSpring05.pdf</A></FONT></EM></STRONG></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><EM><FONT face="Book Antiqua" color=#008080
size=4></FONT></EM></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=124583420-29062005><FONT face="Book Antiqua" color=#008080
size=4><STRONG><EM>And I was asked to present OST to the Canadian Association
of Principles. And in August -- while still in the glow of OSonOS
<grin> have been asked to give a keynote and take the Atlantic Cdn
Regional Administrators (Principals and Vice-Principals) through a full day of
OST!! And a colleague is pursuing a Ph.D. -- around using collaborative
processes -- explicitly OST -- in education.</EM></STRONG></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=124583420-29062005><STRONG><EM><FONT face="Book Antiqua"
color=#008080 size=4></FONT></EM></STRONG></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=124583420-29062005><STRONG><EM><FONT face="Book Antiqua"
color=#008080 size=4>Harrison - I love what you wrote about taking a look at
where we are. In playing at higher consciousness, so often I realized
that in watching groups trying to connect to the system they are in -- to
truly explore what matters -- they were already there. In watching
individuals trying to figure out connecting to their inner being, in a BFO
(blinding flash of the obvious) I recognized the merger was already
there. When we learn to laugh, we are laughing within the cosmic humor,
we can be loving within love itself, creative within Spirit's infinite
potential, curious within limitless intelligence unfolding, growing within
infinite evolution...... adorable, unfinished, wondering, reverent, irreverent
-- awed!'</FONT></EM></STRONG></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=124583420-29062005><STRONG><EM><FONT face="Book Antiqua"
color=#008080 size=4></FONT></EM></STRONG></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=124583420-29062005><STRONG><EM><FONT face="Book Antiqua"
color=#008080 size=4>Thanks, as ever, for stirring the pot,
Harrison!</FONT></EM></STRONG></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=124583420-29062005><STRONG><EM><FONT face="Book Antiqua"
color=#008080 size=4></FONT></EM></STRONG></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=124583420-29062005><STRONG><EM><FONT face="Book Antiqua"
color=#008080 size=4>Judi </FONT></EM></STRONG></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=124583420-29062005><STRONG><EM><FONT face="Book Antiqua"
color=#008080 size=4></FONT></EM></STRONG></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=124583420-29062005><STRONG><EM><FONT face="Book Antiqua"
color=#008080 size=4>PS -- EVERYONE -- Halifax is hot and sunny -- the
glistening Halifax Harbour is calling you and waiting for the arrival of
OSonOS participants early August! We have the most amazing church group
of women who are having a great time creating a "Taste of Nova Scotia" menu
for the gathering! So register now! Keep those cards and letters
coming in <grin></FONT></EM></STRONG></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=124583420-29062005></SPAN><SPAN
class=124583420-29062005></SPAN><SPAN class=124583420-29062005><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"></SPAN></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=124583420-29062005><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"></SPAN></SPAN> </DIV>
<P><FONT
size=2>__________________________________________________________<BR>Judith
Richardson, MA<BR>Pono Consultants International<BR>Consulting and Executive
Coaching<BR>Optimizing Performance, Potential and Profitability<BR>Winner --
International Coach of the
Year!<BR>www.ponoconsultants.com<BR>www.emergentfeminine.com<BR><BR>Subscribe
to our newsletter at www.emergentfeminine.com<BR><BR>Nova Scotia,
Canada<BR>Phone: (902) 434-6695 Facsimile: (902) 435-1085 E-mail:
judir@accesswave.ca<BR><BR>If you live your life as gracefully as you know
how, as playfully as you know how, as kindly as you know how, as joyfully as
you know how, you are bound to influence, inspire and uplift others by your
example.<BR>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<BR><BR>This
email message may contain personal and/or otherwise confidential information
and is intended only for the individual named. If you are not the named
addressee you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this email.
Please notify the sender immediately by telephone or email if you have
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message d'e-mail peut contenir et/ou personnel l'information autrement
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ou doit copier cet e-mail. S'il vous plaît notifier l'expéditeur immédiatement
par le téléphone ou l'e-mail si vous avez reçu cet e-mail dans l'erreur et
effacez toutes copies de votre système<BR><BR><BR></FONT></P>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> OSLIST
[mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU]<B>On Behalf Of </B>Harrison
Owen<BR><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, June 29, 2005 5:24 PM<BR><B>To:</B>
OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU<BR><B>Subject:</B> Empowerment,
Self-Organization an d Open Space<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Somehow or anotherI allowed myself to become involved
in an electronic forum on Empowerment. Having followed it for several days I
have become convinced the the organizer already knows what he thinks
empowerment might be and is not terribly interested in alternate visions or
versions. But before I threw in the towel having concluded that it was
all pretty much same old, same old. . . I did post several responses
concerning self-organization and empowerment -- all of which took me
to some interesting new places, I thought. If anybody here finds it
interesting that would go a long way towards redeeming what otherwise would
be wasted effort. And of course, if there is no interest. . . </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Oh Well :-(</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Harrison</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT
face=Arial>****************************************************************</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Bob wrote: "<FONT face="Times New Roman">Why not treat
them ((Students in schools)) (within some limits) as equals and
as<BR>responsible adults? It would be school managed jointly by
teachers<BR>and pupils, in the style of Harrison's "Open Space"."<BR></DIV>
<DIV></FONT></FONT><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>There have actually been a number of situations where
Open Space has been used in schools. (If you are unfamiliar with Open Space
check <A href="">http://www.openspaceworld.com/emergent_order.htm</A> )
And the interesting thing is that it always seemed to produce useful
results. For one thing, so called behavioral problems virtually disappeared.
Learning, even in very specific areas, appeared to be at an all time high --
and perhaps most remarkable, most everybody said that it was fun. Imagine
that Learning (school) was fun! I might take a small issue with Bob -- it
was not that the children were treated as "responsible adults" -- but rather
that everybody was treated as responsible (human) beings. I think it would
be a mistake, however, to attribute these "results" to "Harrison's Open
Space." After a number of years' contemplation of the conundrum that
something so simple could produce such results it has become clear to me
that it really has nothing to do with the power of Open Space Technology --
which as my friends know was the product of two martinis. The
operative power is that which underlies Open Space, and indeed virtually
everything else in the creative cosmos -- the power of
self-organization. This thought has led me to the outrageous
proposition that there is no such thing as a non-self-organizing system,
albeit there are some mildly deluded people who think they did the
organizing.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>With such monstrous (although I think defensible)
jumps of logic, I find myself at a place where I think a truly profitable
discussion of Empowerment might begin. In the first place it is not about
designing "Empowerment Systems." Rather is about fully appreciating (or
maybe just more fully appreciating) the nature of the "system" of which we
are all a part. I suspect that much of the pathology we currently experience
in organizations of all sorts and sizes (families, companies, countries)
derives from the "fact" that we spend a great deal of time doing what
doesn't need to be done (organizing/designing/controlling), while neglecting
the essential task, which I might call the Care and Feeding of a
Self-Organizing system. And instead of attempting the creation of new
systems, we could take a good hard look at what we already are. From this
might come an ability to "leverage" the power of self-organization, as
opposed to attempting to eliminate it -- as in Taking Charge
(control).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Open Space has become for me a marvelous natural
experiment which to date has been "run" perhaps 60,000 times in 108
countries that we know about. In short the Beta Tests are in -- and the
results have been remarkably consistent across countries, cultures, and
continents. One of these results has been a virtually universal
experience and expression of personal empowerment -- even (or perhaps most
particularly) amongst populations that one might considered radically
disempowered. Could be food for thought.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>**********************************************************************************</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Dee Hock, whom I know and respect, did a wonderful
thing with Visa International -- and his experience there became the basis
of his book and further work with the chaordic organization. Interestingly,
however when he and others set out to replicate the Chaordic Organization is
other situations, their success rate has been just about zero. The key, I
think, is that they attempted the "creation" of the Chaordic
Organization as if it were just another organization -- they started with
Mission, Goals etc. Miles said, "<FONT face="Times New Roman">Leadership and
or some sort of facilitation is needed if "self" organizing is to work." I
think that is partially right. The fact of the matter is that
self-organizing systems (by definition) work, or don't work, all by
themselves. No help needed. However WE may need some help (leadership
and facilitation) to work effectively with a self organizing system. In the
Open Space Experiment, Leadership is required to set, or better, to
intuit the direction (purpose of the Open Space) -- and a facilitator can be
helpful with the preparations and to get things started. But once
under way, the people (participants) do it all by theselves -- no help
needed. </FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT face="Times New Roman">I think this may be
significant. Understanding the essential preconditions for self organization
is very useful. Perhaps we could also call these conditions "The Essential
Preconditions of Empowerment?" But once started, the level of overt
intervention drops to basically zero. It would seem that the critical
mechanisms are so fundamental to our existence that they do not need to be
explained (we already "know" at a very deep level), nor to they have to be
tampered with (no management committee). But they (the mechanisms) do have
to have sufficient space/time in which to function. We have found that the
ongoing role of the Facilitator in Open Space is all about "Holding Space"
which is much more about Being than Doing. And when things get a little
bumpy (lots of chaos, confusion and conflict) the appropriate response is
actually to open more space. To an outsider this often appears to be
counter-intuitive at best and probably irresponsible, immoral, and wrong.
After all, we have all been trained that our "job" is to fix things
up. </FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Harrison </FONT></DIV></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV></FONT><FONT face=Arial>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></FONT></DIV></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>* *
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