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<TD vAlign=bottom width="84%" height=107><FONT size=4><B>J.P
Beaulieu,</B></FONT>
<P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><B> CONSEIL EN
GESTION inc.</B></P>
<P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><FONT size=5><B>
_______________________________</B></FONT></P>
<P
style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; WORD-SPACING: 2px; LINE-HEIGHT: 100%"><B><FONT
size=1> </FONT><FONT size=3>Gestion des organisations et des
ressources humaines</FONT></B></P>
<P
style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; WORD-SPACING: 2px; LINE-HEIGHT: 100%"><B><FONT
size=3> Développement des cadres</FONT></B></P></TD></TR>
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<P><SPAN class=281553913-21112005><FONT face=Arial size=2>Last week, I
opened Space for about 115 citizens of a county in the Eastern Townships
of Québec. They were aiming at reaching a consensus on important issues
that needed to be dealt with in order to promote the "optimal" development
of their county. People from all sectors (political, 6 mayors out of 8
towns, cultural, education, health, social, tourism, industry, farming...)
got together for a 1,5 day event. At the end of the first day, back in the
circle, almost everyone was very positive about the day's experience.
Then, one participant said: " I am a pharmacist but now I will speak as an
accountant. Given our number, given what we normally get paid for a
day of work and there is quite a few people at the higher end of the scale
in this room, given the quality of the work we have accomplished today, I
dare say, and this is a conservative estimate, that the report from
all our conversations is worthed half a million dollars! I hope our
elected officials will pay attention to it." </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=281553913-21112005><FONT face=Arial size=2>It then struck
me that I had never "looked" at it that way. But indeed, while so many
organisations (private as well as public) are basing most of their
decisions on figures(costs and revenues) the "economical" value of an
OS event is not to be neglected, to the contrary. How much would
have the county to pay some "expert consultant" to get such a quality
socio-political-economical-cultural.......study? How long would it take to
do such a study? 3 months? 6 months? with zero or minimal mobilisation at
the end...not speaking of its quality given that,
most logically/probably, it would be done in
silos.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=281553913-21112005><FONT face=Arial size=2>At the very
end, when we were all done, I talked to some of the mayors, asked
them how they viewed this experience. </FONT> <FONT
face=Arial size=2>While cautious in their comments, as most politicians
are, they were positive. One said "when our citizens will come
and ask for support for one of these projects, it will be easier for us to
come forward." Another said " Within the same budget, we will tend to
spend our money differently." Another one reitarated the invitation made
in the closing circle " in November 2006, we will host the follow-up
meeting in our town" (different and smaller than the one for this year
initial event).</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=281553913-21112005><FONT face=Arial size=2>All this to say,
that it had been a little while since I have had the opportunity to Open
Space. Altought I "knew" the power of OST, there is nothing like
experiencing it from time to time, to fully appreciate it. And
the " 500,000$ study", I will file for reference.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=281553913-21112005><FONT face=Arial
size=2>Regards,</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=281553913-21112005><FONT face=Arial size=2>Jean-Pierre
Beaulieu</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P> </P></TD></TR>
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<TD vAlign=center width="100%" colSpan=2 height=47><B> <FONT
size=4>Jean-Pierre Beaulieu, M.B.A</FONT></B><BR> <A class=cc
style="COLOR: #000000"
href="mailto:jp_beaulieu@videotron.ca">jp_beaulieu@videotron.ca</A>
<P style="MARGIN-TOP: -20px"> <FONT
size=5><B>_____________________</B></FONT><B><FONT
size=5>___</FONT></B><BR> <B>702-1645, av. Victoria tel.: (450)
465-0794<BR> Saint-Lambert (Québec)<BR> J4R-2T6</B></P></TD></TR>
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