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<FONT SIZE="4"><FONT FACE="Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:16.0px'>Great thread. I try to listen to the group’s spirit with heart energy, and sometimes it inspires a story or two. As for the reminder about time given to open space, I let the conveners know that the more prepared the soil, the richer the harvest.<BR>
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</SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT FACE="Papyrus, Times New Roman"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:14.0px'>Jack<BR>
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</FONT><FONT COLOR="#808080"><FONT FACE="Papyrus, Times New Roman">jack ricchiuto<BR>
two.one.six/three.seven.three/seven.four.seven.five<BR>
www.designinglife.com / www.appreciativeleadership.com<BR>
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<FONT COLOR="#0000FF">> From: Michael Herman <michael@michaelherman.com><BR>
> Reply-To: OSLIST <OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU><BR>
> Date: Thu, 19 Jan 2006 16:33:53 -0600<BR>
> To: <OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU><BR>
> Subject: Re: goal or tool<BR>
> <BR>
> filiz,<BR>
> <BR>
> i do as harrison does, and i am guessing not saying much about these<BR>
> other stories even, not much about open space at all, except how to<BR>
> get on with it for whatever the purpose at hand might be. that's in<BR>
> an actual open space event. most i might do is at the end point out<BR>
> how it happened, invitation, invitation list, some logistics planning<BR>
> and some thought on how to support after the meeting. implicit in<BR>
> that is the suggestion that they might go out and repeat it if they<BR>
> like. no missionary stuff... just pointing out after the fact that it<BR>
> really is as simple as it looks.<BR>
> <BR>
> now, in training, i tell the story as a practice, like i did earlier. <BR>
> and i also tell it as invitation. i often suggest people take it like<BR>
> other teachers suggest meditation... if you can do 2.5 days, do that. <BR>
> if you can only do 1.0 days, do that and then you'll get a benefit and<BR>
> will be more likely to be able to do 2.5 days. if you choose. if you<BR>
> can't do 'open space' then do 'bulletin board' and 'marketplace (two<BR>
> feet)' or try just doing circle.<BR>
> <BR>
> in the end, i am quite sure that opening heart is all that is required<BR>
> and the rest will take care of itself in so many ways. so more and<BR>
> more i try to focus on just that much.<BR>
> <BR>
> coming back to your question, i say: practice AND invitation, if i<BR>
> picked to words. never goal. and tool only as long as it takes to<BR>
> prove to oneself and one's colleagues that it is worth taking up as a<BR>
> deeper and ongoing practice. or not.<BR>
> <BR>
> thanks for the chance to tell some of this recent story and working.<BR>
> <BR>
> michael<BR>
> <BR>
> <BR>
> <BR>
> <BR>
> On 1/19/06, Alan Klein <alan@klein.net> wrote:<BR>
</FONT><FONT COLOR="#008000">>> Harrison,<BR>
>> <BR>
>> My experience of you opening space is that you do give a bit of history and<BR>
>> tell a few success stories about OS as you begin. I have found them settling<BR>
>> and useful as people contemplate entering into what is for many unfamiliar<BR>
>> territory.<BR>
>> <BR>
>> Is it possible that I have only seen you opening space in the context of an<BR>
>> ODN or similar event and that you have added such touches as these only<BR>
>> because you were in partial teaching mode about OS in such events? Do you<BR>
>> not tell those stories when you are opening space for a client system?<BR>
>> <BR>
>> ~Alan Klein<BR>
>> <BR>
>> -----Original Message-----<BR>
>> From: Harrison Owen<BR>
>> For whatever it is worth -- when I am facilitating an Open Space I say just<BR>
>> as little as I possibly can and virtually nothing about Open Space. I find<BR>
>> OS speaks very well for itself, and there is nothing I can add.<BR>
>> <BR>
>> *<BR>
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</FONT><FONT COLOR="#0000FF">> <BR>
> <BR>
> --<BR>
> <BR>
> Michael Herman<BR>
> Michael Herman Associates<BR>
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