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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>I find that the closing is an opportunity
to reflect not only what has been accomplished but also the manner in which it
took place – thereby opening up some space for deeper learning about Open
Space, and more importantly the force which lies behind it, Self-organization.
There are situations where such reflection can be particularly useful such as
in a corporate or business environment (including NGO sorts of business). The
assumptions of how business should be conducted are so deeply rooted that many
people miss what actually takes place in Open Space. They presume that
concerted action can only take place with prior organization. They presume that
tasks will only be performed when somebody is ordered to do so. And they also
seem to presume that Leadership is located in the one, powerful individual with
the title. With such presumptions acting as blinders and filters it is very
difficult to really see what happens in Open Space – because quite
frankly it should not take place. Everybody knows that. The difficulty in
“seeing” is increased by virtue of the fact that, generally
speaking, the experience in Open Space seemed very natural and felt pretty
good. There are exceptions of course, but most folks in my experience take to
Open Space like fish to water and seeing the water is pretty hard.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>What I might call “the organizational
reflection” need not be lengthy and involved, and certainly not a speech.
I find that the simple question, “What did you notice that was odd or
strange about our time together . . .?” will usually get the ball
rolling. You can also put that question in a simple frame. My favorite is the
Medicine Wheel (see the last part of The User’s Guide for the details)
Another possibility is a little bit radical, but it goes like this –
first ask if the participants found the time useful and productive. Presuming a
positive response, the follow up question goes like, “Well how about
doing this 24X7 – 365 day of the year.” The “radical”
part of this comes from the fact that folks will find themselves in the awkward
position of comparing their OS experience with the everyday work environment.
This is usually pretty shattering, and can make a lot of folks quite
uncomfortable. But it is all in a good cause. Heck – they might even find
a life. Or something.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Harrison</span></font><font color=red
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font></p>
<div>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=2 color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Harrison Owen</span></font></p>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=2 color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>7808 River Falls Drive</span></font></p>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=2 color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Potomac</span></font><font
size=2 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:red'>, </span></font><font size=2 color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Maryland</span></font><font
size=2 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:red'> </span></font><font size=2 color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>20854</span></font></p>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=2 color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Phone 301-365-2093</span></font></p>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=2 color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Skype hhowen</span></font></p>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Open Space Training</span></font><font
color=red><span style='color:red'> <a href="http://www.openspaceworld.com/"><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'>www.openspaceworld.com</span></font></a>
</span></font></p>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Open Space Institute</span></font><font
color=red><span style='color:red'> <a href="http://www.openspaceworld.org/"><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'>www.openspaceworld.org</span></font></a></span></font></p>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Personal website</span></font><font
color=red><span style='color:red'> <a href="http://www.ho-image.com/"><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'>www.ho-image.com</span></font></a> </span></font></p>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>OSLIST: To subscribe,
unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives Visit: </span></font><font
color=red><span style='color:red'><a
href="http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html"><font face=Arial><span
style='font-family:Arial'>www.listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html</span></font></a></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>-----Original Message-----<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>From:</span></b> OSLIST
[mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>On
Behalf Of </span></b>Lisa Heft<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> </span></font><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>Friday,
February 10, 2006</span></font><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> </span></font><font
size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>10:21 AM</span></font><font
size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'><br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> Closings</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Hello dear colleagues
–</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>I was wondering what you
folks do for closings.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Usually the amazing
reflections shared in a </span></font><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Closing Circle</span></font><font
size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>
are completely enough, and powerful, and amazing. And nothing more is needed.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>In addition to that, sometimes,
in some instances, in some cultures, and where appropriate to the event and the
people, we do one more thing.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Some of you experienced a
group poem at OSonOS Halifax or saw my post about that. And if I’m
not mistaken I posted how to do that (if not do remind me and I shall – I
haven’t visited the archives to double-check that).</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Sometimes as participants
have returned to their </span></font><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Closing Circle</span></font><font
size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>
seats I have placed a brightly-colored paper (or shape cut out of paper) on
their seats, along with a marker. I have asked them to reflect in silence and
to think of one word that describes…whatever is pertinent to the event
but often something like: After having shared this experience together, what do
you bring back out with you into the world / your community? After silent
reflective writing, I invite participants to, in turn, stand, say their word
and tape their shape to the wall, creating a mosaic of gifts, emotions,
whatever I am inviting.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Other times – for
example for a faith community – we have set up candles in the center and
the group has stood for a final prayer (ideally through song).</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>You can see photos of some
of these closings at</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'><a
href="http://www.openingspace.net/gallery/agora.cgi?cart_id=6584162.28703*qu7_p6&next=126&exact_match=on&product=Anatomy_of_an_Open_Space_Event">http://www.openingspace.net/gallery/agora.cgi?cart_id=6584162.28703*qu7_p6&next=126&exact_match=on&product=Anatomy_of_an_Open_Space_Event</a></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>(see Marei sitting in the
circle at OSonOS 2003? See Mikk singing a song he learned from a tree, at that
same event? See the cross on the floor made of candles from a strategic
planning session I did with a Catholic diocese? (we hoped the hotel sprinklers
would not turn on!). See the balloons tied to the chairs? At OSonOS
2003 (thank you Thomas and Gerard for facilitating) at the very end we all
untied our balloons and walked outside the magnificent barn we were meeting in
and released our balloons into the air.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>And see the circle of
people doing something physical together – that is our group at OSonOS
2003 making the sound of rain. Ms. Gabriela, would you please describe
that for us? Gabriela was the one who invited us to do that.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>And: what else have you
done, dear colleagues, for closing?</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>I will collect your answers
here and make a paper for us all to share in the future…</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Thank you,</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Lisa</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 color=black
face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:black'>___________________________</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><b><font size=2 color=blue
face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:blue;font-weight:bold'>L i s a H e f t</span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 color=blue
face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:blue'>Consultant, Facilitator, Educator</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 color=blue
face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:blue'>O p e n i n g S p a c e</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>2325 </span></font><font
size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Oregon</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Berkeley</span></font><font
size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>,
</span></font><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>California</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>94705-1106 </span></font><font
size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>USA</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>+01 510 548-8449</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'><a
href="mailto:lisaheft@openingspace.net"><font color=black><span
style='color:black'>lisaheft@openingspace.net</span></font></a></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'><a
href="http://www.openingspace.net"><font color=black><span style='color:black'>www.openingspace.net</span></font></a>
</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
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