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<DIV><FONT face=Arial>To me the business of private sessions and/or restricted
attendance (purple people only) is not about morals, ethics or even orthodox OS
(whatever that might be). The central issue for me is diversity. And a central
principle (experience) for me is that the higher the level of diversity (by
whatever measure) the greater the possibility of innovative outcomes. I can
certainly imagine a Black organization doing an OS on their organizational
function and mission, and many have done so. But if the issue were Eliminating
Institutional Racism, an all Black clientel would constitute only a fraction of
the system and the essential diversity would be meager. I have found the same
sort of situation in businesses when folks wanted to do an OS on the future of
the company and sought to limit participation to the senior folks. I
understand that the conventional wisdom thinks that these folks are in charge
and will determine the future. But I think that is a pretty myopic understanding
of the situation. the senior folk can say and think anything they want to, but
until they have the active participation and support of everybody else, their
best laid plans are dead in the water. Well you know the story. So the key for
me is DIVERSITY, and the more the better. And any limitation comes with a price.
Perhaps that price must be paid, but there is a price.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Harrison</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><BR>Personal
Website <A href="http://www.ho-image.com">www.ho-image.com</A><BR></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=michael@michaelherman.com
href="mailto:michael@michaelherman.com">Michael Herman</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, August 16, 2006 2:15
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: Advanced Butterfly Behavior/
collective butterfly and invitation</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>i had some of these same thoughts, diane. reminded me
that every<BR>invitation has a boundary or edge. some fuzzy and some
firm. this<BR>group, this company, this color, whatever... and most
importantly,<BR>however... this *purpose*.<BR><BR>springing from your example,
i'd say if the purpose is to explore what<BR>it means to be african-american,
then many other ethnic groups might<BR>properly be excluded. if the
purpose is the advancement of a-a folks,<BR>then others with passion for that
might well be included.<BR><BR>we could say the same about developing a
product in a company. if<BR>it's about production, it might be insiders
only, or might include<BR>vendors too. if it's about use of the product,
or design, it might<BR>include customers.<BR><BR>in all cases, i think
*responsibility* makes the difference. who's in<BR>a position to take
it, not just care, but do something about their<BR>interest. the more
specific the work, then the more specific the<BR>invitation.<BR><BR>in the
cases peggy raises, if the *purpose* is for one person to try<BR>someting out,
or have something dealt with in themselves, it might<BR>very well be that they
need a certain group of people, who meet that<BR>person's trust, or other
criteria.<BR><BR>i think the discomfort might arise from an invitation that
doesn't<BR>make clear its true (even if very specific purpose) or when a when
a<BR>someone with a clear, specific purpose doesn't realize how many
others<BR>might be share the same issue, need, purpose.<BR><BR>articulating
purpose and supporting communion must be two of OS most<BR>important
opportunities, challenges, and practices, i
think.<BR><BR>michael<BR><BR><BR>On 8/16/06, Diane Brandon <<A
href="mailto:diane@keysregion.org">diane@keysregion.org</A>>
wrote:<BR>><BR>> I find this thread interesting, and want to add a few
more questions.<BR>><BR>> If a conference on African-American experience
is held in OS, can it be<BR>> limited to African-Americans? Same with a
women's gathering or men's<BR>> gathering? Or would it not be OS if the
invitation is limited to one race or<BR>> gender? I suppose the question
would be the same for those belonging to one<BR>> profession -- cooks or
physicians or whatever -- or one "business" -- Ford<BR>> Motor Company, for
example.<BR>><BR>> If there is an OS for African-Americans only, can
there be a breakout<BR>> session posted that says "for women only" or "for
men only" or "for those<BR>> under 20 yrs old only"? (All just examples.)
This may be covered in one of<BR>> Harrison's books, but I only have the
"user's guide," and I didn't find it<BR>> there when I just looked. (It
talks about inviting "those who care" -- but<BR>> not about other limits,
that I can find.)<BR>><BR>> Diane<BR>><BR>><BR>><BR>> Diane
Brandon, M.Ed., Coordinator<BR>> KEYS Coalition (CWC)<BR>> Landmark Hill
Community Resource Center<BR>> 518 Rte One, Box 4, Kittery, ME
03904<BR>> 207-438-9100<BR>> Fax: 207-439-8764<BR>> <A
href="mailto:diane@keysregion.org">diane@keysregion.org</A><BR>> <A
href="http://www.keysregion.org">www.keysregion.org</A><BR>><BR>><BR>><BR>><BR>><BR>><BR>>
On Aug 16, 2006, at 12:30 PM, ashley cooper wrote:<BR>> Thank you all for
this conversation.<BR>><BR>> Two lines of thought are present with
me, I'll try and give them words.<BR>><BR>> A meta note: I
recognize that many individuals are deepening their<BR>> capacities for
intimate interpersonal relationships where a collective is<BR>> actively
engaging the wisdom that is present, becoming a collective<BR>> consciously
flowing as a unified whole. This is different from conscious<BR>> people
coming together as powerful individuals who are piecing together the<BR>>
parts of their offerings into a collaborative offering. Both are
extremely<BR>> important and useful in the world and I also see them as
different forces.<BR>><BR>> As I read this butterfly thread, I see
in my mind's eye the image of a<BR>> butterfly. However this butterfly is
not a single person, it is a single<BR>> whole that is made up of many
people. This whole exists but does not yet<BR>> know itself (is not self
aware). Some-one in the whole recognizes it is a<BR>> whole and calls
attention to itself. I see the private sessions as being<BR>> very similar
to Chris' solitary moments in the bushes. It is a time-space<BR>>
experience of breathing as oneself, of honoring a flow or current that
is<BR>> vibrant and present internally but a little less so in the openness
of all<BR>> that are present at the event. In order to honor and engage the
essence of<BR>> this flow, the small, resonant collective must experience
itself together<BR>> and thus a private session emerges. If the intention
to hold a certain<BR>> resonance together is made clear, then whoever comes
are the right people...<BR>><BR>> The other notion that comes to
me is the role of invitation. I was also at<BR>> both events that Peggy
mentioned. At both the invitation was extended to a<BR>> wide array of
individuals, many people present. The diversity made the<BR>> events; the
complexity of people and relationships was essential in the<BR>> essence
and life that emerged. What do you do when there is more potential<BR>> and
intention present in a gathering then the widespread call that is
made?<BR>> It seems to me like a smaller space opened within a larger OS
and a separate<BR>> invitation was sent out while the event was going on.
If the same group had<BR>> left the original OS event, moved next store to
the next beautiful island<BR>> retreat center and held a 4 hour open space
and then returned to the<BR>> original OS, sharing that which unfolded,
would that have been more<BR>> appropriate?<BR>><BR>> One other
little piece of information is that I know at the May<BR>> Evolutionary
Salon there was at least one other private invitational session<BR>> that
happened during the final next-step action-planning breakout sessions.<BR>>
I wonder if this is a pattern beginning to emerge... a need for
invitational<BR>> breakout sessions within certain larger Open Spaces. I
wonder how<BR>> developmental stages of individuals and collectives fits
into this equation.<BR>> I also see the challenges that arise with these
wonderings! I'll stop here!<BR>><BR>> Curious,<BR>>
Ashley<BR>> * *<BR>>
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<BR><BR>Michael Herman<BR>Michael Herman Associates<BR>300 West North Ave
#1105<BR>Chicago IL 60610 USA<BR>Phone: 312-280-7838<BR><A
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globalchicago<BR><BR><A
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Leadership ...getting<BR>the most important things done in<BR>the easiest
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