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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Louise, thank you for
sharing your story. It has a lot of power. Resigning because you feel your
original vision is not what seems to be happening and you find no ways to prevent
this to me feels like grandeur - at least as much as resignation. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Have you felt into things
after the event and found remnants of your original vision in what has actually
happened there? </span></font><font size=2 color=navy face=Wingdings><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;color:navy'>J</span></font><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:navy'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Have you looked at your
own story and can you recognize being hijacked in other walks of your life? <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Have you had a chance to
talk to the organizing team after the event to find out what exactly has been
happening for everybody, and why, and how the actual event might have changed something?
There must be a treasure of learning hidden in this for all of you!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>For me, that reflection
is the most powerful medicine I have been given ever since I have come in touch
with OS in 1989. When we organized OT8 in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">Switzerland</st1:country-region></st1:place> in 1990 in a group of 8
people, we used to spend 80 % of our monthly meeting day sorting out personal
issues amongst each other and then got all the work done in the remaining 20 %
of the time. And we realized that it was impossible for us to separate where we
stand in our personal life from what we work like and what impact this has when
radiating out of the room.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I am still working to
truly imply the principles of Open Space into my everyday life. The dance
between managing, leadership and letting go all efforts to really arrive in
Open Space sometimes feels as if I wasn’t on a dance floor, but on a
tight rope. When preparing an OS event, I can be more than picky on details,
especially if the organisation I work for doesn’t yet have an ongoing
experience with OS. This allows me to create the safe framework for the group
and myself to fully dive into Open Space the day(s) of the event. It has
something to do with doing things right, control and reliability, and at the
same time trust into the process of life (because it happens anyway –
there is nothing to stop it.). In my family life, my children and my partner
still challenge me daily to define where the space is open and where it is not
– because certain givens or limitations of others involved need to be respected.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Keep going, dancing,
crying, laughing, embracing your friends and apparent hijackers. You are right
on track.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Love, Catherine (and
thank you, Chris, for sharing your experience!)<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><st1:PersonName w:st="on"><font size=2 color=navy
face="Comic Sans MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:navy'>Catherine Pfaehler</span></font></st1:PersonName><font size=2
color=navy face="Comic Sans MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:navy'> Senn<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=2 color=navy face="Comic Sans MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:navy'>lic.oec.HSG<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=2 color=navy face="Comic Sans MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:navy'>Open Space
Begleitung<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=2 color=navy face="Comic Sans MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:navy'>Kellersriedweg
8<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=2 color=navy face="Comic Sans MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:navy'>CH - 2503 Biel<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=2 color=navy face="Comic Sans MS"><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:navy'>+41-(0)32
- 365 68 41<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=2 color=navy face="Comic Sans MS"><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:navy'>c.pfa</span></font><font
size=2 color=navy face="Comic Sans MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:navy'>ehler@bluewin.ch<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>
<hr size=2 width="100%" align=center tabindex=-1>
</span></font></div>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>Von:</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> louise brissette
[mailto:louisebrissette@yahoo.ca] <br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Gesendet:</span></b> Mittwoch, 26. </span></font><font
size=2 face=Tahoma><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>September
2007 20:00<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Betreff:</span></b> FOFO and it's story</span></font><span
lang=EN-GB><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:12.0pt'>For the story of the FOFO.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:12.0pt'>In 2006, under the recommendation of <st1:place w:st="on">Harrison</st1:place>,
I contacted Jean-Pierre Beaulieu and we had lunch around <i><span
style='font-style:italic'>How come OST doesn’t take off in Québec</span></i>.
Jean-Pierre gave me some precious insights, such as there is no cultural
references and french speaking lexicon, no stories too. Following this lunch,
I organized the first Stammtisch in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Montreal</st1:place></st1:City>
for a starter. There, I met with Marquis Bureau. Later I called him for a
breakfast toying around the idea of a forum with business people of all walks
and consultants and Osniks in Val-David in the Laurentians. Marquis and I had a
theme with a blank sheet. We invited Osniks to join the organization of such a
forum. 8 people answered and 2 left early. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Then I moved to Val-David. While I was exploring for a
venue, and found a little miracle called Auberge Premashanti (everything you
would dream of for Open Space), and negociating and singing the contract,
opened a bank account, working hard and sometimes fighting to keep the vision
of the original proposal alive ( a fight I lost) and the proper format in
the invitation. Uploading the invitation on my web site, answering info
requests, communicating with the Canadian Open Space Institute for support and
grants, communicating with other international actors, while I was doing all
this, some members of the organizing group were hijacking the purpose for their
own agenga, being disrespefull and nasty, and mainly playing politics and
working in a hierarchical spirit, Out the window the business people of all
walks and consultants, the format was getting rigid and not serving the vision
anymore, I really worked hard to keep the proper format . <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Plainly, no more fun and pretty painfull. So I left.
Funny enough, I left my own proposal, my own vision. It had been hijacked..<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:12.0pt'>But anyway, I left for my own sake, but also for the
sake of the FOFO. Since we all know that Open Space is deeply about spirit,
open spirit, I knew that to make it happen and not jeopardize the climate, it
had to be saved. Since I seemed to be the threat to the hijackers and that they
would not let go, and were politically supported, I left. And so, my
contribution is not mentionned anywhere.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div><u1:p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
</u1:p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:12.0pt'>But my spirit was still with the project, silent
presence. I am happy that the OS seems to have gathered energy for its take off
in French during the FOFO..<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div><u1:p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
</u1:p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:12.0pt'>I am not writing this to whine, (yes I was very pissed
off and I don't like being SO invisible) but to question a few things. While
many of us are training or facilitating Open Space Technology, do we really know
how to work and behave in Open Space ? Also, how about emphasizing on the
Spirit of OS, and the work style it demands ? OST is NOT just another
technique. I have worked with American Indians (Mohawks Wendats and Ojibwe),
have eperienced sacred rituals and participated in Pow-Wows. I have reckognized
the same native Spirit in Open Space Technology.This is what attracted me
to it. This is not what I have experienced with the organization of the
FOFO. I have experienced the same old narrative, command and control, we find
in the hierarchical and politics we know so well in a Polis understanding of
the World, while OST is about Cosmos understanding of the World. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div><u1:p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
</u1:p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Yeah, I know, I’m not supposed to hit the fan
like this but, is there anything to be learned from this experience ?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div><u1:p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
</u1:p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:12.0pt'>And yes, just for you to know, I had something to do
with the first FOFO.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div><u1:p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
</u1:p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Louise Brissette<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>+1.819.322.1489<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>louisebrissette@yahoo.ca<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>
<hr size=1 width="100%" align=center>
</span></font></div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=FR
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Changez de tête et de tenue tous les jours si vous le
voulez ! Volez la vedette sur </span><a href="http://cf.avatars.yahoo.com/"><b><span
lang=FR style='font-weight:bold'>Yahoo! </span></b><b><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-weight:bold'>Québec Avatars</span></b></a></font><span lang=EN-GB>
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