<font size="2">Hi Niko. Welcome to the list!<br><br>I want to share a story in response to what you wrote about how two of the main participants from your OS left before you did the closing circle. Yes, you are right, the law of two feet invites folks to leave when they want to but it can be unsettling as the spaceholder, can't it?
<br><br>I heard this story from Susan Coleman, </font><font size="2">an international conflict resolution expert who uses large group processes with communities and systems in conflict. She works at Columbia University. She uses OS sometimes when she convenes peace-building events for groups from high conflict zones.
<br><br>The first time she ever used OS was for an event that brought together participants from both sides of a major conflict. I am sorry that I am not remembering all the details of her story. The event where she first used OS brought together people very deeply divided, like Shiites and Sunnis or Palestinians and Israelis. . . but I forget which conflicting cultures she had in the room. People had traveled from abroad to New York City to attend Susan's event. Most of us know what it takes to organize an international event. It takes lots of planning, with countless logistical snafus.
<br><br>Finally, the day had arrived. Susan kicked off the multi-day event by opening space.<br><br>And then everyone left and went shopping. All of those participants were chomping at the bit to shop in New York City or, perhaps, just to see exciting New York City. Who knows what they wanted to do? But they trusted Susan when she said 'follow what has heart and meaning', follow the 'law of two feet'. They all got up and left.
<br><br>She sat around the rest of that first day thinking that she had blown it. This was a major event. Had she failed by using OS? She experienced a lot of self doubt.<br><br>But the next day, everyone came back, created an awesome agenda and they had a fantastic meeting. Maybe all those participants were better able to focus on the work after they used the law of two feet, sated their curiosity about New York City. If Susan had used a different model for her meeting and required everyone to stay in the room, people might have been bored and/or distracted with thoughts of the exciting city just outside. But by leaving that first day and checking out NYC, well, folks, maybe, were better able to focus on the agenda, right?
<br><br>I have heard other stories of people opening space and then the participants leaving to check out the tourist spots, etc. And then folks come back and get to work.<br><br>People need to show up, with their passions. If people are just in the room because they have to be in the room, well, they can be physically present but not really 'in'.
<br><br>Good on you, Niko, for your first OS. <br><br><br><br><br></font><br><div><span class="gmail_quote">On 10/13/07, <b class="gmail_sendername">niko lebel</b> <<a href="mailto:futurewhispers@hotmail.com">futurewhispers@hotmail.com
</a>> wrote:</span><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
<div>Hi Christine,<br>
<br>
thankyou for your email.<br>
<br>
The focus for the meeting was on an old mill which is where my family and I are currently living and working.<br>
<br>
the Theme was "making le moulin de petit pre the best it can be.... heres how"<br>
<br>
Which I though was a really good start and theme for the meeting.<br>
<br>
I was in the room whilst the meeting durated but not part of the meeting.<br>
I did not understand a large amount of the meeting as it was in french which I still do not know enough of to understand.<br>
<br>
Then a funny thing happened, at 7 pm when I was going to come back to close the space two of the main partisipants got up and left to go home...<br>
I was shocked at first but then reminded my self of the law or mobility.<br>
<br>
I found it a little rude and strange though.<br>
<br>
Which reminded me of Open space meetings i attended in New Zealand by a friend for his buisness.<br>
The facilitator (not me) took part in the meeting and made the opening of the space the most dull miserable experiance possible.<br>
<br>
i stopped attending.<br>
<br>
I always make a point of making the opening circle a light interesting affair.<br>
<br>
Thank you all for the warm welcome.<br>
<br>
I hope i can Learn as much as possible from who ever I can.<br>
<br>
Niko Lebel.<br>
<br>
P.S It is raining and cold in Québec city<br>
<br>
<br>
<br><br><br><br> <br>
<blockquote>
<hr>
Date: Fri, 12 Oct 2007 17:03:44 -0700<br>From: <a href="mailto:milagro27@cox.net" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">milagro27@cox.net</a><br>Subject: Re: new<div><span class="e" id="q_1159b666122ed425_1">
<br>To: <a href="mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU</a><br><br>
<div dir="ltr" align="left"><span><font color="#000080" face="Verdana" size="3">Welcome, Niko!</font></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" align="left"><span><font color="#000080" face="Verdana" size="3"></font></span> </div>
<div dir="ltr" align="left"><span><font color="#000080" face="Verdana" size="3">Congratulations on your Open Space. What was the focus and who were the people? Was this the first time you opened space?</font></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" align="left"><span><font color="#000080" face="Verdana" size="3"> </font></span></div>
<div><span><font color="#000080" face="Verdana" size="3">I am especially interested in your experience because of my work with the Girl Scouts.</font></span></div>
<div><span></span> </div>
<div><span><font color="#000080" face="Verdana" size="3">Warm wishes from a brilliant day in Phoenix,</font></span></div>
<div><span> </span></div>
<div align="left"><em><font color="#000080" face="Lucida Handwriting" size="2">Christine</font></em></div>
<div align="left"> </div>
<div align="left"><font color="#000080" face="Arial" size="1"></font> </div>
<div align="left"><font color="#000080" face="Verdana" size="2">Christine Whitney Sanchez</font></div>
<div align="left"><font color="#000080" face="Verdana" size="2"><em>CWS - Collaborative Wisdom & Strategy</em></font></div>
<div align="left"><font color="#000080" face="Verdana" size="2">2717 E. Mountain Sky Avenue</font></div>
<div align="left"><font color="#000080" face="Verdana" size="2">Phoenix, AZ 85048-8990</font></div>
<div align="left"><font color="#000080" face="Verdana" size="2">480.759.0262</font></div>
<div align="left"><font color="#000080" face="Verdana" size="2"><a href="http://www.christinewhitneysanchez.com/" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">www.christinewhitneysanchez.com</a>
</font></div>
<div align="left"><font color="#000080" face="Arial" size="1"></font> </div>
<div> </div><br>
<div dir="ltr" align="left" lang="en-us">
<hr>
<font face="Tahoma" size="2"><b>From:</b> OSLIST [mailto:<a href="mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU</a>] <b>On Behalf Of
</b>niko lebel<br><b>Sent:</b> Friday, October 12, 2007 2:32 PM<br><b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
</a><br><b>Subject:</b> new<br></font><br></div>
<div></div>Hi all,<br> <br>I am a 16 year old student in the Québec City I have just recently moved here from New Zealand.<br> <br>I am very very interested in open space technology and I am reading every email which comes though.
<br> <br>My father has done extencive training and knows Chris Corrigan.<br> <br>On Wednesday I opened space for about 10 people.<br>so i am reading a lot about Open Space and would be interested in any comments or advise.
<br> <br>thankyou.<br> <br>Niko Lebel<br><br>
<hr>
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