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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'>Judy,</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'>And – I got so excited I forgot what
might even be the most important thing. It seems to me that if you are still
looking for gainful employment, you may just have created a whole new business.
Whether you choose to go out on your own or work with the folks you have been
dealing with would be something to think about – but the business model would
almost be a no-brainer from where I sit. Start with an OS for all who care
about their future (as in future employment etc). Support this effort with some
good web stuff (place for the proceedings of each session and or course social networking).
Additional support (and income) might come from a group of coaches/counselors
for those individuals with particular needs. Participation in this grand
opportunity would be available to individuals as well as corporate clients who
are downsizing a whole bunch and want to do the “right thing.” And
for a little whizz-bang: Graduates (those who get jobs) can come back for free
(as long as they are still employed) or half price (if they are starting all
over. These folks (graduates) effectively become unpaid resources.</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'>Now – let’s see whether that
Williams Education in addition to all the other entrepreneurial skills you have
accumulated along the way are up to the challenge: Make it Happen!</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></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'>Ps For what ever it is worth Judy and I
share a common alma mater. She did much better than I did, but I’ll take
credit wherever I can.</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'>PPs – If Judy doesn’t want to
do this, somebody else might. And for whatever it is worth, I did essentially
the same thing with a corporate client some years ago. Worked out perfect. This
was a plant closing with 800+ looking for what next. We did several Open
Spaces, along with an earlier day’s version of social networking. Net
effect was that the total work force (800) was converted into “head
hunters” for everybody else. By the end everybody found a new situation
(most better that what they previously held), had just decided to follow a
life dream, or just sit easy. </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,
Maryland 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 </span></font><font size=2 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:red'>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</span></font><font
color=red face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial;color:red'>: 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>
</div>
<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 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>Judy Gast<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Friday, November 23, 2007
11:34 AM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> Just Do It / Make it
Happen - Story of an Open Space</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>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>In keeping with the vein of ‘Just Do It and
resources will appear’ (formerly Finding Funding for Community Work),
this is a report on an Open Space event I facilitated this week wherein, I
‘Just Did It’ and … resources appeared (or will appear). </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=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>The title of this story and the theme of the OS event
is (was); <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>“Making It Happen”.</span></b></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=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><i><u><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-style:italic'>Background
on me (for context):</span></font></u></i></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=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>My life was forever altered the week of May 27 –
31, 1996 when I took the Open Space Train the Trainer at St. Ignatius College
(a monastery in Guelph, Ontario) with the Man with the Hat, Larry Peterson and
Birgitt Williams. At the time, I was an Organizational Development/Training
and Development type working for a large prestigious (at the time)
multinational corporation. </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=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>I had just spent a year of my life working for a Type
A micromanager (who was located in Australia) planning, organization and
implementing a series of conferences for the senior level executives outside of
North American. It was a huge and cumbersome project. I was on the phone 24-7.
I spent thousands of company dollars – doing a detailed needs assessment,
designing workshops, hiring facilitators around the world, and managing the
onsite logistics in four international locations. All while playing the role
of group psychologist and attempting to manage the emotional roller coaster
inherent in a micromanaged, remote team. While the hotels were nice and the
food was good, at the end of the day (or month or year), most people involved
(participants, sponsors, organizing team) would say (provided they were
guaranteed confidentiality) that we did <b><i><span style='font-weight:bold;
font-style:italic'>not</span></i></b> get a good return on the investment. </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=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>If it weren’t red, I would have grey hair as a
result of this experience. After that, unless I found a better way, I swore I
would never get involved in planning large group events again. Fortunately, at
St. Ignatius College, I found ‘the better way’. </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=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>After that I introduced the approach to my company.
While I had considerable success at the lower levels, my inroads with the
executives were limited.</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=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>I was let go from this company several years ago.
Since then, as an external Organizational Development/Training and Development
type, I have had several opportunities to Open Space with organizations and
sponsors who ‘get it’ as I do. I also had child number two. </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=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>This past spring, as both kids would be in school in
September and our finances were faltering, my husband and I agreed that it was
time for me to seek full time employment again. To help me learn ‘how to
get a job’, I joined a local networking group comprised of
‘Executives in Transition’. </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=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>This is where my story begins. </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'><i><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-style:italic'>The
Story – ‘Making It Happen’</span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><i><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-style:italic'> </span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>The first session I attended, I felt a bit awkward.
The group, about 60 ‘Executives in Transition’, were mostly 40-60
year old men in suits and white shirts The few women attendees were wearing
dressy suits, high heels and pantyhose (not attire this mother of young
children is familiar with). I tried not to feel too self-conscious, as I
stood up in my Birkenstock equivalents and corduroy pants to introduce myself
and give my ‘30 second commercial’. (I had failed to read on the
website that the dress code for these meetings is ‘first
interview’).</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=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>However, it appeared like a group where I could work
on my 30 second commercial, interviewing skills, and, network to make
connections to those who might hire me. So I dusted off my ‘professional
woman’ jackets and pants (no pantyhose for me…) and showed up at
the second meeting better ‘suited’ to fit in. </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=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>The format of the group was conventional. The first
half hour was “Good News’ – reports from people who had
interviews or had landed, and then new members were asked to give their 30
second commercial (aka ‘You never get an second chance to make a first good
impression.). Then a keynote speaker, followed by 1 ˝ hours of table team
‘networking’. For networking we were numbered off and asked to go
to the appropriate table. In a round robin fashion, each person at the table
talks about their career background and direction, practices their commercial,
and the group supports with suggestions and advice. </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=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>At the first networking session I ended up with a
group of men (mostly in white shirts), most of who were in the Food Packaging
industry. I learned a bit about this industry and asked some relevant
questions, and they were polite and worked to understand my field and come up
with appropriate suggestions and advice for me. </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=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Of course, I know that this process would be much more
valuable (and fun) if we did it in Open Space. To me, it is a ‘no
brainer’ application. So I suggest it to the Man in Charge. He was
intrigued, and amongst other questions asked me how he would ‘measure the
success’ of such a session. I told him that we would measure it by the
number of people who showed up (there are about 1500 members of this group, but
only 100 – 150 show up for the weekly meetings at three locations) and
the formal and anecdotal feedback from the attendees of the session. He agrees
that it might be a good idea to ‘try something new’ and says he
will fit me into the schedule. </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=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Several months later, after numerous exchanges of
emails and conversations (discussing Open Space and agreeing on the theme and
invitation), the Man in Charge schedules the session for November 20<sup>th</sup>.
In the announcement on the organization’s website and in the local paper,
and at the November 13<sup>th</sup> meeting, the session is announced as
“Open Space Technology – The Next Generation of Networking”
by expert speaker – Judy Gast. (Wow…. an Open Space <i><span
style='font-style:italic'>and</span></i> a Networking expert…if
only...life would be beautiful…) I raise my hand and clarify that I am
not an expert on networking and will be ‘facilitating’ a session
where participants have an opportunity to get into conversations about whatever
they have passion for. I say our theme will be “Successful Career
Transitions – Making it Happen”. The boss of the Man in Charge
(i.e. the founding father of the organization) interrupts me and says curtly,
“Oh, I didn’t know, no one told me about that”. </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=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Weeks before the event, I discuss the set up for the
room with the Event coordinator for the facility. I give her a hand drawn
diagram. She sends me back a computer diagram with 60 chairs in a <i><span
style='font-style:italic'>square</span></i>. I email her back that the chairs
need to be in a <i><span style='font-style:italic'>circle</span></i>. We go
back and forth. She sends me a terse email and says that the square is the
best her software can do. I explain how once before I showed up early in the
morning before an Open Space and had to rearrange 200 chairs into a circle.
She reassures me that her staff will understand the concept of a circle. (They
didn’t.)</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=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>I patiently wait for the Man in Charge to send out the
short, pithy, intriguing announcement (as we had agreed) to the entire group
(all 1500 members). He doesn’t. I call him a couple days before the
event and politely tell him that if members think that a speaker named Judy
Gast (i.e. an unknown person who hasn’t written a book) is going to talk
about ‘Open Space – The Next Generation of Networking’, then
he will get less than the normal number of attendees. He sees my point and
emails the announcement to the entire group. </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=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>The day before the event I am shopping in my local
drug store and I see a cute little battery-operated massager in the shape of a
bee. I think this will be cute to use when I describe the bumblebees. At 25
dollars it is overpriced, but I fork over my grocery money for the week and buy
it nevertheless. </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=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>I show up for the event early, concerned about whether
the facility staff understands the concept of a <i><span style='font-style:
italic'>circle</span></i>. Forty five minutes later, after having rearranged
chairs, put the bee and the pens and paper in the centre, put up the posters
and garnered flipcharts for the breakouts, I am ready and confident that
everything is going to work just fine. After all, The Man with the Hat’s
number one mantra is: “Anyone with a good head and a good heart can do
it”. I had loving parents who sent me to good schools, so I should
qualify. </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=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>About 75 people show up by 8:30, the scheduled start
time. A different Man in Charge welcomes everyone and announces the
‘workshop’ agenda. First he says we will have ‘Good
News’ and ‘Introduction of New Members’. That will be
followed by Part One of the Open Space Workshop, followed by a 15 minute break,
after which comes Part Two of the Workshop. Obviously, he didn’t know
and no one told him either. I don’t say anything. </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=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>We have about 20 new members (the average for any
previous meeting I attended was 6). It takes forever for them to get through
their ’30 second commercials’ per the required formula, which is
projected on the wall. (I couldn’t convince them that an overhead
projector was really not required for this piece.) The group patiently and
politely listens. </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=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>The original Man in Charge is handed the mike to introduce
me. I had emailed him a short, pithy biography. Since I hadn’t written a
book, I thought the group would need some information about me to let them know
they were not going to be turned over to a complete incompetent (this group is
particularly sceptical of touchy feely HR/OD types). He doesn’t read
it. He says something to the effect of “At this group, we are always
willing to try something different. After all, if you always do what
you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you always got. Judy
Gast, a member of this group, twisted my arm to try this new process for our
networking. It is called Open <i><span style='font-style:italic'>Source</span></i>
Technology. Please be sure to give us your feedback at the end so we know
whether to do it again. Please welcome Judy Gast.” </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=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>I sigh, under my breath, but loudly. The man sitting
next to me notices. I stand up, thank the Man in Charge for the opportunity to
present something new to the group, and start walking the circle. I breathe.
They are all staring at me, sceptically, with their arms crossed. Or so it
appears to me. In the interest of time, or perhaps because I was nervous, I
don’t say half the things I had planned. Actually, I cut it short
because...at the last moment..I remember the words of the Man in the Hat. His
second mantra is ‘Think of one more thing <i><span style='font-style:
italic'>not to</span></i> <i><span style='font-style:italic'>say</span></i>…
or was it <i><span style='font-style:italic'>not to</span></i> <i><span
style='font-style:italic'>do</span></i>?’ Whatever, it works. (That, by
the way, is the Man in the Hat’s third mantra: ‘It always
works’.)</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=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>I didn’t forget to give tribute to the Man in
the Hat – even told the group about the Utube video wherein he does a 30
second elevator speech on Open Space in the back of a cab. (They were not
interested, probably should have left that piece out.) </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=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>When I get to the part about bumblebees and
butterflies I turn on the battery operated bumblebee. It makes a loud racket
on the wood floor as it buzzes around. People laugh. I am glad I spent my
grocery money on the bee… I know I have plenty of oatmeal and peanut
butter in the cupboard. </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=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>When I say ‘Go for it’ and point to the
paper in the centre, half a dozen folks rush to the centre. Others are
amazed. After several periods of silence, wherein people and potential topics
lurk, twelve sheets of paper are posted on the wall - six for each time slot.
Perfect – just what the grid allocated (there were more stickies/spaces
if needed). I invite everyone to go to the wall and get to work. Everybody
goes to the wall. The mingling, shuffling and buzzing starts. Several ask me
questions about what they are supposed to do. I think; perhaps I left out too
much. Oh well, they get it and go to work. </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=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>A couple minutes later I go to the wall to peruse the
topics. There are only four topics posted for the first session and numerous
people are still hanging out deciding where to go. Where are the missing
topics? I look around. The initiators took their papers and posted them on
the walls next to their flipcharts. I scurry around and collect them and
retape them to the agenda wall. </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=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>A woman wearing a dressy suit, high heels and pantyhose
comes up to me. She tells me that she would have posted a topic but she
didn’t want to get down on the floor in her skirt and heels. I smile
apologetically and tell her that I am sorry I didn’t think of that. I
hand her a piece of paper and encourage her to post her topic. She carefully
writes her topic on the paper and tapes it on the wall. I’m glad that I
don’t own a dressy suit, high heels or a pair of pantyhose.</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=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>When it is about 10 minutes past the time for the
second session to start, people are all over … mingling and talking to
each other (being butterflies). Two people come up to me, plainly worried.
“Aren’t you going to ring a bell and ask people to move to the next
session?”, they ask. “Whenever it starts is the right
time”, I reply politely. Turns out, they were topic initiators - worried
that no one would show up for their sessions. They returned to their
flipcharts, people showed up, and the discussions flowed. </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=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>The boss of the Man in Charge is concerned as one
group has about 20 people, and one person appears to be dominating. He tells
me a story about how for a while they ‘had’ to put an external
‘person in charge’ at each of the networking table teams to make
sure that everyone got equal air time. I smile and make an inane comment
noting that; ‘if you treat people like adults, they are more likely to
act like adults’. He doesn’t get it. </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=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>When it is time for the closing circle, I do ring my
bell. Every seat is occupied. I explain that this time is for comments, reflections,
insights on what they learned… whatever people feel like saying. I walk
the circle with the mike. Numerous comments are made about how much fun it
was, how people really opened up and shared what was important to them. There
are several poignant comments about new insights, new connections and actions
planned as a result of the conversations. A man volunteers to write up the
session, include all the Reports and post a consolidated document on the
website. A woman asks me how often this group plans to use this approach for
our meetings. I carefully deflect the question and turn to the Man in Charge
to answer it. He smiles (at me) and asks the group; “How many people
would like to see us use this approach again?”. Everyone raises his/her
hand enthusiastically. He says that they will for sure use it (and me, if I am
available) again. </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=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>When it is over, numerous people come up to me and
thank me for the great session. Several people want to talk to me about
potential applications for their not-for-profit or other group. One person asks
me to be a speaker at a course that she is organizing. I am happy the
‘trial’ worked.</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=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>After cleaning up, the Man in Charge comes over to
thank me. He says he wants me to do it for the other two locations and he will
deem those sessions ‘workshops’ (vs. speakers). I tell him I
don’t really care what it is called (after all this one was announced in
the beginning as a ‘workshop’). He tells me; “We <b><i><span
style='font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>pay</span></i></b> people to run the
workshops.” I reply, “Fine, make it a workshop”. </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=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>After all, I need money to buy groceries for my
family. </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=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<h1 style='margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:
.0001pt'><em><b><i><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
13.5pt'>Postlude and thanks</span></font></i></b></em></h1>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span
lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt'>I want to thank Larry Peterson for
encouraging me to write up this story. He has been my colleague, friend and
mentor ever since I met him at St. Ignatius College in May 1996. </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Judy Gast</span></font></p>
</div>
</div>
</body>
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