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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Lovely lovely story dear Judy – thanks
for making it happen!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Thanks for sharing.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I´ve been seeing this possibility for many
years – since I used to work for the employmentoffice – before I
left my days as employed. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I think your inspiring story may just be the
thing to show in order to spread this opportunity here and there and
everywhere.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Warm regards<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:PersonName w:st="on"><font size=2 color=navy
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Thomas
Herrmann</span></font></st1:PersonName><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>
<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>
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face="Times New Roman"><span lang=SV 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'>Från:</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> <st1:PersonName
w:st="on">OSLIST</st1:PersonName> [mailto:<st1:PersonName w:st="on">OSLIST</st1:PersonName>@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU]
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>För </span></b>Judy Gast<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Skickat:</span></b> den 23 november 2007
17:34<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Till:</span></b> <st1:PersonName w:st="on">OSLIST</st1:PersonName>@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Ämne:</span></b> Just Do It / Make it Happen
- Story of an Open Space</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><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). <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><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><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><u><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-style:italic'>Background on me (for context):<o:p></o:p></span></font></u></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><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 <st2:Sn w:st="on">St.</st2:Sn> <st2:middlename
w:st="on">Ignatius</st2:middlename> <st2:Sn w:st="on">College</st2:Sn> (a
monastery in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Guelph</st1:City>, <st1:State
w:st="on">Ontario</st1:State></st1:place>) 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. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><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 <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Australia</st1:place></st1:country-region>)
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. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><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 <st1:place
w:st="on"><st2:Sn w:st="on">St.</st2:Sn> <st2:middlename w:st="on">Ignatius</st2:middlename>
<st2:Sn w:st="on">College</st2:Sn></st1:place>, I found ‘the better
way’. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><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.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><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. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><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’. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>This is where my story begins. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-style:italic'>The Story – ‘Making It
Happen’<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-style:italic'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><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’).<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><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. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><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 ½ 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.
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><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. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><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. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><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”. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><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.)<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><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. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><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. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><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. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><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. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><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. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><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.” <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><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’.)<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><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.) <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><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. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><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. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><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. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><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.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><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. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><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. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><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. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><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.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><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”. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>After all, I need money to buy groceries for my family. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<h1 style='margin:0cm;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><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></h1>
<p class=MsoNormal><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 <st1:place w:st="on"><st2:Sn w:st="on">St.</st2:Sn> <st2:middlename
w:st="on">Ignatius</st2:middlename> <st2:Sn w:st="on">College</st2:Sn></st1:place>
in May 1996. </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Judy Gast</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>
</body>
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