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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'>Suzanne, this is simply
great. You did more than I would have dared to do, by not feeling any negative
emotions about the format – and you got out a maximum of a “taste of OS” for
the participants. I love the idea of having OS as an accompanying tool next to
an almost “ordinary” conference. Your example shows it is possible to somehow
merge the two, bringing profit to both parts. How very inspiring!!! <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>
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<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Compassionately, C.</span></font><font
color=navy><span style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=3 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'> <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'>Catherine
Pfaehler 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'>St.
Alban-Vorstadt 15<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 - 4052 Basel<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'>+41-(0)76 - 488
15 46<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'><a
href="mailto:c.pfaehler@open-space-begleitung.ch">c.pfaehler@open-space-begleitung.ch</a></span></font><font
color=navy><span style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#0000a0" face="Comic Sans MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#0000A0'><a
href="http://www.open-space-begleitung.ch/">www.open-space-begleitung.ch</a></span></font><font
color=navy><span style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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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'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<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'> Suzanne Daigle
[mailto:sdaigle4@gmail.com] <br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Gesendet:</span></b> Freitag, 4. September
2009 00:00<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Betreff:</span></b> Not ideal but worth the
effort</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Back from
Boston after facilitating “A<font color=red><span style='color:red'> <b><i><span
style='font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>Taste</span></i></b></span></font>
of Open Space” at the NAMAC (National Alliance for Media, Arts and Culture)
Conference. This was my first large event (300+ participants); did not
have that much lead time to prepare; and the circumstances were less than
ideal: blended with workshops, no opportunity to sit in a circle and for a
while, I worried about wall space and ability to use masking tape on the walls
of this ornate room in a historical hotel. We used blue painters’ tape. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Looking
back, I would not have traded a minute of this experience. Yes, it could have
been so much better but ultimately it was worth it based on the number of conversations
(20 – 25…more?) over the 3 days of the conference. I had 90 minutes on
the first morning with the plenary group to OPEN SPACE: announce the OS
question tied to their theme (Lisa Heft was so helpful in offering some ideas
with lots of other invaluable tips too), to explain the principles and the Law,
to build an agenda, and to open a marketplace. Within an hour, no less
than 15 groups were talking. I called it the Speed Dating of OPEN SPACE
clearly indicating that this was just a “TASTE of Open Space”. I said it would
be an opportunity for them to find each other quickly by connecting with others
who shared their passion on common topics. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>I thought
I would be a basket case but somehow having meditated twice daily for the 10
days preceding this event, rehearsing on my outside patio over and over,
scouring Diane Gibeault’s training materials, reading everything I could get my
hands on and seeking help from some OS trusted friends who were so very
generous, I felt calm, clear and grounded. It wasn’t about me; it was
about the participants! The night before, working with a few volunteers, I took
the time to quietly walk the room and did so again the next morning. And
I thought of this audience and my passion for their cause – free press, documentary
film producers, youth, arts, media, culture, democracy, etc. The hardest
part was not having the circle and people writing and posting the topics at the
back of the room. Clearly all the OS practitioners are right that you NEED a
circle to keep the energy focused in the middle in spite of the fact that I had
them visualize a giant circle as part of my intro. Not the same…at all!
As people were writing and announcing their topics, many started conversations
around their tables and I had to bring them back to attention a few
times. I feel we could have had 60 to 75 topics in those first 15 minutes
instead of the 30 we got. Others topics were added later and some folks
posted Summary Reports from their discussions.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Over the
3 days, there were six 90 minute OS timeslots on the program not including the
Closing (no circle there either). What I invited people to do was to live
the 4 Principles of OS and the Law of 2 Feet (Butterfly and Bumble Bee)
throughout the conference and even beyond. We had blank post-it notes so
they could schedule their sessions anytime, anywhere and they did: in the
coffee shop, in the bar (15 people form 10 pm until past midnight), early
morning and lunchtime as well as in the assigned locations in our plenary room
which became the OPEN SPACE hub. What they said they appreciated most was the
gift of choice and freedom.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
11.0pt'>As I watched the conversations happening from afar, I felt such
gratitude to have had the courage to do this. People came by to share quietly
as I cleaned up coffee cups, trash, etc. The feedback was extremely
positive and while I know it could have been better, my commitment to be
“opening space” for people wherever and however I can from the heart is what
drives me now. Yes I will always push for optimal conditions as I feel I
must. But if I can’t get there, I will just try to do my best and not shut the
door. If anyone wants to know more, I’ll gladly share all that I
lived and felt during those three days. I owe so much to this community.
Thank you everyone. </span></font><br>
<br>
Link to some of the NAMAC OS photos: <a
href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/namac/page5/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/namac/page5/</a><br>
<br clear=all>
Suzanne<br>
-- <br>
Suzanne Daigle<br>
NuFocus Strategic Group<br>
7159 Victoria Circle<br>
University Park, FL 34201<br>
FL 941-359-8877; CT 203-722-2009<br>
<a href="http://www.nufocusgroup.com" target="_blank">www.nufocusgroup.com</a><br>
<a href="mailto:s.daigle@nufocusgroup.com" target="_blank">s.daigle@nufocusgroup.com</a><br>
<br>
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