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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Some little while ago a friend asked me if I knew anything about
using Open Space in Liberia, West Africa. I had to smile because that is where it
all began. As the martinis were doing their magic, the first image that came to
my mind was that of people sitting in a circle, and it came from my time in
upcountry Liberia in the ‘60s. Circle complete. As you can see from Blake’s
letter space was opened and the people felt right at home. Surprise! I found it
truly wonderful, and I believe you will share the wonder when you read her
letter. Happy day!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Harrison<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Harrison Owen<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>7808 River Falls Dr.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Potomac, MD 20854 <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>USA<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Phone 301-365-2093<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>www.openspaceworld.com<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>www.ho-image.com (Personal Website)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Consolas;
color:#1F497D'>To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives
of <a href="mailto:oslist@listserv.boisestate.edu">oslist@listserv.boisestate.edu</a>:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><a href="http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html">http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> mmmblake@aol.com
[mailto:mmmblake@aol.com] <br>
<b>Sent:</b> Sunday, May 09, 2010 3:53 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> hhowen@verizon.net<br>
<b>Subject:</b> back to the future in Liberia with OS<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div>
<div id="AOLMsgPart_2_33c1cbd8-917c-4530-aa38-ac988f98cd9e">
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'>Dear Harrison,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'>Just finished OS in an NGO office in Liberia that deals with
malaria prevention, treatment and education. (25 people, 13 topics, 1
day) In the closing circle, I wished you had been there and thought of you
everytime someone said "This is our heritage of how we use to do it and it
feels good." " This is the first time we sit together in 4 years
and it is because of our Liberian past ."" "It is how they
do it in our villages and now it brings us closer together and we can be
one team, one program." "This is the first time I have seen everyone
smile in our office." "People were fully engaged in the room."
Immense pride filled the room. (I was asked to go to this office to do
some team building. I think it worked, wouldn't you say?)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'>This team has gone through major transitions from working
with malarial concerns in an emergency situation, just after the war to post
emergency work; from one country director's style to an opposite country
director's style; and a total change of expat management; all in the last 3
months. And, you know what the # 1 topic out of the 13, after they prioritized?
LOVE, plain and simple and powerful. A committee is now in charge of
finding ways to express it in the office. I think the country director was
shocked at that choice but even more surprised that a quiet man who
pushes the broom, convened the topic. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'>I was a bit worried for the first hour as it was very slow moving
and I thought I had made the wrong choice, so I left the room and worked on my
laptop, to not control the group and close the space. Turns out, no one
had ever asked them before for their opinions. That was the hesitancy. The ball
started rolling after the first time period.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'>So, my dear, Harrison...it all comes around and back to Liberia,
you and your brillance at capturing the essence of the African culture and
bottling it up for the rest of the world to sip. You have touched their hearts
deeply. In the closing circle, they didn't thank me...at first I was...gee, no
praise for me bringing it to them...HA! "When the best leader's work
is done, the people say "We did it ourselves." Lao Tzu.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'>Blessings,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'>Blake<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'>PS: if you want to post our conversation, please do. I'm still
having trouble with my email address and the listserv.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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