<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 12 (filtered medium)">
<base href="x-msg://251/">
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Helvetica;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 2 2 2 2 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Wingdings;
panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Tahoma;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Consolas;
panose-1:2 11 6 9 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.apple-style-span
{mso-style-name:apple-style-span;}
span.apple-converted-space
{mso-style-name:apple-converted-space;}
span.EmailStyle19
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>
<body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple style='word-wrap: break-word;
-webkit-nbsp-mode: space;-webkit-line-break: after-white-space'>
<div class=Section1>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Chris – I have to take small issue with you. There was
nothing hard or difficult about what we (whoever we was) were doing. It was
addictive, mind blowing and totally exhilarating. We did not have a clue where
we were going and all the traditional sources said we were going in the wrong,
or at least a questionable direction. A good friend of mine in San Francisco co-authored
a book called, “Better Meetings” and it was (and might still be)
the “bible” on such matters. You know the drill – careful preparation,
detailed agenda, exquisite attention to who comes, and of course Facilitators
in abundance. Over a beer, he invited me to “do” an Open Space with
his organization – something about its future direction. Space opened and
at the end his partner in authorship walked out preceded by the words, “This
is the biggest pile of BS I have ever seen.” My friend just sat there.
And there was a smile on his face. We were friends until he died several years
ago (I guess we are still friends) – and he never used the book again. Took
the royalties, I guess.<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'>The total wonder and mystery of what we all experienced was
worth whatever difficulty there might have been – which I never noticed.
Early on it became very clear to me that you do not SELL Open Space.
Non-starter – and to repeat an old tale (Raffi!) Selling Open Space is
just like teaching a pig to sing. Annoys the pig and sounds awful. But you don’t
have to sell it. Just be it, and do it. Clients came because they needed the
space, had run out of space, or something. And every moment was a learning
moment.<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'>Several years ago I met a marvelous lady, Ros Yalow – a physician
and physicist who had a major hand in the creation of MRI – which had
something to do with Nuclear Magnetic Resonance – whatever that is.
Anyhow she got a Nobel for her efforts, and we made a film about her and her
science in which the question was asked – “Ros, why do you do what
you do?” Her answer? “I do what I do because every morning when I
go into my laboratory I know I have a chance to think a thought that nobody
ever thought before.” Wonderful! Precisely my feelings as the space opened.<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'>So folks – it ain’t hard (unless you try to sell it </span><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;color:#1F497D'>J</span><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>).
Best of all, I think we are at the front edge of the learning wave. A little scary
and just wonderful. Enjoy!<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>
<div>
<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"><span
style='color:blue'>oslist@listserv.boisestate.edu</span></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"><span
style='color:blue'>http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div>
<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"'> OSLIST
[mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Chris Corrigan<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, May 19, 2010 12:42 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: Elders<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>One of the things I love about hanging around with the
"Elders" of the OST world is hearing their stories of trying to do
this work in the 1980s when the fad in the North American organizational world
was all about management, control and predictable outcomes (and oh how times
have changed, eh?). It was an enduring memory for me of the Camden
gathering where so many of these practitioners were gathered to hear stories of
what it was like trying to use Open Space with organizations back then. It
puts into perspective for me how much times have changed, how much mainstream
thinking has changed and how much more sophisticated such a simple offer of OST
has now become. <o:p></o:p></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal>Those of you that broke ground should be very proud and
should feel vindicated that you really were ahead of the game back then, and
your perseverance alongside many others has resulted in a movement in many
parts of the world towards more participatory leadership and openness. <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal>Those of you who are struggling in places that seems like
those the "Elders" were in in the 1980s tae note...it's not easy, but
it is possible. <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal>So, Harrison, you may be experiencing senility, but try to
at least remember that what you did was somewhat important! :-)<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal>Chris<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:13.5pt'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;
font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:black'>----<br>
Chris Corrigan<br>
<a href="mailto:chris@chriscorrigan.com">chris@chriscorrigan.com</a><br>
http://www.chriscorrigan.com<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal>On 2010-05-19, at 8:47 AM, Harrison Owen wrote:<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>Raffi
it is nice that you want the old folks about – but as you point out,
there are liabilities. For example, they tend to repeat themselves, sometimes
ad nauseam (“erm, re-re-re-re-re-told” raffi). May have something
to do with senility?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>ho<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>Harrison
Owen<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>7808
River Falls Dr.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>Potomac,
MD 20854<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>USA<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>Phone
301-365-2093<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><a
href="http://www.openspaceworld.com">www.openspaceworld.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><a
href="http://www.ho-image.com">www.ho-image.com</a><span
class=apple-converted-space> </span>(Personal Website)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Consolas'>To
subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of<span
class=apple-converted-space> </span><a
href="mailto:oslist@listserv.boisestate.edu">oslist@listserv.boisestate.edu</a>:</span><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><a
href="http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html">http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'>*
* ==========================================================<span
class=apple-converted-space> </span><a
href="mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU">OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU</a><span
class=apple-converted-space> </span>------------------------------ To
subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of<span
class=apple-converted-space> </span><a
href="mailto:oslist@listserv.boisestate.edu">oslist@listserv.boisestate.edu</a>:<span
class=apple-converted-space> </span><a
href="http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html">http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html</a><span
class=apple-converted-space> </span>To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and
OSLIST FAQs:<span class=apple-converted-space> </span><a
href="http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist">http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal>* *
==========================================================
OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe,
change your options, view the archives of oslist@listserv.boisestate.edu:
http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about
OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>
*
*
==========================================================
OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
------------------------------
To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
view the archives of oslist@listserv.boisestate.edu:
http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist