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    And I should ad, do we have any prominent organizations that we can
    show as examples? The one that always comes to my mind is,
    unfortunately Al Qaeda.<br>
    <br>
    Bui<br>
    <br>
    On 14/10/2010 1:59 PM, Harrison Owen wrote:
    <blockquote cite="mid:38FFE874466548269B4247A274E46F21@HHOLAPTOP"
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                      <div class="Section1">
                        <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" color="navy"
                            face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 10pt;
                              font-family: Arial; color: navy;">Bui – I
                              know all about the legal
                              requirements all of which make a certain
                              amount of sense. What does not make
                              much sense to me is the (often) tacit
                              assumption that the Board IS the
                              organization. Your point, I believe. It is
                              only a short step to the wonderful
                              place where you spend more time/effort
                              running the business than doing the
                              business. Talk about the tail wagging the
                              dog! Personally I don’t hold
                              out much hope that existing organizations
                              will see the error of their ways –
                              the traditions and ingrained self
                              interests are so entrenched that movement
                              is
                              pretty well precluded. But emerging
                              organizations need not be condemned to the
                              errors of their predecessors – unless that
                              is their choice. The critical
                              question I think is: What is the minimal
                              level of formal structure necessary to
                              meet the legal requirements while
                              providing the maximum timed/space for the
                              heart and soul of the enterprise – the
                              living, evolving complex adaptive
                              system? <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
                        <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" color="navy"
                            face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 10pt;
                              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: 10pt;
                              font-family: Arial; color: navy;">This
                              begins to turn standard procedure on
                              its head. Used to be that when starting a
                              new enterprise (business, NGO,
                              whatever) the first order of business was
                              to “get organized” –
                              which usually meant creating a business
                              plan, charter, bylaws, Board, etc. I
                              think our 25 years in Open Space has
                              taught us that this approach is definitely
                              to put the cart before the horse. The
                              “horse” in this case is that
                              nexus point created by the convergence of
                              passion and responsibility. No need
                              to “organize things” – it will organize
                              itself. We call it
                              self organization! Once there is some life
                              it is then useful to ask if there
                              are some small things we need to do in
                              order to sustain that life.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
                        <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" color="navy"
                            face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 10pt;
                              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: 10pt;
                              font-family: Arial; color: navy;">And why
                              would you take this reverse
                              approach?  Answer is pretty simple to me.
                              It is all about efficiency,
                              effectiveness and profitability (if profit
                              is important.) Of course if you don’t
                              care about any of that then by all means
                              go ahead and spend your time, money
                              and effort on a whole mess of things that
                              almost inevitably turn out to be more
                              than you want and different than you need.
                              Or so I think.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
                        <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" color="navy"
                            face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 10pt;
                              font-family: Arial; color: navy;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
                        <p class="MsoNormal"><st1:place w:st="on"><font
                              size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span
                                style="font-size: 10pt; font-family:
                                Arial; color: navy;">Harrison</span></font></st1:place><font
                            size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span
                              style="font-size: 10pt; 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: 10pt;
                              font-family: Arial; color: navy;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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                          <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"
                              color="black" face="Arial"><span
                                style="font-size: 10pt; font-family:
                                Arial;">Harrison Owen</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address
                                w:st="on"><font size="2" color="black"
                                  face="Arial"><span style="font-size:
                                    10pt; font-family: Arial;">189
                                    Beaucaire Ave</span></font></st1:address></st1:street><o:p></o:p></p>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city
                                w:st="on"><font size="2" color="black"
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                                size="2" face="Arial"><span
                                  style="font-size: 10pt; font-family:
                                  Arial;">, <st1:state w:st="on">ME</st1:state>
                                  <st1:postalcode w:st="on">04843</st1:postalcode></span></font></st1:place><o:p></o:p></p>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"
                              color="black" face="Arial"><span
                                style="font-size: 10pt; font-family:
                                Arial;">207-763-3261 (Summer)</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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                              color="black" face="Arial"><span
                                style="font-size: 10pt; font-family:
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                                style="font-size: 10pt; font-family:
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                                  moz-do-not-send="true"
                                  href="http://www.openspaceworld.com">www.openspaceworld.com</a>
                              </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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                                style="font-size: 10pt; font-family:
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                              size="2" face="Arial"><span
                                style="font-size: 10pt; font-family:
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                            subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options
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                                <hr tabindex="-1" size="2"
                                  align="center" width="100%">
                              </span></font></div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><b><font size="2"
                                color="black" face="Tahoma"><span
                                  style="font-size: 10pt; font-family:
                                  Tahoma; color: windowtext;
                                  font-weight: bold;">From:</span></font></b><font
                              size="2" color="black" face="Tahoma"><span
                                style="font-size: 10pt; font-family:
                                Tahoma; color: windowtext;"> <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;">On
                                    Behalf Of </span></b>Bui Petersen<br>
                                <b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sent:</span></b>
                                Wednesday, October 13, 2010
                                10:06 PM<br>
                                <b><span style="font-weight: bold;">To:</span></b>
                                <st1:personname w:st="on">OSLIST</st1:personname>@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU<br>
                                <b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Subject:</span></b>
                                Re: Youth Leaders (on
                                Boards)</span></font><font color="black"><span
                                style="color: windowtext;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
                        </div>
                        <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"
                            color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span
                              style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
                        <p class="MsoNormal"><st1:place w:st="on"><font
                              size="3" color="black" face="Times New
                              Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Harrison</span></font></st1:place>,<br>
                          <br>
                          Having been on (and worked with) many boards,
                          I couldn't agree with you more.
                          However, many organizations are required to
                          have boards in order to legally
                          administer money and to receive grants and to
                          be able to issue tax receipts.
                          Money, is unfortunately required for most
                          activities. And then there is the
                          issue of limited liability, i.e. if something
                          goes wrong, no individual will be
                          held liable.<br>
                          <br>
                          Then there is also the issue that any entity
                          doing "good" works (for
                          the betterment of the community/world etc.) is
                          expected to be incorporated with
                          a board of directors in order to get support
                          from others.<br>
                          <br>
                          So while many organization are legally
                          required to have boards, I also think
                          many make the mistake of thinking that all the
                          work has to happen at the board
                          level. It might be far more effective to limit
                          the board's role to only take
                          care of the fiduciary duties (approve budgets
                          etc.) and let other people take
                          care of the rest. I have suggested this with
                          some boards I've been on only to
                          experience huge resistance.<br>
                          <br>
                          My 2 cents.<br>
                          <br>
                          Bui<br>
                          <br>
                          On 11/10/2010 5:45 PM, Harrison Owen wrote: <o:p></o:p></p>
                        <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(31,
                            73, 125);"><font size="2" color="black"
                              face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:
                                11pt; font-family: Calibri;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
 <u1:shapedefaults u2:ext="edit" spidmax="1026"/>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
 <u3:shapelayout u4:ext="edit">
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 </u3:shapelayout>
</xml><![endif]-->Lisa – I love your thoughts Long or short. And
                                doubtless those thoughts will be very
                                contributory to all those concerned with
                                Boards. But if there were no Boards…if
                                we could get beyond Boards…
                                What then? Ah yes, I know. Pollyannaish,
                                Impractical, Dreamer. Guilty as
                                charged. But I am not sure it is all
                                that impractical. Considering the
                                massive
                                investment of time, energy and money in
                                the business of boards, their
                                elimination
                                could yield some very positive and
                                practical results – massive amounts of
                                time, energy, and money available for
                                other good causes. And could you really
                                go Boardless? Well that is exactly what
                                we have done for the past 25 years. And
                                I would suggest that our efforts
                                (collectively) have been very practical,
                                pragmatic and contributory. We also have
                                a lot of fun – which is a strict
                                No/No on every board I have ever heard
                                of. Having fun on a Board produces a
                                level of cognitive dissonance I can’t
                                quite deal with. <u5:p></u5:p></span></font></span><o:p></o:p></p>
                        <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(31,
                            73, 125);"><u5:p><font size="2"
                                color="black" face="Calibri"><span
                                  style="font-size: 11pt; font-family:
                                  Calibri;"> </span></font></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></p>
                        <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(31,
                            73, 125);"><font size="2" color="black"
                              face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:
                                11pt; font-family: Calibri;">Do
                                I really think there would be a massive
                                surge to Boardlessness? Hardly –
                                given the current level of investment
                                (psychological, professional and
                                monetarily) in Boards. However as long
                                as there are no useful alternatives
                                there can be no surge at all. Taking a
                                different tack – some folks have
                                suggested becoming an Open Space
                                Organization. I have a little difficulty
                                with
                                the concept if only because I think we
                                already are open space organizations. We
                                just don’t know it and/or are doing it
                                badly. But that is a different
                                issue to be left aside for the moment.
                                Point is – if we had an Open Space
                                Organization, what would the Board look
                                like? I don’t think it would look
                                like anything. It wouldn’t exist. Can
                                you imagine having a Board for the
                                ongoing Open Space Enterprise? <u5:p></u5:p></span></font></span><o:p></o:p></p>
                        <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(31,
                            73, 125);"><u5:p><font size="2"
                                color="black" face="Calibri"><span
                                  style="font-size: 11pt; font-family:
                                  Calibri;"> </span></font></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></p>
                        <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(31,
                            73, 125);"><st1:place w:st="on"><font
                                size="2" color="black" face="Calibri"><span
                                  style="font-size: 11pt; font-family:
                                  Calibri;">Harrison</span></font></st1:place><font
                              size="2" face="Calibri"><span
                                style="font-size: 11pt; font-family:
                                Calibri;">
                                    <u5:p></u5:p></span></font></span><o:p></o:p></p>
                        <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(31,
                            73, 125);"><u5:p><font size="2"
                                color="black" face="Calibri"><span
                                  style="font-size: 11pt; font-family:
                                  Calibri;"> </span></font></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></p>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"
                              color="#1f497d" face="Calibri"><span
                                style="font-size: 11pt; font-family:
                                Calibri; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">Harrison
                                Owen<u5:p></u5:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address
                                w:st="on"><font size="2" color="#1f497d"
                                  face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:
                                    11pt; font-family: Calibri; color:
                                    rgb(31, 73, 125);">7808 River Falls
                                    Dr</span></font></st1:address></st1:street><font
                              size="2" color="#1f497d" face="Calibri"><span
                                style="font-size: 11pt; font-family:
                                Calibri; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">.<u5:p></u5:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city
                                w:st="on"><font size="2" color="#1f497d"
                                  face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:
                                    11pt; font-family: Calibri; color:
                                    rgb(31, 73, 125);">Potomac</span></font></st1:city><font
                                size="2" color="#1f497d" face="Calibri"><span
                                  style="font-size: 11pt; font-family:
                                  Calibri; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">, <st1:state
                                    w:st="on">MD</st1:state> <st1:postalcode
                                    w:st="on">20854<u5:p></u5:p></st1:postalcode></span></font></st1:place><o:p></o:p></p>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><st1:country-region
                              w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><font
                                  size="2" color="#1f497d"
                                  face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:
                                    11pt; font-family: Calibri; color:
                                    rgb(31, 73, 125);">USA<u5:p></u5:p></span></font></st1:place></st1:country-region><o:p></o:p></p>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"
                              color="#1f497d" face="Calibri"><span
                                style="font-size: 11pt; font-family:
                                Calibri; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">Phone
                                301-365-2093<u5:p></u5:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"
                              color="#1f497d" face="Calibri"><span
                                style="font-size: 11pt; font-family:
                                Calibri; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"><a
                                  href="http://www.openspaceworld.com"
                                  moz-do-not-send="true">www.openspaceworld.com</a><u5:p></u5:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"
                              color="#1f497d" face="Calibri"><span
                                style="font-size: 11pt; font-family:
                                Calibri; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"><a
                                  href="http://www.ho-image.com"
                                  moz-do-not-send="true">www.ho-image.com</a>
                                (Personal Website)<u5:p></u5:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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                              color="#1f497d" face="Consolas"><span
                                style="font-size: 10.5pt; font-family:
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                                subscribe,
                                unsubscribe, change your options, view
                                the archives of </span></font><a
                              href="mailto:oslist@listserv.boisestate.edu"
                              moz-do-not-send="true"><font size="2"
                                face="Consolas"><span style="font-size:
                                  10.5pt; font-family: Consolas;">oslist@listserv.boisestate.edu</span></font></a><font
                              size="2" color="#1f497d" face="Consolas"><span
                                style="font-size: 10.5pt; font-family:
                                Consolas; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">:<u5:p></u5:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"
                              color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span
                                style="font-size: 12pt;"><a
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                              style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"><u5:p></u5:p></span></p>
                        </div>
                        <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(31,
                            73, 125);"><u5:p><font size="2"
                                color="black" face="Calibri"><span
                                  style="font-size: 11pt; font-family:
                                  Calibri;"> </span></font></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></p>
                        <div>
                          <div style="border-right: medium none;
                            border-width: 1pt medium medium;
                            border-style: solid none none; padding: 3pt
                            0in 0in; border-color: -moz-use-text-color;">
                            <p class="MsoNormal"><b><font size="2"
                                  color="black" face="Tahoma"><span
                                    style="font-size: 10pt; font-family:
                                    Tahoma; font-weight: bold;">From:</span></font></b><font
                                size="2" face="Tahoma"><span
                                  style="font-size: 10pt; font-family:
                                  Tahoma;"> <st1:personname w:st="on">OSLIST</st1:personname>
                                  [<a moz-do-not-send="true"
                                    href="mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU">mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU</a>]
                                  <b><span style="font-weight: bold;">On
                                      Behalf Of </span></b>Lisa Heft<br>
                                  <b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sent:</span></b>
                                  Monday, October 11, 2010
                                  3:07 PM<br>
                                  <b><span style="font-weight: bold;">To:</span></b>
                                  <a moz-do-not-send="true"
                                    href="mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU">OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU</a><br>
                                  <b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Subject:</span></b>
                                  Re: Youth Leaders (on
                                  Boards)<u5:p></u5:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
                          </div>
                        </div>
                        <p class="MsoNormal"><u5:p><font size="3"
                              color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span
                                style="font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></font></u5:p></p>
                        <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"
                            color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span
                              style="font-size: 12pt;">Hello dear
                              colleagues -<o:p></o:p></span></font><u5:p></u5:p></p>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><u5:p><font size="3"
                                color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span
                                  style="font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></font></u5:p></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"
                              color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span
                                style="font-size: 12pt;">So here are my
                                2 cents / pesos / rubles to add, from
                                my experience on - and serving as
                                facilitator-consultant to - youth and
                                youth-serving organizational Boards,
                                where young people have been involved at
                                many levels.  I am no expert - this is
                                just what I have experienced and
                                observed.  Just a few things I wish to
                                share to keep in mind when thinking
                                of including young people on a Board of
                                Directors<o:p></o:p></span></font><u5:p></u5:p></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><u5:p><font size="3"
                                color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span
                                  style="font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></font></u5:p></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"
                              color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span
                                style="font-size: 12pt;">The intention,
                                as I understand it, is to *not* simply
                                place young people on Boards (and other
                                committees or volunteer or staff
                                positions) in a way that tokenizes
                                them. <o:p></o:p></span></font><u5:p></u5:p></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><u5:p><font size="3"
                                color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span
                                  style="font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></font></u5:p></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"
                              color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span
                                style="font-size: 12pt;">(For those of
                                you for whom English is not a home
                                language - to tokenize someone means
                                placing them in a symbolic role because
                                of
                                their characteristic - often meant as a
                                negative term because the whole person
                                is not being valued - they are just
                                being used as an image)<o:p></o:p></span></font><u5:p></u5:p></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><u5:p><font size="3"
                                color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span
                                  style="font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></font></u5:p></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"
                              color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span
                                style="font-size: 12pt;">And to me, it
                                is important for the strength of an
                                organization to always seek Board
                                members who have the <u>skills</u> the
                                Board
                                needs - rather than just great people or
                                public figures or charismatic people.<o:p></o:p></span></font><u5:p></u5:p></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><u5:p><font size="3"
                                color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span
                                  style="font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></font></u5:p></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"
                              color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span
                                style="font-size: 12pt;">To me,
                                diversity is crucial - differences in
                                culture
                                and experience enrich the inquiry, the
                                product, the organization, the group
                                thinking...<o:p></o:p></span></font><u5:p></u5:p></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"
                              color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span
                                style="font-size: 12pt;">But to me it
                                would be tokenizing - and often I see it
                                is unfair to the individual - to seek
                                and place a young person on a Board (or
                                a
                                panel or a committee) if they are simply
                                young (or female, or a former client
                                or whatever) - if they do not also have
                                the skills or resources (financial,
                                participatory, knowledge) to strengthen
                                the Board.<o:p></o:p></span></font><u5:p></u5:p></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><u5:p><font size="3"
                                color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span
                                  style="font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></font></u5:p></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"
                              color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span
                                style="font-size: 12pt;">There are
                                amazing young people who are also
                                incredible
                                at things that Boards need, if you wish
                                that.<o:p></o:p></span></font><u5:p></u5:p></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><u5:p><font size="3"
                                color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span
                                  style="font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></font></u5:p></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"
                              color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span
                                style="font-size: 12pt;">And I have seen
                                young people (and other community
                                members) on Boards placed there and then
                                not listened to, or given training in
                                vocabulary, policy or other concepts
                                crucial to their roles, or listened to
                                with less emphasis than the business
                                people or the adult people. And that is
                                not diversity. It is not inclusion.  And
                                it wears on the individual and
                                they wonder why the heck they were
                                chosen, if not for their full selves.<o:p></o:p></span></font><u5:p></u5:p></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><u5:p><font size="3"
                                color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span
                                  style="font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></font></u5:p></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"
                              color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span
                                style="font-size: 12pt;">Remember also
                                that most Boards have a fiduciary
                                (fiscal) responsibility - if something
                                goes wrong with the organization
                                financially, Board members' own personal
                                finances can be at risk.<o:p></o:p></span></font><u5:p></u5:p></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"
                              color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span
                                style="font-size: 12pt;">Some Boards
                                have Board insurance, some do not.<o:p></o:p></span></font><u5:p></u5:p></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><u5:p><font size="3"
                                color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span
                                  style="font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></font></u5:p></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"
                              color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span
                                style="font-size: 12pt;">Also many
                                Boards have a requirement that Board
                                Members
                                donate or raise a certain amount for
                                fund-raising. Or buy lunch at the place
                                the Board meets. <o:p></o:p></span></font><u5:p></u5:p></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"
                              color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span
                                style="font-size: 12pt;">Does the young
                                person (or other community member) in
                                mind have the financial ability to do
                                these things?<o:p></o:p></span></font><u5:p></u5:p></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><u5:p><font size="3"
                                color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span
                                  style="font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></font></u5:p></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"
                              color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span
                                style="font-size: 12pt;">I have seen it
                                play out as a class issue - a cultural
                                assumption on the part of very
                                well-meaning, very nice fellow Board
                                members.
                                 Someone's financial level, or how much
                                they understand a Board's existing
                                vocabulary, or assumptions about
                                understanding of budgeting concepts -
                                have in
                                my observation often put the young
                                person (or other community member) at
                                the
                                disadvantage for engaging equally in the
                                conversations, decisions and other
                                work of the Board.<o:p></o:p></span></font><u5:p></u5:p></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><u5:p><font size="3"
                                color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span
                                  style="font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></font></u5:p></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"
                              color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span
                                style="font-size: 12pt;">Consider also
                                the value of Advisory Boards -
                                consisting totally of an organization's
                                client or community members. A very
                                valuable thing. So if the client or
                                youth voice is important in the work of
                                the
                                organization (and I hope it is) there
                                are many different possibilities for
                                inclusion.<o:p></o:p></span></font><u5:p></u5:p></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><u5:p><font size="3"
                                color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span
                                  style="font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></font></u5:p></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"
                              color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span
                                style="font-size: 12pt;">And consider
                                also that when we say 'young person' we
                                may be in our heads thinking of
                                different ages - 12? 19? 26? 30? - so
                                the
                                inclusion of 'young people' on Boards
                                may be very different depending on our
                                definition for that organization's
                                specific purposes and interests.<o:p></o:p></span></font><u5:p></u5:p></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><u5:p><font size="3"
                                color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span
                                  style="font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></font></u5:p></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <div>
                            <div>
                              <p class="MsoNormal"><span
                                  class="apple-style-span"><font
                                    size="4" color="black"
                                    face="Trebuchet MS"><span
                                      style="font-size: 13.5pt;
                                      font-family: "Trebuchet
                                      MS";">So
                                      all I am saying is - if you feel
                                      you can truly support the young
                                      people you
                                      wish to have join your Board (so
                                      they can be equal, not a 'mascot'
                                      to the
                                      Board, not exhausted by trying to
                                      keep up with the others who speak
                                      and afford
                                      things at a totally different
                                      level), and if you can truly truly
                                      select a young
                                      person who has knowledge, skills
                                      and abilities that your Board
                                      needs, if you
                                      can always be learning about what
                                      that diverse individual may need
                                      in order to
                                      truly be an equal player, then -
                                      if it fits their personality and
                                      their own
                                      learning / professional / growth
                                      goals - being on a Board may
                                      enrich both the
                                      young person and the work of the
                                      organization. Sure, Board meetings
                                      can be
                                      exceedingly boring for most folks.
                                      But for some folks it is like
                                      participating
                                      in student government - they love
                                      it.</span></font></span><o:p></o:p></p>
                            </div>
                          </div>
                        </div>
                        <u5:p></u5:p>
                        <div>
                          <div>
                            <div>
                              <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="1"
                                  color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span
                                    style="font-size: 7.5pt;"><u5:p> </u5:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
                            </div>
                          </div>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <div>
                            <div>
                              <p class="MsoNormal"><span
                                  class="apple-style-span"><font
                                    size="4" color="black"
                                    face="Trebuchet MS"><span
                                      style="font-size: 13.5pt;
                                      font-family: "Trebuchet
                                      MS";">I
                                      have seen Boards who thoughtfully
                                      include the unique and skilled
                                      individual
                                      young person - and provide them
                                      with ongoing support to equalize
                                      class and
                                      financial differences - benefit
                                      from working with their younger
                                      partners. I
                                      have also seen really
                                      well-intentioned inclusion of
                                      young people waste the time
                                      and good nature of the young
                                      person. </span></font></span><o:p></o:p></p>
                            </div>
                          </div>
                        </div>
                        <u5:p></u5:p>
                        <div>
                          <div>
                            <div>
                              <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="1"
                                  color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span
                                    style="font-size: 7.5pt;"><u5:p> </u5:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
                            </div>
                          </div>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><span
                              class="apple-style-span"><font size="4"
                                color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span
                                  style="font-size: 13.5pt;">That's more
                                  than 2 cents
                                  ... thanks for your patience in
                                  reading my longish thoughts...</span></font></span><u5:p></u5:p><o:p></o:p></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><u5:p><font size="3"
                                color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span
                                  style="font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></font></u5:p></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><span
                              class="apple-style-span"><font size="4"
                                color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span
                                  style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Lisa</span></font></span><u5:p></u5:p><o:p></o:p></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><u5:p><font size="3"
                                color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span
                                  style="font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></font></u5:p></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <div>
                            <div>
                              <p class="MsoNormal"><span
                                  class="apple-style-span"><b><font
                                      size="2" color="blue"
                                      face="Trebuchet MS"><span
                                        style="font-size: 10.5pt;
                                        font-family: "Trebuchet
                                        MS"; color: blue;
                                        font-weight: bold;">Lisa Heft</span></font></b></span><o:p></o:p></p>
                            </div>
                          </div>
                        </div>
                        <u5:p></u5:p>
                        <div>
                          <div>
                            <div>
                              <div>
                                <div>
                                  <div>
                                    <div>
                                      <div>
                                        <div>
                                          <div>
                                            <div>
                                              <div>
                                                <div>
                                                  <div>
                                                    <div>
                                                      <div>
                                                        <div>
                                                          <div>
                                                          <div>
                                                          <div>
                                                          <div>
                                                          <div>
                                                          <div>
                                                          <div>
                                                          <div>
                                                          <div>
                                                          <div>
                                                          <div>
                                                          <div>
                                                          <div>
                                                          <div>
                                                          <div>
                                                          <div>
                                                          <div>
                                                          <div>
                                                          <div>
                                                          <p
                                                          class="MsoNormal"><span
                                                          style=""><font
                                                          size="1"
                                                          color="black"
                                                          face="Times
                                                          New Roman"><span
                                                          style="font-size:
                                                          8.5pt;">Consultant,
                                                          Facilitator,
                                                          Educator<u5:p></u5:p></span></font></span><o:p></o:p></p>
                                                          </div>
                                                          <div>
                                                          <p
                                                          class="MsoNormal"><span
class="apple-style-span"><b><span style=""><font size="1" color="black"
                                                          face="Times
                                                          New Roman"><span
                                                          style="font-size:
                                                          9pt;
                                                          font-weight:
                                                          bold;">Opening
                                                          Space</span></font></span></b></span><span
                                                          style=""><u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></p>
                                                          </div>
                                                          <div>
                                                          <p
                                                          class="MsoNormal"><span
                                                          style=""><font
                                                          size="1"
                                                          color="black"
                                                          face="Times
                                                          New Roman"><span
                                                          style="font-size:
                                                          8.5pt;"><a
                                                          href="mailto:lisaheft@openingspace.net"
moz-do-not-send="true">lisaheft@openingspace.net</a><u5:p></u5:p></span></font></span><o:p></o:p></p>
                                                          </div>
                                                          <div>
                                                          <p
                                                          class="MsoNormal"><span
                                                          style=""><u5:p><font
                                                          size="1"
                                                          color="black"
                                                          face="Times
                                                          New Roman"><span
                                                          style="font-size:
                                                          8.5pt;"> </span></font></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></p>
                                                          </div>
                                                          <div>
                                                          <div>
                                                          <p
                                                          class="MsoNormal"><i><span
                                                          style=""><font
                                                          size="1"
                                                          color="black"
                                                          face="Times
                                                          New Roman"><span
                                                          style="font-size:
                                                          7.5pt;
                                                          font-style:
                                                          italic;">Ask
                                                          me about the </span><span
class="apple-style-span"><span style="">Open
                                                          Space Learning
                                                          Workshops </span><span
                                                          style="">-
                                                          December
                                                          15-17, 2010 -
                                                          San Francisco
                                                          and in 2011 --
                                                          and the</span><span
                                                          style=""> Power
of
                                                          Pre-Work</span><span
                                                          style=""> in
                                                          2011</span></span></font></span></i><span
                                                          style=""><u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></p>
                                                          </div>
                                                          <div>
                                                          <p
                                                          class="MsoNormal"><span
                                                          style=""><u5:p><font
                                                          size="1"
                                                          color="black"
                                                          face="Times
                                                          New Roman"><span
                                                          style="font-size:
                                                          7.5pt;"> </span></font></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></p>
                                                          </div>
                                                          <div>
                                                          <div>
                                                          <div>
                                                          <div>
                                                          <p
                                                          class="MsoNormal"><span
class="apple-style-span"><i><span style=""><font size="1" color="black"
                                                          face="Times
                                                          New Roman"><span
                                                          style="font-size:
                                                          7.5pt;
                                                          font-style:
                                                          italic;"> </span></font></span></i></span><span
                                                          style=""><u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></p>
                                                          </div>
                                                          </div>
                                                          </div>
                                                          </div>
                                                          </div>
                                                          </div>
                                                          </div>
                                                          </div>
                                                          </div>
                                                          </div>
                                                          </div>
                                                          </div>
                                                          </div>
                                                          </div>
                                                          </div>
                                                          </div>
                                                          </div>
                                                          </div>
                                                          </div>
                                                          </div>
                                                          </div>
                                                          </div>
                                                          </div>
                                                        </div>
                                                      </div>
                                                    </div>
                                                  </div>
                                                </div>
                                              </div>
                                            </div>
                                          </div>
                                        </div>
                                      </div>
                                    </div>
                                  </div>
                                </div>
                              </div>
                            </div>
                          </div>
                          <div>
                            <div>
                              <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"
                                  color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span
                                    style="font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></font><u5:p></u5:p></p>
                            </div>
                          </div>
                        </div>
                        <p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"
                            color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span
                              style="font-size: 12pt;">* *
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                    </o:smarttagtype></o:smarttagtype></o:smarttagtype></o:smarttagtype></o:smarttagtype></o:smarttagtype></o:smarttagtype></o:smarttagtype></blockquote>
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