LOL...Laughing out loud at this Newsroom Open Space rebuttal as I watch Golden Girls (re-run of a popular TV comedy show) with my mom at my parent's assisted living facility populated with many such spunky folks. <br>
<br>Catherine I think they will love every magical moment of Open Space exactly as it is, simple with no special space for story telling or any hand holding. At a certain age, we don't have to impress or prove anything and with a lifetime of experiences and insights, I'll bet time will just fly by with no yawn in sight.<br>
<br>I'll always remember the first Open Space that I facilitated at a major conference. An older gentleman posted a topic titled Sexuality and Consciousness. I'll admit that I was curious and as I held the space, I nudged a bit closer to listen to bits and pieces of the conversation between two older guys and a younger gent. As I eavesdropped, I was so touched hearing them share how sad it is that in our Western society, men can't hug casually with each other or with acquaintances, walk arm in arm or experience the type of physical closeness that women take for granted. I'll never forget what I heard those few brief moments. Significant, meaningful and important. <br>
<br>So all I can say is <i>Enjoy </i>and <i>Be prepared to be Surprised!<br><br>Suzanne living in the retiree capital of sunny Florida.<br></i>
<br><br><br><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Nov 22, 2010 at 9:48 AM, Harrison Owen <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:hhowen@verizon.net" target="_blank">hhowen@verizon.net</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding-left: 1ex;">
<div link="blue" vlink="purple" lang="EN-US"><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">Catherine – couldn’t resist this story. In the late 90’s the advisory council of the AARP (American Association of Retired People – average age, late 70’s) wanted to consider their future. Two day Open Space – standard model with people writing their own reports on Computers – which most of the participants had never used before and some had never seen. I was a little worried, but shouldn’t have been. At the end of the first day I came upon a lady, well into her 80’s, working on her report. It happened that she had identified THE issue, and she arrived at the computer with tons of news print. There she sat squinting at the news print and entering her report with one finger. Normally I wouldn’t suggest it, but I did feel that I should at least offer to help. Which I did. The lady listened to my offer and then turned on me in an abrupt manner. She said, “No young man. I will write my own report.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">No worries.</span></p><div><div></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">Harrison <i></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"> </span></p>
<div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">Harrison Owen</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">7808 River Falls Dr.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">Potomac, MD 20854</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">USA</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">Phone 301-365-2093</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"><a href="http://www.openspaceworld.com" target="_blank">www.openspaceworld.com</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"><a href="http://www.ho-image.com" target="_blank">www.ho-image.com</a> (Personal Website)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: Consolas; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of <a href="mailto:oslist@listserv.boisestate.edu" target="_blank">oslist@listserv.boisestate.edu</a>:</span></p>
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</div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"> </span></p><div><div style="border-width: 1pt medium medium; border-style: solid none none; border-color: rgb(181, 196, 223) -moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color; padding: 3pt 0in 0in;">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">From:</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> OSLIST [mailto:<a href="mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU" target="_blank">OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Catherine Pfaehler<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Sunday, November 21, 2010 4:12 PM<br><b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU" target="_blank">OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU</a><br><b>Subject:</b> Open Space with seniors</span></p></div></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" lang="DE">Dear friends</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" lang="DE"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" lang="EN-GB">I have been asked by the Grey Panthers (a political organisation of seniors) to briefly present OST to them on Tuesday, Nov. 30<sup>th</sup>. Most of them are 55 years old or older. They want to have a one-day-event dealing with their future and their image. At the same time, my contact tells me that many of them like to tell stories from their earlier lives when they were still working, and most of them think that a whole day is too long for them. Some have also become a bit fatalist, not caring too much about the future anymore.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" lang="EN-GB"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" lang="EN-GB">Please let me know what your experiences are when facilitating OST for seniors, and how to deal with the above contradictions, i.e. how to give enough time for storytelling when at the same time one entire day might be too long for them to attend. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" lang="EN-GB"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" lang="EN-GB">I will be out of my office for a week now, but would be delighted to find some of your answers in OSLIST by then. Thank you already!!!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" lang="EN-GB"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: 10pt;" lang="DE">With gratitude, Catherine</span><span lang="DE"></span></p><p><span lang="DE"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";" lang="DE">Catherine Pfaehler</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";" lang="DE">lic.oec.HSG</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";" lang="DE">Open Space Begleitung</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";" lang="DE">Burckhardtstrasse 2</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";" lang="DE">CH - 3008 Bern</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";" lang="DE">Telefon +41-(0)31 - 536 05 31</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";" lang="DE">Mobile +41-(0)76 - 488 15 46</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";" lang="DE"><a href="mailto:c.pfaehler@open-space-begleitung.ch" target="_blank">c.pfaehler@open-space-begleitung.ch</a></span><span lang="DE"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(0, 0, 160);" lang="DE"><a href="http://www.open-space-begleitung.ch/" target="_blank">www.open-space-begleitung.ch</a></span><span lang="DE"></span></p>
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University Park, FL 34201<br>FL 941-359-8877; <br>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>
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