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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-CA link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>I had the space in my life and the timing was right to open space again for a client. I had opened the space for the lead in this organization 17 years ago when he was in another role. This was for a General Council project of United Church of Canada. Harrison will remember this organization. Although I did not know but two of the 40 participants, almost all had participated in open space events in their conferences from across the country. Some had worked with a guy named Chris Corrigan who actually suggested me for the Toronto event. Thanks Chris.<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'>Getting back on the bicycle was easier than I expected. The event, of course, went very well. But I was most impressed with the technological sophistication of even the United Church of Canada as it has developed over the past few years. We did have laptops in the room and WiFi that everyone can access. But, many people had iPads or iPhones and did their simple reports on their devices and sent them in to our marvellous support staff person. She was easily able to send out the first days reports to all participants a bit less than an hour after evening news. The final report including the strategies developed by 11 different Conferences didn't take much longer. Most were ready to go by the end of the closing circle. It wasn't too long ago that completing those reports even with competent IT staff was a bit more onerous.<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'>Although I was pretty tired by the end and did try to take a Harrison nap each day, it was certainly a good experience. Now I don't plan to go back into the market. But, if another opportunity comes along that fits my space and energy I'll do it again.<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'>Larry Peterson<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></body></html>