<div dir="ltr">Hi All<br><p class="" style="background-repeat:initial initial"></p>
<p class="" style="background-repeat:initial initial">Here are some
reflections and follow-ups on my experiencing associated with my recent going along to <a href="http://wosonos2013.crowdvine.com/">WOSonOS2013</a> in St Petersburg. Which may trigger you to appreciate that there is more to it
when considering whether to head off to Belgrade next year. <smile><br></p><p class="" style="background-repeat:initial initial"></p>
<p class="" style="background-repeat:initial initial">Firstly, I would add
to what others have reported, that this WOS was a most happy event, lovingly and thoughtfully
convened by Suzanne and her merry gang. There was wonder-full connecting
between all present, including quite a few who had been at previous such
gatherings, one from the very first! (This was my fifth, starting in Monterey, CA, in 1998). Also in attendance was a group of ‘millennials’ (mainly graduate
students at the local University of South Florida) who participated in Lisa’s pre-conference
preparation and then in the main event. Which made for lively cross
generational exchanges and a lot of fun. </p>
<p class="" style="background-repeat:initial initial"><b>. The visit</b><br></p>
<p class="" style="background-repeat:initial initial">Immediately after WOS
I participated in a lovely 'confab of conversationalists.' This took
place at the home of my old friends Juanita Brown
and David Isaacs, ‘co-noticers’ of the process now also used widely around
our little planet, 3<sup>rd</sup> from the sun, <a href="http://www.theworldcafe.com/history.html">The World Cafe</a>. They have
recently relocated to ‘Millie’s Mountain’, a beautiful 90 acre farm carved out
by Juanita’s late parents, Millie and Harold, deep in the Blue Ridge Mountains
near to Asheville, NC. My visit was the catalyst for their first ever gathering
of Café and Space niks in the area. <br></p><p class="" style="background-repeat:initial initial"></p>
<p class="" style="background-repeat:initial initial"><b>. The query</b><br></p>
<p class="" style="background-repeat:initial initial"><i>En route</i> from Australia to the USA I stopped
in New Zealand where I happened to talk with a person who is responsible for a review of services of a major hospital. When he heard
of how OST could be of value for this purpose he expressed interest.<br></p><p class="" style="background-repeat:initial initial"></p>
<p class="" style="background-repeat:initial initial">Are there any
Spaceniks based in the Auckland area who would wish to pursue this? If so
contact me for details.<br></p><p class="" style="background-repeat:initial initial"></p>
<p class="" style="background-repeat:initial initial"><b>. The encounter</b><br></p>
<p class="" style="background-repeat:initial initial">When moving on from
Asheville to go to New York I was ‘stuck’ <i>en route</i> in Charlotte, NC, for about 24 hours as
flights north were cancelled due to heavy ahead. And so I checked in to an
hotel near to the airport and posted a note on our list to ask if anyone local was available for a meet-up with me Stammtisch style.<br></p><p class="" style="background-repeat:initial initial"></p>
<p class="" style="background-repeat:initial initial">Not receiving a response I took a bus
down town the next morning. There I had a delightful encounter with an
elderly African American couple who happened to pick up the iPhone I had
dropped. Hearing how I came to be in their city for one day they said
“We would like to take you under our wing.” Which they did, very graciously. During which we drove through fascinating parts, went to
their home for a cup of tea and they dropped me back at the airport. A
most generous and thoughtful gesture on the part of hitherto total strangers. <br></p><p class=""></p>
<p class="" style="background-repeat:initial initial">Whatever happens
...in this instance very enjoyably. <smile></p><p class="" style="background-repeat:initial initial"></p>
<p class="" style="background-repeat:initial initial"> <b>. The thought</b></p>
<p class="" style="background-repeat:initial initial">This was recently
passed on to me in relation to work I am doing currently from a person who has been an OST practitioner from its early beginnings and who is likely known to many of you, at least from her periodic 'heart and mindful' postings on this list.</p>
<p class="" style="background-repeat:initial initial"></p>
<p class="" style="background-repeat:initial initial">"We carry
community inside us. It's present whenever we gift any encounter with our
full heartful, mindful appreciative attention."<br><i>Anne Stadler</i><br></p><p class="" style="background-repeat:initial initial"><i><br></i>Do the right thing, take risks, change your mind, have fun ...<br></p>
<p class="" style="background-repeat:initial initial">Looking forward <br></p><p class="" style="background-repeat:initial initial">Alan </p>
<p class="" style="background-repeat:initial initial"> </p>
<p class=""><b><span style="font-size:7.5pt">Alan Stewart, PhD<br>
Social artist with conversations that matter and participatory fun</span></b><span style="font-size:7.5pt"><br>
<b>Based in Adelaide and operating throughout Austral-Asia<br>
tel: </b></span><a href="tel:%2B618%2082127168" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size:7.5pt">+618 82127168</span></b></a><b><span style="font-size:7.5pt"><br>
mob: </span></b><a href="tel:%2B61%280%29413848680" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size:7.5pt">+61(0)413848680</span></b></a><b><span style="font-size:7.5pt"><br>
em: </span></b><a href="mailto:alan@multimindsolutions.com" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size:7.5pt">alan@multimindsolutions.com</span></b></a><b><span style="font-size:7.5pt"><br>
web: </span></b><a href="http://www.multimindsolutions.com/"><b><span style="font-size:7.5pt">http://www.multimindsolutions.com</span></b></a> <span style="font-size:8pt">(under reconstruction)</span><b><span style="font-size:8pt"><br>
</span></b><b><span style="font-size:7.5pt">blog: </span></b><a href="http://conversare.net/" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size:7.5pt">http://conversare.net</span></b></a><b><span style="font-size:7.5pt"><br>
Stand-up: </span></b><a href="http://www.takeoutcomedy.com/site/comedians/alan-stewart/" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size:7.5pt;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none">http://www.takeoutcomedy.com/site/comedians/alan-stewart/</span></b></a></p>
<p class=""><b><span style="font-size:8pt">New e–book <a href="http://www.multimindsolutions.com/?page_id=243">Time to converse – the heart
of human warmth</a></span></b></p>
<p class="" style="background-repeat:initial initial"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class=""> </p></div>