<div dir="ltr"><div>Dear Friends,<br></div><div><br>It's been such a wow year and I feel such love and gratitude for this community and for Open Space in my life! WOSonOS Florida 2013 was such a gift, a gift that keeps on giving! The stories I hear of what was ignited as a result are so heart-warming. Our WOSonOS Millennial co-host leaders are blasting it out of the park with so many initiatives in education, entrepreneurship, etc. Soon I will strong arm them to share their stories on the OS list. They are just too busy doing it instead of writing about it. <br>
<br></div><div>Lately it feels like I've been on a bit of a sabbatical from our beloved OS list though I have been reading here and there. Yes I ventured into the Social Media world, with Twitter and more. I was overwhelmed at first but then I realized that it's just another example of the beautiful chaos that is life with all the wonderful global connections that can happen. It's also an opportunity to spark interest and curiosity around Open Space. <br>
<br>My passion to bring Open Space to the World of Work has not abated nor has my deep desire to partner with our Technology pals and others who are equally passionate about igniting and transforming the workplace.<br><br>
</div><div>In mid-January I will be going to New York to participate in the Annual Open Space co-hosted by Karen Davis and Harrison Owen at International House. I decided to personally invite a bunch of close friends from the Open Space world and others who have not yet experienced OS. Many are coming including Christine Koehler from Paris and Jasmina Nikolic from Serbia, Kennan Salinero (a Scientist from San Francisco), Derek Wade (from the Scrum World from Chicago), Russell Meyer (Social Activist Pastor from Florida), Ben Roberts (from CT bringing on-line dialogue to the world) , Achim Nowak (author and keynote speaker), Johann Gauthier (from Quebec Canada, creator of <a href="https://plus.google.com/communities/111166240740728636143">HRockstars</a> which some of you might like to join) and others. Chuni Li who I met there three years ago will be hosting some of my friends at her home as will Ben Roberts. Part of the magic of our world in Open Space is when friends of friends become friends. <br>
<br></div><div>So in the spirit of invitation, I would like to add my voice to Karen Davis' , the master organizer of this annual affair, to see if others might like to join. <br><br></div><div>Below is the text of the invitation in case the attachment doesn't work. <br>
<br></div><div>Hugs and Happy New Year to all!<br></div><div>Suzanne<br></div><div><br>
<h3 style="text-align:center"><font><b><span>Opening Space for Peace and High Performance:</span></b></font></h3><div style="text-align:center"><span style="margin-left:68px;margin-top:16px;width:4px;height:3px"></span><b style><span style="font-size:20pt"><font>Living well with Chaos, Confusion and Conflict</font><span style></span></span></b></div>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><b style><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">International House, New York City</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><b style><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">January 18-20, 2014</span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Chaos,
confusion and conflict seem to have the upper hand these days. Whether battered
by the forces of nature, feeling the gridlock in government, trying to survive
in a highly competitive and super-connected world or fearing the constant
threats to peace in so many places, we all can agree that much is happening on
our small planet. We feel the impact of it in our daily lives and many of us
struggle.<span style="color:black"></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><br>
Perhaps it is time to recognize that we, our organizations, as indeed the
entire cosmos – are all self-organizing systems. And rather than viewing these
forces as a threat or something to control, we can begin to see the power of
self-organization and learn to leverage that power.<br>
<br>
By understanding the primal force of self-organization and letting go, we will
be able to freely pursue the fulfillment of our individual and collective
potential with energy and simplicity. We will engage in the natural dance of
order and chaos that leads to peace and high performance.<br>
<br>
Can we be highly productive and peaceful at the same time? Can organizations
produce exhilarating performance in peaceful environments?<br>
<br>
The 28-year natural experiment that is Open Space Technology (OST) has
demonstrated no less than 250,000 times or more, in 146 countries with groups
of 5 to 3000 that it is not only possible but predictable and highly probable.
We can be hugely productive. We can be peacefully present.<br>
<br>
Some people have viewed the results as counterintuitive, unbelievable, and have
even called it magic. The results continue; however, the “magic” is not Open
Space Technology. Rather it is the force that underlies it – the power of self-organization.<br>
<br>
<b style>You are invited</b> to experience and
learn to apply this age old force of High Performance and Peace as we engage,
explore and deepen our understanding around this question: <span style> </span><b style>“Can We
Learn to Ride the Creative/Chaotic Waves of Self-Organization, Using their
Power to Amplify our Power?”</b><br>
<br>
<br>
<b style>THE PROGRAM</b><br>
<br>
The Program will unfold over 3 days. On Day I anyone who cares to learn the
fundamentals of OST facilitation or to become more comfortable with
facilitating is invited. This first day focuses on the essentials for opening
space with any group, including core principles, the planning process, when to
use Open Space, action approaches, and role and behavior of the facilitator.
Practice during Days II-III will increase your proficiency.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Days
II – III: The design for each of the following two days is identical. <span style> </span>In the morning, Harrison Owen, the originator
of OST, will offer reflections on “Creating the conditions for Peace and High
Performance” and on the final day “Opening Space in our Lives, our Organizations
and our World”. The balance of each day will be in dialogue with others in open
space. We will all be teachers. We will all be learners. At the conclusion you
will have a compendium of materials (online) to remind you of your experience
and to support you in your new ventures.<br>
<br>
<b style>If you are specifically interested in
the facilitation of OST</b>, the first day of the program is essential, as well
as reading Harrison Owen’s <i style>Open Space
Technology: A User’s Guide</i> and viewing a video of a telephone company, <i style>OST at US West</i>, (16 minutes): <a href="http://mail2web.com/cgi-bin/redir.asp?lid=0&newsite=http%3A%2F%2Fvimeo%2Ecom%2F25251316%2E" target="_blank">http://vimeo.com/25251316.</a> Other recommendations are
Harrison Owen’s TedX talk: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APD7oQ3xrSA">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APD7oQ3xrSA</a>
and his books <i style>The Practice of Peace</i>
and <i style>The Wave Rider: Leadership for High
Performance</i>.<br>
<br>
<br>
<b style>TUITION</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.5in;text-indent:0.5in"><u><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Corporate</span></u><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><span style> </span><u>Nonprofit/Individual</u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">January
18-20 (3 days) <span style> </span>$750
<span style> </span>$500 <br>
January 19-20 (2 days) <span style> </span><span style> </span><span style> </span>500 <span style> </span><span style> </span><span style> </span>335 <br>
January 20 (1 day) <span style> </span><span style> </span><span style> </span>250 <span style> </span><span style> </span><span style> </span>165 <br>
<br>
Fees include lunches, coffee breaks and materials. <br style>
<br style>
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Note:
Our desire is to include all who wish to participate. If your budget does not
fit the stated fees, please contact Karen at <span class="">1-212-595-9107</span><span class=""> </span>or <a href="http://mail2web.com/cgi-bin/compose.asp?mb=&mp=P&mps=0&lid=0&intListPerPage=100&messageto=kdavis@concentric.net&ed=w2iHmUX7FVnBP%2FqbPc0PBsctm5eigVhl0eDi0m4PAEg0wR9LkewR2N2104IfBR9XZpFGYLu59mvE%0D%0Afdt1bPHItGemTxrVQsWMTF9ljSJC5GHNxabAxUxo6VRWbmIR5o%2FD" target="_blank">kdavis@concentric.net</a>.<br style>
<br style>
</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b style><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">YOUR HOSTS</span></b><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><br>
<br>
<b style>Harrison Owen:</b> <span style> </span>Harrison is
President of H.H.Owen and Co. His academic background and training centered on
the nature and function of myth, ritual and culture. In the middle '60s, he left
academe to work with a variety of organizations including small West African
villages, urban (American and African) community organizations, Peace Corps,
Regional Medical Programs, National Institutes of Health, and Veterans
Administration. Along the way he discovered that his study of myth, ritual and
culture had direct application to these social systems. In 1979 he created
H.H.Owen and Company in order to explore the culture of organizations in
transformation as a theorist and practicing consultant. Harrison
convened the First International Symposium on Organization Transformation, and
is the originator of Open Space Technology. He is the author of <i style>Spirit: Transformation and Development in
Organizations</i>, <i style>Leadership Is, Riding
the Tiger, Open Space Technology: A User’s Guide, The Millennium Organization,
Tales From Open Space, Expanding Our Now: The Story of Open Space Technology,
The Spirit of Leadership: Liberating the Leader in Each of Us, The Power of
Spirit: How Organizations Transform, The Practice of Peace </i>and<i style> Wave Rider: Leadership for High Performance
in a Self-Organizing World</i>.<br>
<br>
<b style>Karen J. Davis:</b> <span style> </span>Karen, a consultant with organizations
globally, is committed to enhancing the health, effectiveness, and joy of human
systems. She is dedicated to building global community through working and
learning with colleagues throughout the world. For a decade Karen was faculty
at Universidad Diego Portales in Santiago de Chile. She is part of the
leadership of the International Organization Development Association and has
served on the board of the Organization Development Network. Karen serves on
the boards of Open Space Institute of USA, a large healthcare organization, as
well as on boards of community and cultural organizations. Karen is a co-author
in <i style>The Sustainable Enterprise Fieldbook</i>.
She has been involved with Open Space since before its naming. When not
traveling or working around the world, she lives in New
York City, returning regularly to her native Arizona. Summers, she is on her farm in
rural Quebec, Canada. Karen describes herself as
a gardener and a world citizen.<br>
<br style>
<br style>
</span></p>
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