<div dir="ltr">Dear friends and colleagues who work with Open Space Technology,<div>Ever so long ago (1997) and not so far away (Ontario, Canada) a few of us came up with a new society that we named The Dead Moose Society. I came across the invitation again just now doing some research....and want to share the invitation with you...just in case it has interest to your heart and sense of humor, and just in case you haven't yet come across this opportunity.</div><div><br></div><div>in genuine contact,</div><div>Birgitt Williams</div><div><br></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif">Dead Moose Society</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif">You are invited to join The Dead Moose Society</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif"> Beware all of you in the world
of Open Space. Another entity has formed
and we are extending an invitation to all of you to participate. At an Opening
the Space event in February 1997 in Ontario, Canada, we discussed the
importance of living our <b>truth</b>, with good heads, good hearts, and
extending care and compassion out into the world. We then talked about the hazards associated
with living this way. What happens when
collusion (co-illusion) is named? What
happens when a truth that everyone knows about but no one ever talks about
(except for parking lot gossip) is named?
What happens when Space is Opened and truth surfaces?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif"> At first glance, the answer
would seem that the air gets cleared and life goes on better that before. Our collective experience has told us that
this is not so. It is more common that
the truth teller comes to harm, is targeted for harm somehow. Or Open Space itself is called into question,
with people being so angry about the <b>truth</b> having come out, that they
end up being angry at the Open Space process that they say “it didn’t work,
look at what resulted.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif"> So . . . we identified that all
of this was like having a dead moose under the table. Everyone knows it’s there, it smells, maybe
has gathered flies, is sickening, but no one wants to say the obvious. And we decided that Open Space is to be
honored for putting “<b>the dead moose on the table</b>” so that it can be
identified and appropriately dealt with.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif"> And thus we formed the Dead
Moose Society as an adjunct to the Open Space Institutes and all good Open
Space work everywhere. The purpose of
the Dead Moose Society is to get the Dead Moose on the table wherever we can,
and to support each other in efforts to do so.
The principles that will govern our Society are:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif"> Harrison Owen’s four principles
for Open Space:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif"> 1. Whoever comes is the right people</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif"> 2. Whenever it starts is the right time</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif"> 3. Whatever happens is the only thing that
could have</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif"> 4. When it’s over, it’s over</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif"> As well as Angeles Arrien’s four
laws of Spirit:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif"> 1. Show up and be present</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif"> 2. Tell the truth</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif"> 3. Follow what has heart and meaning</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif"> 4. Let it go</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif">The Invitation</span></b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif"> Please form your own Dead Moose
Society when needed (NOW isn’t such a bad time) with whomever you can interest
in this very important work. They must
be people who are willing to take risks, have courage, have vision, and enjoy
community. And be committed to living by
the principles as above that encourage us to be about our own truth also.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif">Location</span></b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif"> The first meeting of this first
group took place in a pub in Unionville, Ontario on April 16<sup>th</sup>,
1997. That sets a possible tone for
where other Society meetings should be located - a good pub.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif">Fees</span></b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif"> We would like to say there are
none, but for those of you who try to live your truth, and who have tried to
name truth in an organization, you know the price can be very high - nothing
less than your soul sometimes.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif">Agenda</span></b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif"> Whatever happens, playfulness is
certainly essential. We all need to come
forward with the abundance mentality of giving and sharing. For us, some of the agenda items of our first
meeting included:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Wingdings">v<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman""> </span></span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif">Where did the dead moose come from anyway?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Wingdings">v<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman""> </span></span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif">The loudest burp</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Wingdings">v<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman""> </span></span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif">When moose(s) extend their mating call, do we try to mate
with them? </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Wingdings">v<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman""> </span></span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif">What is the plural of moose?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Wingdings">v<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman""> </span></span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif">How do you spell carcass?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif"> We brought fun items along - a moose
caller, a moose puppet, a moose statue - the list goes on and on. We formally signed a register and pretended
like “Robert’s Rules of Order.” To sign
the register, we each took on a moose name.
So much hilarity happened that poor Robert’s Rules fell to the wayside,
and we actually got a lot done.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif"> As you might guess, with the
help of humor, the real Dead Moose stories came out - very painful, very
serious. We support one another to carry
on with bringing truth into the workplace.
And because we are able to laugh, amidst the tears, we are able to hold
on to the space that Open Space and truth need, to bring healing into the
organization.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif">Stay in touch</span></b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif"> If you have a Dead Moose story
to share or if you start your own “chapter” of the Dead Moose Society, please
let us know. Just for the record.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif"> Contact
Birgitt Williams at <a href="mailto:birgitt@dalarinternational.com">birgitt@dalarinternational.com</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Garamond ITC T",sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div></div>-- <br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt">Birgitt Williams<span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt">Closing the Gap Between Potential and Results</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt">Services </span><span style="font-size:13.3333px"><a href="http://www.dalarinternational.com/services/">http://www.dalarinternational.com/services/</a> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt">Leadership & Organizational Development Training, h</span><span style="font-size:13.3333px">ttp://<a href="http://www.dalarinternational.com/services/training/">www.dalarinternational.com/services/training/</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt">Author, President & Senior
Consultant of Dalar International Consultancy, Inc. <span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.3333px">Co-founder: Genuine Contact program</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt">Co-founder of the
Extraordinary Leadership Network </span><a href="http://www.extraordinaryleadershipnetwork.com/"><span style="font-size:10pt">http://www.extraordinaryleadershipnetwork.com</span></a><span style="font-size:10pt"><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt">Co-owner of the Genuine
Contact Co-owners Group Ltd. </span><a href="http://www.genuinecontact.net/"><span style="font-size:10pt">http://www.genuinecontact.net</span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:10pt">Supporting leadership
development for leading in a culture requiring agility and flexibility in a
performance environment of constant change.<span></span></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt">PO Box 19373, Raleigh,
North Carolina, USA 27619</span><br></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt">phone: 1-919-522-7750<span></span></span></p></div></div>