<div dir="ltr">Here is one of my favorite Dead Moose stories from my archives. Twenty years later, I still know Monica and she is still opening space where and when she can...as is her friend. This story also is one of the early examples that touched me deeply of an OST meeting working...and having less than desirable outcomes over time...in one way. You decide.<div><br></div><div>Birgitt</div><div><p class="inbox-inbox-MsoTitle">A Dead Moose At School</p>
<p class="inbox-inbox-MsoBodyText"> </p>
<p class="inbox-inbox-MsoBodyText">You’ve heard of the lamb that followed Mary to school one
day? Well, this is the story of a moose that stumbled in on the birth of a new
school and caused anything but laughter and playfulness.</p>
<p class="inbox-inbox-MsoBodyText"> </p>
<p class="inbox-inbox-MsoBodyText">A couple of years ago a friend and I were planning to open
an alternative, charitable high school for kids who were academically gifted
but economically challenged. We wanted a school where creativity, physical
health, and community service were valued as highly as academic achievement. </p>
<p class="inbox-inbox-MsoBodyText"> </p>
<p class="inbox-inbox-MsoBodyText">As part of our research and planning, my friend and I
attended a conference of The Learning Partnership, an organization that
promotes the collaboration of business and education. A portion of the
conference was held in Open Space. I sat in a huge circle and waited for
something to happen. I was fascinated by what followed. Birgitt Bolton began
walking the circle and explaining the principles and law of Open Space
Technology and inviting us to examine our passions around the theme and to post
them as items for discussion. Her
evocation of both passion and responsibility struck a cord with me. The focus
of our school was leadership and the motto was “A culture of achievement in a
framework of compassion”. We, too,
wanted our students to be passionate and responsible in their learning and in
their communities.</p>
<p class="inbox-inbox-MsoBodyText"> </p>
<p class="inbox-inbox-MsoBodyText">As a veteran of many types of meetings with other
educators, I was skeptical of the group’s ability to rise to Birgitt’s
challenge to identify their passions on paper and take responsibility for
leading a discussion on them. I was very nervous in those few seconds after
Birgitt sat down. What if no one came forward?
What if all they wanted to do was discuss the process without ever
getting to the “meat” of the meeting? What if we got stuck in the “us and them”
rut that seemed to characterize previous attempts to discuss this theme? In a very few minutes the agenda wall was
filled with fascinating topics and then the conversations began. The rich, open
and productive nature of the discussions between business people and educators
was something I never thought I would see.</p>
<p class="inbox-inbox-MsoBodyText"> </p>
<p class="inbox-inbox-MsoBodyText">I was convinced that we needed Open Space to be part of
our school life. We met with Birgitt and decided to use Open Space for both our
staff orientation in the summer and student/community orientation during the
first week of our new school. The staff orientation was productive and useful
in many ways. Discussion topics included
conflict resolution strategies, involvement of parents and volunteers,
interdisciplinary learning and teaching, and evaluation. We got a great deal of
practical planning done, and we got to know each other much better (although we
had been meeting monthly for over a year to plan), and started to realize that
we were perhaps not as aligned in our educational philosophies as we had
assumed we were. The moose had arrived and was in very poor health.</p>
<p class="inbox-inbox-MsoBodyText"> </p>
<p class="inbox-inbox-MsoBodyText">A few weeks later we had a large Open Space with our new
students, staff, administration, some parents and volunteers. Topics at this
Open Space ranged from freedom of expression, creativity, and community service
to sports and dress code. Here’s what we learned about the students: they had
passion, and ideas, and hopes and fears and questions; they jumped in and took
up the challenge to help create the school within the givens we had
established; they tested us and trusted us with their vulnerability.</p>
<p class="inbox-inbox-MsoBodyText"> </p>
<p class="inbox-inbox-MsoBodyText">Here’s what we learned about the parents: they were
knowledgeable about education, were in tune with the school’s mandate of social
responsibility paired with academic excellence, and they were supportive of the
Open Space approach.</p>
<p class="inbox-inbox-MsoBodyText"> </p>
<p class="inbox-inbox-MsoBodyText">We, the administrators, were thrilled. We felt that an
open, creative, and collaborative environment was being born. But then there
was what we learned about some of the teachers: they were intelligent, well
educated, hard working, but they were not willing to let go of control. Where
we saw the students as showing initiative, they saw them as rude. Where we
applauded the challenges they handed us, they saw impudence and
insubordination. While we, and the Open Space process were endeavoring to break
down barriers, they were desperately trying to shore them up. The moose had
given up its struggle and died.</p>
<p class="inbox-inbox-MsoBodyText"> </p>
<p class="inbox-inbox-MsoBodyText"> It was a glaring
example of the saying, “The good news is that Open Space works. The bad news is
that Open Space works.” Open Space had brought the “truth” of the school on the
table: we had a dynamic group of students and parents who were eager to carry
out our mandate, and we had core group of teachers who were not willing to
relinquish the control necessary to enable the school to effectively pursue
that mandate.</p>
<p class="inbox-inbox-MsoBodyText"> </p>
<p class="inbox-inbox-MsoBodyText">We struggled for a year with this inconsistency. In our
classes and in the school leadership lab, my friend and I tried to continue to
operate with Open Space principles, but a core group of teachers ran very
traditional, teacher-dominated programs.
I think we made some gains overall, but ultimately the tension was too great
and we had to come to a parting of the ways. The smell of rotting moose was too
strong to be tolerated.</p>
<p class="inbox-inbox-MsoBodyText"> </p>
<p class="inbox-inbox-MsoBodyText">I wish this were one of those Open Space stories where
everything got sorted out and we were better than ever. In reality, my
friend and I left, and the school is (in
my opinion) limping along in a lackluster fashion with little or no resemblance
to our original dream. We, on the other hand were moved by the experience to
become an energy therapy practitioner (that’s my friend) and an Open Space
educational consultant (that’s me). And who knows what the effects were on the
students and the positive ramifications it may have for them in the future.
Without Open Space, we may have ended up in about the same place, but it would
have taken a lot longer and taken a larger toll on all of us.</p>
<p class="inbox-inbox-MsoBodyText"> </p>
<p class="inbox-inbox-MsoBodyText"> </p>
<p class="inbox-inbox-MsoBodyText">. Monica
Stewart</p><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr">On Thu, Jun 28, 2018 at 5:03 PM Birgitt Williams <<a href="mailto:birgitt@dalarinternational.com">birgitt@dalarinternational.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><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" target="_blank">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>
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<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="m_-7538805948308339101gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt"><span> </span></span></p>
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<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/" target="_blank">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/" target="_blank">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/" target="_blank"><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/" target="_blank"><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,
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</blockquote></div></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>
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<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>