Laurie-- One of my early Open Spaces had a similar short schedule, and they also wanted to write a vision statement! I refused to consider writing a vision statement without a format which allowed participants' concerns and fears to be discussed openly, so I proposed a short Open Space.
Like you, I thought we would have to have just one session, in spite of a short beginning. But the group of forty proposed 13 sessions (and a very important one which wasn't on the wall happened, as well). So the group just agreed to split the time into two sessions, and have lots of concurrent groups. We even made a good start on writing a vision statement as a group process, and the group finished it at their next faculty meeting. I suggested that their vision statement be attached to a "Book of Visions," which looked remarkably like any OS report. Each of the 14 groups made a proposal to resolve an obstacle standing in the way of their vision, and in a few months, every proposal had been implemented. This just goes way beyond what you usually get with an ordinary planning process. I thought Laurel's proposed schedule and her comments about theme were right on target, and I'm sure you will have an exciting meeting. Of course we want to know what happens. . . Joelle Everett * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu, Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
