Rob-- I'm a firm believer in the idea that a commitment is a commitment, written or not. In my practice, I've seen a much stronger focus on the spoken word by people who work out of doors, more focus on the written word from those of us do "desk work."
A recent OS included many facilities and parks maintenance people, some of whom did not read or write well. We provided convenors with a simple report sheet to be filled in my hand, and had flip charts for any group who chose to use one. I was surprised, in a one-day event, by how enthusiastically the convenors were making sure that their work was recorded. And so much work was done, that it was hard to recall it all afterwards, so I am very glad that it was captured on paper. I don't think writing changes the level of commitment, but is good acknowledgement that the group work is valued. This meeting was held in a big banquet room that opened onto lawns and a lake, and groups moved quite easily out into the morning sun, reconvening under a tree or back in the airconditioned room as the outside temperature rose. Every inside meeting space had huge windows overlooking the lake--I think that added a lot to the spirit of the meeting. There was a sense of natural flow that is often missing for me in hotel corridors. Thanks for expanding this conversation! Joelle * * ========================================================== 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
