Dear Glory, the only thing in your report that raised a question is when you say "...I opened ...space". To me, it has become ímportant to make sure that the sponsor "opens" the space. In fact, I believe that only the sponsor can open the space for his/her own system/organisation. That is, only someone who is a part of the system can do that. Me, as facilitator, I introduce the gathered people into the open space technology. And then, if I have my wits about me, I become as invisible as possible. As far as your question "allowing" the presentation and the presence of your students: were these questions discussed by the system (the planning group) before or after the os? My experience is that "presentations", "lectures", "excercises" etc. are no distraction at all if entered as issues along with the other issues with participants deciding whether they want to attend sessions for which these things are posted. In smaller os events (like yours with 30 attending) I have seen practically everyone then attending such a session or, also, nobody going there. As long as the whole group is not obliged to attend such sessions (space invaders might suggest or even insist that it would be very important for everyone to stay for this particular item because it would so much further the process of communication, etc.). As far as "allowing" students or people not directly or only partially part of the system: I encourage the planning group to think broadly about who all is part of the system and who all needs to be at the event to make it productive, fun, action oriented, etc. It is for them then to decide who needs to come. Greetings from Berlin michael
On Sat, 28 Sep 2002 18:42:35 -0400, Glory Ressler wrote: >Hi everyone! >I have been following the messages but haven't 'spoken' for awhile.... a >'strange' OS experience has pulled me out of my silence. I am hoping to >learn from our collective wisdom. > >On this past Thurs. pm, I opened a 2nd space for a local town who is >currently conducting community planning and who wanted (were also >required) to factor in community input. This 'town' is the oldest in >Canada and includes 4 other small and historic communities rich in >history. A bit of background - they had their first OS in July which I >facilitated - the theme being 'Our Town, 2022'. It was well attended (65 >out of approx. 500 residents). 9 topics were generated and the energy >flowed well. The closing circle comments and written evaluation >indicated that many there wanted a 2nd meeting.... and I was contracted >for another OS meeting on Sept. 26th. > >Two days before the meeting was to be held, a resident of the Town >called my office and asked whether he could post a topic (Heritage) and >offer a slide show. It was clear that he had made arrangements with the >Town as well. I went over the principles and the law, etc... and he >decided to go ahead. Also present at the meeting were 6 students from a >course I teach called 'Smart Thinking', wherein we study and operate >(partially) in Open Space. Several of these people also happended to be >residents of the Town - which was a an additional benefit to them. 1 >student joined in the community planning discussion and the other 5 held >an informal discussion on OST, smart thinking and community planning. > >Here's the strange part - only about 30 people attended (the sponsor >expected more, not less, people) and they generated only 3 topics. Many >were busily going over the Book of Proceedings from Meeting 1. As they >broke for their discussion, I invited them to post other topics >throughout the course of the meeting. The Heritage slide 'presentation' >took over - with the sponsor pushing for open discussion, which did >eventually take place. It was everything I could do not to get in >there... The report generated was quite specific with regard to >community plans. The closing circle comments were of the same sort along >with some 'we didn't need another OS meeting' and some 'I'm glad we had >another OS meeting'. The energy was very muted. > >Here's my question - what are your thoughts on my 'allowing' the >'presentation' and the presence of my students? I have been pondering >whether these factors somehow inhibited the space... What might you have >done differently? > >Thanks and best wishes, >glory > >* >* >========================================================== >[email protected] >------------------------------ >To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, >view the archives of [email protected], >Visit: > >http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html Michael M Pannwitz boscop Draisweg 1 12209 Berlin, Germany FON +49 - 30-772 8000 FAX +49 - 30-773 92 464 www.michaelmpannwitz.de An der E-Gruppe "openspacedeutsch" für deutschsprechende open space-PraktikerInnen interessiert? Enfach eine mail an mich. * * ========================================================== [email protected] ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of [email protected], Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
