Therese, Re: OS Organization and Ellipses: I am most intrigued, and I love Alexander's super ellipse link. Please keep sharing your insights as they unfold.
Chris > From: Therese Fitzpatrick <theresef...@hotmail.com> > Reply-To: OSLIST <osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu> > Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2004 22:06:52 -0800 > To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu > Subject: Re: [OSLIST] Properties of circles > > A big, big thank you Alexander for the ellipse. I was thinking 'what about > an ellipse?", my favorite form but didn't want to sound uninformed (code for > stupid!). > > I'm not a mathemetician but I am interested in seeing shapes that mirror > shapes we see in nature. We do see circles and squares in a few natural > forms, we do see a few 'straight' lines but in nature the 'organic' shape is > more elliptical. I'm trying to envision what kind of structure would hold > an organization that operates AS an open space organization. I apologize if > I am inviting a discussion that long time members of this list have already > had. . . BUT I'd like to hear folks play with the idea of shape as a model > for an open space organization. My instinct has been telling me it is an > ellipse and I haven't voiced this thought with the group I am working with > to define what kind of vessel would hold an open space organization but I > keep whispering ellipse to myself. > > If anyone is going to be generous and share their thinking about shape of os > org, I invite you to also think about what a decision making/communication > structure would look like that aspires to be open space. It is pretty easy > for me to see a five person os organization, I can still see ten person, > twenty. But thinking abundantly let's imagine this new venture is very > successful and has 100 members with five income-producing projects and 100+ > different levels of ownership interest (some investors do not actively work > in my imaginary organization so processes, I think, need to be clear for > accountability) . And, if you are still thinking about my invitation, > remember that it is open space 365 days a year and livelihoods are at stake > and what would an os that lasted five years look like. > > Just having fun thinking and welcome any thoughts. > > Thanks for the ellipse. > > >> From: Alexander Kjerulf <alexan...@kjerulf.com> >> Reply-To: OSLIST <osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu> >> To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu >> Subject: Re: Properties of circles >> Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2004 09:50:50 +0100 >> >> Thanks Joelle for the image of table-deprived engineers trying to cover >> their balls. This one goes in my story-chest. >> >> Thinking back on the many OS meetings I've been a part of, it is >> actually rarely that we've been sitting in a circle. At OSonOS in >> Denmark we had this huge barn to meet in, so there we sat in a perfect >> (and huge) circle, but for instance at the Practice of Peace in Seattle, >> the shape we sat in was more of a square with rounded edges. >> >> And this reminds me of another very pleasing shape, namely the super >> ellipse which is a cross between an ellipse and a square. It was >> invented by a french mathematician and popularized by Piet Hein, who >> used in designing tables, stadiums, roundabouts, buildings and much >> else. You can find the mathematical definition here: >> http://www.2dcurves.com/power/powerse.html >> >> Here's what Piet Hein himself had to say about that shape: >> /Man is the animal that draws lines which he himself then stumbles over. >> In the whole pattern of civilization there have been two tendencies, one >> toward straight lines and rectangular patterns and one toward circular >> lines. There are reasons, mechanical and psychological, for both >> tendencies. Things made with straight lines fit well together and save >> space. And we can move easily -- physically or mentally -- around things >> made with round lines. But we are in a straitjacket, having to accept >> one or the other, when often some intermediate form would be better. To >> draw something freehand -- such as the patchwork traffic circle they >> tried in Stockholm -- will not do. It isn't fixed, isn't definite like a >> circle or square. You don't know what it is. It isn't esthetically >> satisfying. The super-ellipse solved the problem. It is neither round >> nor rectangular, but in between. Yet it is fixed, it is definite -- it >> has a unity./ -- Piet Hein >> >> Cheers >> >> Alex >> >> Alexander Kjerulf >> alexan...@kjerulf.com >> www.kjerulf.com >> +45 2688 2373 >> >> Adress: >> Tagensvej 126, lejl. 613 >> 2200, Copenhagen N >> Denmark >> >> >> >> >> Joelle Lyons Everett wrote: >> >>> The circle brings many benefits--not the least is that it is a very >>> ancient >>> way for people to gather, and so brings energy gathered through the aeons. >>> >>> I think creating a circle bounds the gathering, helps to focus on the >>> theme, >>> creates a container that give participants a sense both of safety and of >>> awe. >>> I remember reading in the newspaper a few years back about a planned >>> gathering in Seattle--I think a demonstration or protest of some sort. >>> The article >>> named a tribal elder and shaman who had come to the site every day for a >>> week >>> before, and walked prayerfully around the entire geographical space >>> included in >>> the proposed march. I often remember this story when I am preparing to >>> facilitate Open Space. >>> >>> The circle truly does put people in a position of equality, and >>> participants >>> sense this right away, with or without mention. I usually invite the >>> sponsor >>> to open the space from the center of the circle, if he or she is willing. >>> They feel a bit awkward or vulnerable, and this feels just right. >>> >>> As for getting rid of tables, I still chuckle over the report of a friend, >>> who years ago was beginning to have engineering problem-solving groups >>> meet in a >>> circle, without a table. I asked him how that was going. "It's really >>> funny," he replied, to stand in the center and watch all these guys trying >>> to cover >>> their balls." >>> >>> My 2 cents' worth-- >>> >>> 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 >>> >>> >>> >>> >> >> * >> * >> ========================================================== >> 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 > > _________________________________________________________________ > Check out the new MSN 9 Dial-up fast & reliable Internet access with prime > features! http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-us&page=dialup/home&ST=1 > > * > * > ========================================================== > 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 * * ========================================================== 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