From: ORT MARIA [mailto:ptnrs...@mindspring.com] Sent: Saturday, January 28, 2006 6:53 PM To: hho...@verizon.net Subject: Re: Experience with diverse cultures participating in OST?
. . . Make sure the space is open and folks will take care of themselves. Thank you Harrison. I'm an old hand at facilitation but relatively new to OST. My intuition told me that would be the case but it's reassuring to hear it from you. By the way, I was new to the listserv last month when you talked about OST emerging over a martini. Made me laugh. My former business partner and I wrote our first "business plan" on a cocktail napkin while drinking martinis. We made a great go of it for 10 years before I was called to this profession. More important, we're still the best of friends. Maria ----- Original Message ----- From: "Harrison Owen" <hho...@verizon.net> To: "'ORT MARIA'" <ptnrs...@mindspring.com> Sent: Saturday, January 28, 2006 4:20 PM Subject: RE: Experience with diverse cultures participating in OST? This may seem a little short -- but having worked in a number of similar environments I suggest that you not worry about the cultural details. First off, you will never get them right -- but mostly, if you make sure the space is really open, everything just takes care of it self. The space is theirs and it is open. If they need to pray, be with, not be with, certain people -- they will take care of that. Make sure the space is open and folks will take care of themselves. Harrison Harrison Owen 7808 River Falls Drive Potomac, Maryland 20854 Phone 301-365-2093 Skype hhowen Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org Personal website www.ho-image.com OSLIST: To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives Visit: www.listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html -----Original Message----- From: OSLIST [mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu] On Behalf Of ORT MARIA Sent: Saturday, January 28, 2006 5:21 PM To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu Subject: Experience with diverse cultures participating in OST? Hello OST Listserv Guru's, Happily, I have the opportunity to OS with the Arizona Refugee Resettlement Program next month. It will be my first opportunity for a 2-day OS (the other three have been just 1 day events, so I am fairly new at it). The State Agency is hosting a retreat for 30 representatives from both state & federally funded Arizona organizations as well as volunteer groups that serve specific refugee ethnicities or cultures. Somalis, Sudanese, Bosnians, Muslims and Jews will be participating. All speak and write English fluently. My question: Are there adaptions required to the OS process? In general, I know that Muslims prefer to separate men and women in meetings (example: if there are any "juicers/energizer" activities, Muslim women can hold each others hands, but not a males hand). I'm aware of dietary restrictions for meals served at the retreat. However, I am ignorant of any adaptations to the OS process that might be required to make it a welcoming and appropriate space. Many thanks, Maria Ort Scottsdale, AZ * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist