That's the spirit Justin...a light touch and structure that serves the work.
Cheers, Chris On 11/11/06, Justin T. Sampson <jus...@krasama.com> wrote:
Thanks everyone for sharing your ideas! Ultimately it all worked out naturally, as I should have expected. The group had come together in a single circle toward the end of the meeting anyway. A couple of things had come up needing formal approval, such as using the organization's name on a certain legal filing (a permit to hold an anti-war protest). The issues had been considered sufficiently already, so -- when someone asked, "hey Justin, are you chairing this meeting or what?" -- we just went very briefly through Robert's formalities: motion, second, those in favor, those opposed; three motions were made, and all were approved unanimously. I'll write more about the meeting in another email with a new subject... Cheers, Justin On 11/11/06, Chris Corrigan <ch...@chriscorrigan.com> wrote: > You could use Open Space to open space on the decisions that > need to be made, to harvest some deeper wisdom about what your > group might do. Then you could sit in a council circle as the > closing circle, and have the proposals deliberated upon using a > wisdom council sort of model, either formally or informally > constituted. After the meeting is over, I'd be surprised if you > felt it was necessary to take a vote, but if you needed to for > legal reasons, you could do it then. > > But honestly, Open Space Technology and Robert's Rules of Order > are just about the opposite ends of the spectrum of meeting > methods. Keep us posted on this detente of process! > > Chris > > > On 11/9/06, Justin T. Sampson <jus...@krasama.com> wrote: > > > Howdy, > > > > I'm planning to use Open Space for a small meeting on > > Saturday. I described the context a while ago and got some > > great advice on using OST for small groups. Some major points > > I remember are to (1) trust the group and (2) get rid of the > > tables. :) > > > > I have a more specific question now, pertaining to how the > > organization operates formally. This meeting is the monthly > > meeting of a local (city-wide) political party, usually a > > friendly but somewhat dull Robert's Rules style (I serve as > > chair). The main purpose of these meetings, in my mind at > > least, is to bring together activists to talk about local > > issues and get ideas and support for various projects, which > > OST is perfect for. > > > > However, another important function of the meetings is to make > > formal decisions as an organization, such as passing > > resolutions, electing officers, or approving budgets. For > > these things we are required by our bylaws to take a vote of > > the members present. Do any of you have stories or ideas to > > share about effectively calling for a formal vote on some > > proposal in the midst of Open Space festivities? Should I just > > schedule an abbreviated Robert's meeting after or before the > > Open Space portion of the meeting, or can I safely hold a > > Robert's meeting as just another Open Space session? > > > > The whole meeting is very short, 2-3 hours. We would likely > > have only a couple, if any, formal motions to consider. But I > > want to make sure I have some answer when it comes up! > > > > Cheers, > > Justin * * ========================================================== 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
-- CHRIS CORRIGAN Consultation - Facilitation Open Space Technology Weblog: http://www.chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot Site: http://www.chriscorrigan.com * * ========================================================== 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