On of the things I have always enjoyed about OSONOS (no matter where it may have taken place) is that at the end, during the interminable "Goodbyes" people would inevitable say something like, "I'll see you here next year." Of course in the entire course of OSONOSs few have been held in the same place - which raises some interesting issues about where is "here"? Maybe not all there??
To be sure, in the early days we did only have only ONE OSONOS. And there was a very good reason. If we had more than one gathering, there would not have been sufficient people to go around. Yes - I guess it is true that you can have an OST with two people. But it does get a little lonely. But the times have changed, and I really love the chaordic dance as this wonderful community (some might also say weird, bizarre, odd, or worse) responds to the changing times. The forces at play are multiple, but one is surely that there are a lot more of us in just about every corner of the world. I suppose we might have a fantastic party if everybody could come to a single place. But there are some other forces which make such a grand assemblage rather unlikely - not the least of which is that is entirely unclear just who "everybody" is???? Maybe we should have had a Membership List along with paid dues, a board of directors, CEO, staff, global budget, and of course an OSONOS Organizing Committee - which every year would render its judgment from Olympian heights as to the chosen place. The possibilities are really intriguing, and with luck we could be competing with the Olympic Committee. Site visits around the world, lots of politicking, and maybe a bribe or two here and there. Who knows, we might turn out to be a Real Organization? Boring!!!! Outside of the fact that there are a lot more of us, I think there are some other factors to be considered. Not the least of these is that some of us are getting a little older and also rather set in our ways. At least that is true for me. It is a fact that I manage to travel about a bit, but it is also true that every airplane I can avoid is a positive advantage to my health and well being. As for being set in my ways - there are definitely times when I don't want to go anywhere, and I don't. So what else is new. We could also add in economics - and the truth is that going to wonderful new place is great, but also quite expensive. And then you have the security situation we all now have to endure in which our collective paranoia has made getting Visas difficult and sometimes in impossible. Personally I don't see the problem. In fact I see a wonderful opportunity. We can now have an OSONOS anywhere anytime we want. All you have to do is say Come! - and whoever cares will be there. If "everybody" came, you would be swamped - so don't even think about it. And don't work too hard. As we all know, Opening Space is not rocket science - and doing an OSONOS should not be a year long task. When I did the OSONOS-by-the-Sea (which was in Camden, Maine - Michael:-)) - it took me all of 4-5 hours (total) to make the arrangements - and the fee of course was a pocket shattering $25. By the way we are probably going to do it again and the fee will be the same. And I definitely agree, every OSONOS should be an International OSONOS - everybody is welcome! And if the experience in Camden was any indicator, the international flavor was definitely there. To be sure, about 1/4 of the 35 participants came from within 300 miles - but there was lots from all over the US, Canada with odd representation from OZ and the UK. And the conversation was definitely global, and how could it not be? Theme was: "Opening Space in our lives and our World". And of course we can all be "there" (wherever there is) thanks to OSLIST and whatever else we dream up. So I, for one, vote for more and better - whenever, however, wherever, and with whomever. See you there :-) Harrison Harrison Owen 7808 River Falls Drive Potomac, Maryland 20854 Phone 301-365-2093 Skype hhowen Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com <http://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 <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: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist