Dear Catherine,
very interesting stuff.
To your question:
"How can I hold space in this conflict in a way which prevents abuse?"
My first thought was: Just as usual. But if I assume that your agenda as
facilitator appears to be to "prevent abuse" I ask: Why do you want to
prevent abuse? And further: What happens to the concept of being
unattached to outcome. What happens to the concept of being fully
present and at the same time invisible?
If you were to hire me as a facilitator I might experience a bunch of
bumps in the road with you as sponsor.
To your question:
"What do I say in the givens in regards to this?"
Givens, I think, are the concern of the sponsor. It is very helpful if
the sponsor can state them. As facilitator I would feel abused if I had
to explain givens to the participants.
To your question:
"What does the one board member on our side say in his welcome speech?"
My first response was: 1. Welcome 2. State the theme and say two or
three sentences re the theme 3. Formulate his expectations, hopes,
visions as to the outcome of the gathering and 4. Announce the
facilitator who introduces the process (the night before the facilitator
could coach him a bit on his opening of the space).
Second response: What does it mean "on our side"? What happens to a
facilitator not being partial to "holding time and space" but being
party to a particular fraction of the system?
My hunch is that your role might be participant or sponsor and that you
and the entire system might profit if the sponsor engages an external
facilitator...who might also contribute to clarify whether open space
technology is the best approach in this affair.
Greetings from Berlin
mmp boscop eg
Catherine Pfaehler wrote:
Dear Listers
As I am planning our 3^rd OS in Thielle (a naturist’s paradise in
Switzerland, which is in its 70^th year now), the conflict is still
going on. Mistrust is still strong on both sides. I offer this OS being
a member of the Network Renaissance Thielle, which is working to save
the original idealistic intents of this wonderful community and to
strengthen the community of naturists in this difficult time full of
stress. The other side are a few people who have seized power and are
doing everything to make the idealists leave. Their intentions to change
the focus of the place into a normal camp ground for nudists (and
probably also for sex tourists) were only realized when it was almost
too late - they have already taken control of the board of the
foundation in a very concealed way and have employed a manager for the
camp who has no understanding whatsoever of naturism, a hunter.
(Naturists are naked, like nudists, but their focus lies on spiritual
and consciousness development. They don’t eat meat – that’s why choosing
a hunter as a manager shows a lot about the current president’s values
-, don’t use drugs or alcohol, don’t smoke – if not 100 % in everyday
life, then certainly on the camp site. Many families are in Thielle in
their 3^rd and 4^th generation, every summer.)
My question to you is: How can I hold space in this conflict in a way
which prevents abuse? What do I say in the givens in regards to this?
What does the one board member on our side say in his welcome speech?
We have experienced time after time that our good intentions were turned
around and made into something which was then presented publicly as
horrible. Somebody from the other side last year even came into the
plenary to have a look and then called us a sect. This is how the
current president of the board works to eliminate those who do not
support his actions. He spreads some lies about us and then continuously
uses people who mean well for his bad intentions. In paradise, one
doesn’t think this way, and therefore only realizes this when it’s too
late. So this fear of abuse of the space is more than realistic.
Grateful for your ideas and experiences - Catherine
Catherine Pfaehler Senn
Open Space Begleitung & Coaching
Kellersriedweg 8
CH - 2503 Biel
+41-(0)32 - 365 68 41
c.pfaeh...@bluewin.ch
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