Harrison, I love the magic too! It makes life fun and fascinating!
with grace and love, Zelle Zelle Nelson Know Place Like Home | Engaging the Soul@Work | Center for the State of Grace Document www.knowplacelikehome.com www.engagingthesoulatwork.com www.stateofgracedocument.com ze...@knowplacelikehome.com On Jun 14, 2011, at 9:00 AM, Harrison Owen wrote: > Zelle – this one is a gem! Thank you!! I love the way you carefully work your > way through some very intricate bits and pieces. Time/Place/Person – three > interlinked and mutually defining elements. Part of the magic of any OS event > for me is the way this trinity coalesces for each individual (people feel > their personhood with intensity) and for the group (The People do the same). > Lord knows what the mechanism might be, and at some level – Who cares? But it > is fascinating. Thanks! > > Harrison > > Harrison Owen > 7808 River Falls Dr. > Potomac, MD 20854 > USA > > 189 Beaucaire Ave. (summer) > Camden, Maine 20854 > > Phone 301-365-2093 > (summer) 207-763-3261 > > www.openspaceworld.com > www.ho-image.com (Personal Website) > To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of OSLIST > Go to:http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org > > From: oslist-boun...@lists.openspacetech.org > [mailto:oslist-boun...@lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of Zelle Nelson > Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2011 12:39 AM > To: World wide Open Space Technology email list > Subject: Re: [OSList] 5th Principle Modification > > Yes, I love the 5th Principle and it's modification)! As seen from the eyes > of a geographer (that's me): > > A geographer looks at people doing all sorts of living (economic, political, > social, cultural, natural world/environment impacting, etc.) across space and > in place to see how the differences in the terrain and character of a place, > the boundaries, barriers, and connection points of a place, along with the > people of a place, vary and are the same from place to place and why certain > activities flourish and others get snuffed out because of the DNA and > personality of a place. > > Space and place are two very different animals, even if they share some > similar characteristics. Space is generic and malleable. Place is a character > and impactful. So when we invoke place, i invite us to do so thoughtfully. > > One thing we've noticed as geographers is that put the same people and > historical situation into two very different places and different parts of > who we are emerge. A different part of my personality comes out in a pub, in > a church, in a park, or in a parking lot full of cars. What we've come to > understand is that not only the character of a place, but especially the > boundaries, barriers and connection points of a place make a BIG difference > as to what happens in any particular place. > > When I first heard about Open Space, as told to me second hand from a woman > who had just heard about it from Michael Herman back in 1997, I was > mesmerized. How had someone understood so simply and eloquently how the > make-up of a place can impact the conversation, and then moved the > boundaries, reduced as much as possible the barriers, and multiplied the > connection points to such a degree that free flow of conversation, passion > and responsibility transformed a space and a place into an amazing conflux of > the ordinary and the extraordinary? It was beautiful and it was music to my > ears. I was hooked. > > What are the elements that make Open Space work? > Invitation > the Marketplace of Ideas > The big circle, then the little circles, returning to the big circle > the law of two feet > The principles > > The 2 elements of Open Space that are specifically related to place are, the > Marketplace of Ideas, and the circles. Without these 2 elements we would have > a much different experience. > > For me, "Wherever it happens is the right place." feels much more > comfortable. Each Wherever can be transformed to Open Space, by moving some > tables (or standing on top of them), inviting spirit, and thus changing the > barriers. Meeting in circles and adding a marketplace of ideas transforms the > boundaries and connection points. And thus, Wherever it happens is the right > place. We can transform a place to invite in spaciousness. > > To me, the first choice or "thunk-ing" of words "Wherever it is, is the right > place." did not suit my geographer's mind, since wherever it is, in my mind > is not the "right" place - even if I'm happy it's breaking out. Wherever it > happens (creating circle, inviting spirit, etc.) does fit for me. While any > space can be transformed into the right place, each place in and of itself > does not invite space to flourish. > > If we are to be practitioners and proponents of opening space, I believe we > need to encourage and be examples for the characteristics of place that > foster and grow space, like > • circles, > • reduction or elimination of barriers (think of removing tables and the > stating of the law and principles, thus eliminating cultural barriers), > • the marketplace of ideas, > • broad and open invitations > > I wholeheartedly applaud each and every one of you for opening space and > remembering to share the very basics that make for a great stew! > > That's what I think - Yay for "Wherever it happens, is the right place." > > And thank you to everyone for holding space on this list for conversations!!!! > > with grace and love, > > Zelle > > Zelle Nelson > Know Place Like Home | Engaging the Soul@Work | Center for the State of Grace > Document > www.knowplacelikehome.com > www.engagingthesoulatwork.com > www.stateofgracedocument.com > ze...@knowplacelikehome.com > > > On Jun 12, 2011, at 5:38 PM, Harrison Owen wrote: > > > Guess folks? Words are slippery and it only gets better. I first “thunk” the > 5th Principle as, “Wherever it is, is the right place.” More than a little > awkward. L -- So much better: > > “Wherever it happens is the right place.” > > Who knows? > > Harrison > > > > Harrison Owen > 7808 River Falls Dr. > Potomac, MD 20854 > USA > > 189 Beaucaire Ave. (summer) > Camden, Maine 20854 > > Phone 301-365-2093 > (summer) 207-763-3261 > > www.openspaceworld.com > www.ho-image.com (Personal Website) > To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of OSLIST > Go to:http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org > > From: oslist-boun...@lists.openspacetech.org > [mailto:oslist-boun...@lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf OfHarrison Owen > Sent: Sunday, June 12, 2011 5:31 PM > To: 'World wide Open Space Technology email list' > Subject: Re: [OSList] Sharing the pre-work of our New Jersey upcoming event > > You got it! And it will be fantastic!! – Of course!!! > > “Wherever it happens is the right place.” This just could be the 300,001st > sighting of Space Opening. Carry on! > > Harrison > > Harrison Owen > 7808 River Falls Dr. > Potomac, MD 20854 > USA > > 189 Beaucaire Ave. (summer) > Camden, Maine 20854 > > Phone 301-365-2093 > (summer) 207-763-3261 > > www.openspaceworld.com > www.ho-image.com (Personal Website) > To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of OSLIST > Go to:http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org > > From: oslist-boun...@lists.openspacetech.org > [mailto:oslist-boun...@lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf OfSuzanne Daigle > Sent: Sunday, June 12, 2011 5:11 PM > To: World wide Open Space Technology email list > Subject: [OSList] Sharing the pre-work of our New Jersey upcoming event > > Dear OS friends and colleagues: > > So many times during this project, I have wanted to write to you to share the > exuberance, the challenges, the questioning, the commitment and the awe, > pride and admiration I have felt for everyone involved in the two-day > Creative New Jersey Open Space event scheduled to take place on June 14th and > 15th of this week. > > Check out the site http://creativenj.org/ and to witness what’s happening > live this week. You can even twitter if you’d like. Just don't forget to > include #creativenj if you do tweet. > > For Chuni Li and me, co-facilitators on this Open Space project with Creative > New Jersey, our work began a little over two months ago. For the organizing > host team, the Vision had started about 18 months ago. > > A compelling white paper described the burning platform of a state (like most > across the country) facing enormous economic, social, cultural, educational > and environmental challenges. It spoke of a proud history of innovation, > creativity and success. Their goal was a Call to Action to spark a movement > that recognizes, fosters and sustains creativity and innovation as catalysts > for a vital, prosperous and sustainable New Jersey. > > After an Open Space simulation, introduced as part of our pre-work, the > organizing committee agreed to go with an OS process. Then began the work of > creating an invitation which led to the theme question: “How can Creativity > and Innovation Revitalize New Jersey?” Excitement was building with the > committee though not without a certain degree of anxiety wondering how we > would attract a group of 150 diverse individuals to commit two full days in > mid-June. A weekly meeting schedule by conference call was established with > the Host Team taking the lead on most of the pre-work assignments. With each > passing week, the energy and enthusiasm kept building. Chuni and I became > resources, assisting and guiding with the intention of not only helping them > have a successful event but also transferring knowledge about Open Space, the > mechanics and the depth of this self-organizing leadership process. > > Mid-stream, we also decided to call upon Gerry Kirk, from the Scrum > Community, an avid supporter of Open Space, asking him to lead us on the > technology side. Chuni became his right arm person, avid to learn and do. A > host website with many simple tools was quickly created. Again the mission > was about transferring the learning to the New Jersey team of volunteers. Now > a few days before the event, the conversations are happening on line; many > participants have already posted their profiles and we know that the site > will be a welcoming place for blogs, live twitters, summary reports and short > videos to capture impressions and highlights during the event. It will also > serve as an important vehicle to continue the conversations afterwards and to > share ideas and engage action and to invite more people to join. > > Initially the intent was that I would facilitate the event but in the course > of our preparations, a request came asking if we would agree to have Larry > Capo, one of the leads on this project, facilitate. For a split second I > hesitated but then quickly agreed that yes, this was the way to go. Now as I > listen to Larry counseling others on our weekly conference calls saying > “whatever happens, happens”, “letting go is what we need to do ” or quoting a > passage in Harrison’s Open Space Technology book, I know without a shadow of > a doubt that this was the right decision and that in a different and very > invisible way, I too will be holding space with him, working at the newsroom. > Today, a diverse group of nearly 170 people have confirmed from business and > industry, education, arts and culture, science and technology, government, > communities, medical and pharmaceuticals, faith based, media and others. > As I reflect on what has happened these past few months, I can almost hear > Harrison’s voice to us the facilitators of Open Space saying “one less thing > to do” is one more thing the clients can do for themselves. Chuni and I have > contributed in a different way, wrestling at times as it was not always easy > watching our clients struggle and work as hard as they have. In the end, as > we look forward to our upcoming event, I feel and hear the pride and > ownership of what has been achieved to date and I can only imagine how > wonderful and great it will be when we get to the end of the closing circle > “when it’s over, it’s over”. Of course, we will know that it’s really just > the beginning … of a transformative change to revitalize New Jersey. > > There are no words to express the joy at the emergent collaboration of > working with this wonderful team. Wish us all luck and please hold the space > for us and with us. Thank you Harrison for your wise counsel and support > along the way; Lisa Heft for your expert guidance on the simulation and > pre-work; and Diane Gibeault, my teacher and friend, for the opportunity to > ponder deeply together and to exchange ideas in Ottawa last week and over the > phone. > > Suzanne (with Chuni Li) > > > -- > Suzanne Daigle > NuFocus Strategic Group > 7159 Victoria Circle > University Park, FL 34201 > FL 941-359-8877; > CT 203-722-2009 > www.nufocusgroup.com > s.dai...@nufocusgroup.com > twitter @suzannedaigle > > _______________________________________________ > OSList mailing list > To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org > To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org > To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: > http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org > > _______________________________________________ > OSList mailing list > To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org > To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org > To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: > http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
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