I surely can't argue with the points made. Even less can I argue with the notion of thinking of one more thing not to do (more time for a nap!) -- that said, I still find the "sign up" a useful occupation.
Part of it is the purely practical consideration of potential group size, giving the convener a "heads up" if it looks like a large crowd may be heading his or her way, and more space could be required. Then, as Birgitt suggests, the Main room is a likely candidate, and an early change of meeting place could smooth things out. Essential? No, and no matter, the people will figure it out. My real reason for such obstinacy is what I might call "Enhanced Market Place Buzz." When the whole crowd goes to the wall to sign up (as opposed to passively passing by) -- the place inevitably buzzes. This is not just sound effects but there is something about the positive kinesthetic effect of multiple bodies in close proximity. Conversations break out, questions are asked, strangers and friends greet each other. Suddenly the ordered circle (well sort of ordered) breaks into the marvelous chaos of a true market place -- only to quickly resolve into the new order of multiple circles (the groups). It is a dance that tells (is) a story. It may be odd, but I find it useful to think of Open Space as a dance, which reminds me that the total experience is infinitely more than the sessions convened, words spoken, reports written. All such things are important, but I also think it useful to notice the deeper, perhaps more subtle, streams of meaning and purpose that flow through the gathering. Actually, as facilitator I am rarely able to catch the words, read the reports...especially when the language is one unknown to me. But the dance... So I take whatever opportunity I may have to enhance the dance. Not as a pre-scripted choreography but the free flowing natural dance of people doing what they need to do. And I find the "sign up" is a good place to start. If it were a country dance, the "caller" might say something like -- "Find your partners!" 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 -----Original Message----- From: oslist-boun...@lists.openspacetech.org [mailto:oslist-boun...@lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of Ulrika Eklund Sent: Saturday, November 05, 2011 12:39 PM To: oslist@lists.openspacetech.org Subject: Re: [OSList] Signing up for sessions Hi I do not do the signing up thing before. For me its contradiction to the law of two feet. In some way it restricts the freedome. The participants just show up whereever they have the passion and the responsility to show up. I can also feel that it increases the power pattern (do not know if this is the right English word). But if there are people with for example higher positions, older, more experiences or other patterns this might influence people to follow the people and not their passion for the issue. Yes I realized that people follow people also when not signing up but at least not at the agenda wall. (I have tried the signing up - and did not find any thing being added with doing this. So one thing less to do instead :-) ) Wishing you good luck with your event! Ulrika -- Ulrika Eklund Bergsgatan 7A SE-112 23 Stockholm Sweden mobile +46-(0)70-699 86 12 www.ulrikaeklund.se www.empiragruppen.se -- ----Ursprungligt meddelande---- Från: robvanderey...@veranderarchitect.nl Datum: 2011-11-05 08:10 Till: <oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> Ärende: [OSList] Signing up for sessions Hi all, I am preparing an Open space later this week. My first one. So was going through the book yesterday. Sounds all good and exciting. On - probably stupid - question though: after the issues have been raised, agenda made and marketplace opened, how do participants sign up for sessions? Is that really by subscribing on paper or just by showing up at the time and place that was planned for the session? Thanks & best regards, Rob De Veranderarchitect B.V. Rob A.I. van der Eyden "Change is disturbing when it is done to us, exhilerating when it is done by us" (K. Moss Kanter) Parkietstraat 30, 1171 HV Badhoevedorp M: +31 (0)6 512 72 127 <mailto:robvanderey...@veranderarchitect.nl> robvanderey...@veranderarchitect.nl <http://www.veranderarchitect.nl/> www.veranderarchitect.nl kiva.png Make a Small Loan, Make a Big Difference - Check out <http://kiva.org/invitedby/rob5568> Kiva.org to Learn How! _______________________________________________ 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