I love it Michael!
All of which makes me wonder how many "OSonOS" events we've really had. What if we did count them up and start numbering them as we go forward, as ALL having been descended from the HHO-convened originals What if....? " (Michael Herman) I do have to confess a certain sense of déjà view all wrapped in a good chuckle. The core question seems to be who decides where the next (w)OSonOS will be and by what authority do they do that? The simple answer is (to me) everybody decides based on no authority, save their own. Actually the question doesnt even apply. Of course, if we were a formal organization with a defined membership, Board, and set of procedures the question could be relevant. But we are definitely a horse of a different color. The Membership has never been officially determined, and nobody has any idea of how many folks there might be. But it does seem likely that if everybody who somehow felt a part of the community were to assemble, we would need at least a major stadium! When it comes to a Board and set of procedures simply doesnt exist. And I say Thank God! In practice the whole process is simplicity itself. Somebody says, Please come and if there are two (or more) invitations there might be some conversation about combining or sequencing the gatherings not unlike what we do in every Open Space with potentially duplicate sessions. People will come or not depending on how their feet are moving and where their passions may lie. No problem. And of course some decisions ARE made in advance after all the inviter does have to decide whether or not to throw a party. But there is nothing secretive about it, and anybody can do it. I guess that may be a sticking point can anybody do it? The direct answer is YES! It is also true that not everybody would want to. And the decision to invite friends, colleagues and passers-by to come together becomes massively daunting when the whole process is understood to be a complex, draining undertaking. It certainly can be but it doesnt have to. To make the point, being the old curmudgeon that I am, several years ago I invited anybody who cared to come to join me for what I called OSONOS-by-the-Sea in Camden Maine where I spend my summers. Total organizing time might have been 3-4 hours. I simply called up some friends at a local church (Space/Date), grabbed the URL from the Chamber of Commerce (accommodations and food) put it all together on a single webpage and posted a note on OSLIST. Conference fee was $25 (half of which I eventually sent to Lisa/Access Queen) and I did say that space was limited to 50 (size of the church). I did the same thing a year later, but raised the size limit to 75, which the church could accommodate. In both cases we had a full registration in a few weeks. As for onsite arrangements, I did nothing more than to make sure that we had plenty of flip chart paper, magic markers, masking tape and post-its all of which were stacked in the center of the room. Upon arrival, everybody pitched in (surprise!) and in short order we had the essential signs, bees, bumble bees, etc. We even had a well organized Documentation Center. From there on out it was business as usual: Sit in a Circle, create a bulletin board, open and market place, and go to work. We did, and it was a blast. Of course you might be saying, Yes, but you are HARRISON OWEN. I cant deny it. Its true, and that might have been a critical factor 5 years ago but no more as evidenced by the fine gatherings hosted by the likes of Lisa, Michael Pannwitz, Sharon Chou, Brian Bainbridge, Gerardo de Luzenberger to name just a few. Anybody can do it, but not everybody will want to. Of course it always helps to remember that it isnt the size of the event that counts, but rather its depth and power. As always, Whoever comes will be the right people. And so my friends, we could easily turn all this into an intense, agonizing discussion of process, rules, procedure and transparency. But in all honesty that is a discussion I want no part of. Of course, inclusion is important, but the answer to that is very simple: Just open more space(s) in your part of the world and invite friends, colleagues, and especially strangers. To borrow a phrase, and offer a bottom line Just Do it! And have fun. See you in Florida or wherever else space opens as long as my feet are able. 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> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org From: oslist-boun...@lists.openspacetech.org [mailto:oslist-boun...@lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of Michael Herman Sent: Tuesday, October 23, 2012 10:43 AM To: tho...@openspaceconsulting.com; World wide Open Space Technology email list Subject: Re: [OSList] Peggy plus OST Linkedin Comment If the experience is one of desiring a simpler execution of the basic practice, then the solution is to offer to host an wosonos for yourself. If, however, you're from the UK, for instance, and the UK has just hosted, that means you don't really have a shot at it for at least a few years. Further, if the process of choosing a host/location looks like it's been pre-determined (which it often does, based on past comments by various participants), then even if somebody like Paul was willing to host and the community was willing to stay in the UK for another year, he wouldn't feel like he had access to the process anyway. Finally, if the pre-determined processing of the decision, or pre-conversations, about the next invitation happen someplace other than in the event, newcomers like Paul are right to say they are excluded. With all these conditions present, it's quite possible that Thomas' three ways of using Two Feet only make the situation worse. When someone comes to the conclusion that they are stuck on the outside of the group and the best we can say is "Leave if you like," that would seem a recipe for a bad feeling -- especially once someone has made some investment to get to this event and might feel stuck there for the two days, trying to figure it out. I'm not trying to put words in Paul's mouth or speak for him... I'm just saying that it's possible that the way we invite and welcome and include people in wosonos conversations, including the ones about where the next event(s) might be held, might be ripe for review. As we go along, and get deeper in our own community practice and accumulate artifacts and habits, we start to look a lot like a traditional organization -- in the sense that we have an interest in stability, continuation, dependability, and such -- even as we are supposedly all about emergence and making it up as we go. Like look at our watch midway through briefing the principle that says "whenever it happens is the right time," the more habituated we become in our gathering practice, the more we depend on and add to how we do wosonos -- (even the W that got added a few years ago, for instance, creates scarcity by giving one event some "specialness" above all others that year) -- the more we add to our wosonos convening manual, beyond what's in the user's guide, the more we are potentially perceived as welcomers who aren't being very welcoming. What if we didn't have any more Wosonos events, for instance, what if we just counted ALL osonos events as equal. We wouldn't necessarily celebrate the "20th anniversary" but could celebrate the 20th osonos and the 30th and 100th... without giving the one somehow decended from Harrison's original 4 events at dulles airport any more importance than what lisa does in san francisco, john does in haiti, or we've done here in chicago in the past? If all osonos events were allowed to be held as equal, then anyone could put one on the map and the only side conversations would be among old friends deciding where they might be able to meet up. And note, too, that there's nothing that says that if someone is hosting in australia, i can't host an full and equal peer gathering at the very same time, in chicago. neither event needs special W-ing, and anyone can choose between either gathering, and be surprised by who shows up, from how far or near. These are things I've thought about for many years, and found few ripe openings to discuss, in part cuz I've not been able to attend osonos anywhere for some years. So I can appreciate how somebody newer to the mix might feel frustrated having made an investment to join and then come to the conclusion that we're as deep in our habits and rituals as any other exclusive organization. More frustrating because we always seem to say otherwise. Having tried at times from "within" to have these conversations, I can appreciate how hard it would feel from apparently "the outside." All of which makes me wonder how many "osonos" events we've really had. What if we did count them up and start numbering the as we go forward, as ALL having been descended from the HHO-convened "originals." And what if we agreed that, in the main, the clearly visible and open heart of any osonos was a chunk of space and time where it ran "by the book" and if you don't see it in the user's guide, then you don't see it in the room, either? Wouldn't have to be the whole event, but there could be a distinction between "this is what we do because we're excited, creative people and this is what we do because it's the heart of open space practice." What if....? Michael -- Michael Herman Michael Herman Associates 312-280-7838 (mobile) http://MichaelHerman.com http://OpenSpaceWorld.org On Tue, Oct 23, 2012 at 3:11 AM, Thomas Herrmann <tho...@openspaceconsulting.com> wrote: I think the Law is about action too. You can act in three ways 1. Mental movement (try to change yourself, focus and be fully present, maybe you are missing something important here) thanks Jan-Erik for this perspective during NOSonOS in august! 2. Intervention into what you dont enjoy, for example if you find the break out group too large say it! 3. Leave and go somewhere else. Cheers Thomas Herrmann Från: oslist-boun...@lists.openspacetech.org [mailto:oslist-boun...@lists.openspacetech.org] För Chris Corrigan Skickat: den 23 oktober 2012 07:13 Till: World wide Open Space Technology email list Kopia: World wide Open Space Technology email list Ämne: Re: [OSList] Peggy plus OST Linkedin Comment Koos...for me the law of two feet is about passion and responsibility. If you care about something, take care of it. Paul may have felt that he was "taking care of it" when he produced his critiques of the event in London. Possibly. But my experience is that many people are comfortable just being in their passion about something - sometimes just ranting - and fail to join in, support, improve, help out or otherwise make a responsibility based offering to the situation at hand. While i appreciate criticism and am perfectly capable of wrestling with ideas - and in this case I even pointed out that there is much merit in Paul's observations - I nevertheless would invite consideration of the fact that if someone is sitting through an open space event and not offering responsibility, that the criticism has the feeling of being sniping from the sidelines while failing to take up the invitation at hand and it's hard to work with that. That is all. A some level, love it or leave is also always an option, but that isn't what I'm talking about here. I'm looking for a more nuanced response from a practitioner that is clearly very familiar with the dynamics of Open Space and self organization and wondering what he did at the event to use his own power to create the experience he was looking for. He may have done something, but as I read it, he stayed for whole thing and then wrote a fairly detailed critique of the whole experience. So. Hmmmmm. Chris --- CHRIS CORRIGAN http://www.chriscorrigan.com +1 604 947 9236 <tel:%2B1%20604%20947%209236> On 2012-10-21, at 3:22 AM, Koos de Heer <k...@auryn.nl> wrote: Hi Chris, I am not sure I understand what you mean when you say that the law of two feet applies. If it means as much as "This is Open Space, love it or leave it," I feel compelled to say that I don't support that. Of course I can walk out of a session if I am feeling that I am neither learning nor contributing. But if I have the idea that the Open Space gathering as a whole could use improvements in the way it is run, referring to the law of two feet can become a way to evade a discussion that needs to take place. It can take place at a later date, which is what is happening now and that is fine. Koos Op 20 okt. 2012 om 21:23 heeft Chris Corrigan <chris.corri...@gmail.com> het volgende geschreven: The critique in the article is fine. And the subsequent link Phelim sent along is fine too. Paul's tone is a bit jarring and his argument isn't helped by making a lot of generalized statements. Also he critiques WOSonOS in a way that makes it hard to separate his critique if the event from a critique of the team, even though he later clarifies that he wasn't critiquing the facilitator. It's tricky to make a forceful and powerful critique without it seeming personal. My response to these posts is that Paul is right in substance. In general my take in things is that the Law of Two Feet applies. If you are not learning or contributing find some way or some where that you can. That's what makes things better. Obviously expecting others to change the way the way a process seems too dependant on them is rational madness. Chris -- CHRIS CORRIGAN Harvest Moon Consultants www.chriscorrigan.com <http://aohrivendell.withtank.com/> Art of Hosting - Participatory Leadership and Social Collaboration, Bowen Island, BC November 12-15 2012 <http://aoh-fbc.withtank.com/what-we-study/> Art of Hosting in Faith Based Communities, Salt Lake City, Utah November 28th - December 1, 2012 On 2012-10-20, at 5:09 AM, "a...@alanhalford.com.au" <a...@alanhalford.com.au> wrote: Just spent a delicious three days co-learning with Peggy Holman here in Perth then I read this - So, what's possible now? http://rationalmadness.wordpress.com/2012/10/18/the-tragic-re-imprisonment-o f-open-space/ take care out there alan www.alanhalford.com.au <http://www.alanhalford.com.au/> 0421 475 252 skype: alanhalford _______________________________________________ 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 _______________________________________________ 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
_______________________________________________ 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