Hello, dear colleagues -
As you know, the 2013 World Open Space on Open Space will be happening
next week in St. Petersburg, Florida, USA on May 16-19.
(there is still time to register - see more at http://wosonos2013.crowdvine.com/
and there is also a tab there to register for the May 14-16 workshop)
Several of us host regional ‘OSonOSs’ whenever we wish to - a
marvelous thing.
And then we usually have one WOSonOS a year.
Even though almost all the OSonOS events we do are international as
well because we are a very diverse community.
We try to have each next WOSonOS in a part of the world that is harder
for some of us to get to because it is easier for others of us to get
to.
So it moves back and forth across the world geographically, though
there is no set formula.
What works best is not when we say ‘we should bring Open Space to x
country’ - because it works best when the invitation comes from
someone within that country, who knows they have capacity, and who
feels ready.
We do not yet know where our 2014 WOSonOS will be - that is still a
mystery.
If we do not have one next year, life will continue, I know.
And then again, a few of you have been sharing thoughts with me over
the years and I wonder if you feel ready to invite.
I will share with you a recommendation, a tradition, and some wisdom
from past hosts.
The recommendation:
It is very helpful to hear a year or more in advance of where a future
WOSonOS will be - so we can save our pennies and euros and rands with
enough advance notice to do so - and put our dreams in our calendars.
And for some Host Teams - it can take a year or more to plan, find
resources, connect to each other and grow as community, share learning
and get ready to host - though some teams with strong OST communities
need less advance time for their own efforts. It can also take some
time for the behind-the-scenes support to individual participants such
as my own Access Queen project.
So: thinking and knowing about it in advance is useful.
And: It is very helpful for me and the current Host Team to know if
you are thinking of inviting - before the WOSonOS begins. Both because
I can share with you some background to help you think and also
because we need to create time within the conference design for one or
more colleagues to invite and for a lovely, celebratory decision-
making process. Which typically happens at the WOSonOS, as each year
the participants represent great diversity of country, experienced and
emergent OST facilitators learners and enthusiasts, and also includes
a number of us who can support lovely future hosts with our pre-work
time and energy.
The tradition:
Historically, a marvelous way to invite the world to your country for
a WOSonOS is to either come yourself to a WOSonOS or send a message
through a representative (from any country) who is coming to the
WOSonOS. That representative can represent you and make your
invitation for you.
Past inviters have given us such a lovely flavor of their country’s
culture and have illustrated how a growing community of Open Space
practitioners in their geographic region is waiting and ready to host
this international gathering - so this is something fun to think about
- how your invitation will include the flavor and personality of your
culture.
I underline: you do not have to be able to attend the WOSonOS in order
to invite - though it may be helpful to have attended at least one if
your resources will allow - to experience some of the traditions of
WOSonOSs and see how other Host Teams do it.
However in past, I or Brian or Thomas and Eva have invited on others'
behalf, for those future Host Teams who are unable to send a
representative. And we are happy and honored to do so for you.
And now, the wisdom:
I have a letter I have grown, fertilized and fed over the years since
2001 - with wisdom from past WOSonOS Host Teams to future Host Teams.
Super-good ideas to read *before* you think about inviting - as their
lessons learned are similar from year to year and their wisdom is very
helpful to those of you thinking of inviting for future years. Again:
hosting this particular event does not have to be complicated but it
may include some important differences and things to know that may
help you see if your community of local Open Space practitioners has
capacity and resourcing to know best when to host.
Please do let me know if you / your country mates are thinking of
inviting - by contacting me directly at lisaheft at openingspace.net -
and I can send you this letter of wise advice. Again: not that you
have to do it in the same way - but the lessons learned from across
the years are useful. Remember that the most people who can come, come
over land or short plane trips - because that is what is most
affordable. So your largest participant group will come from your own
region. And instead of this just being a fun international event that
we folks-from-outside-your-region get to go to - a 'one-off' - my
recommendation is to think of how the Taiwan, Berlin, Chile, London,
Florida and other Host Teams have done it - growing the capacity of
facilitators in their own region through workshops, gatherings, local
OSonOSs and more - long before the event date. Building a community of
practice in Open Space. Not just doing a WOSonOS event as the way to
bring attention to Open Space in your region. So that an Open Space
community existed before, supports during, and continues after your
event.
Who will invite us for 2014, and for 2015?
Do you have a plan for building capacity in your community? Do you
have an existing community of Open Space practitioners?
I will be in Florida this October so perhaps I will see you there or
even be the one to help you make your invitation...
I look forward to hearing from you,
Lisa
Lisa Heft
(also known as Access Queen)
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