Exchange... yes. And on that note I might suggest that "getting the
whole system in the room" (Marv Weisbord's phrase) is certainly
related to the idea of diversity -- but not quite the same thing a my
meaning when I described "diversity" as one of the critical five
preconditions for self organization. My understanding of diversity
may be achieved when "all who care" are there (for the OS). "Caring"
is the operative word. Putting it simply: "If you care, you got to be
there." "Those who care might include: The whole system, less than
the whole system, or more. I've had the experience (as I am sure you
have as well, Michael) when total onlookers, just casual observers,
suddenly discover that they have an interest, some input -- and
actually care. Sometimes they just stand in the doorways, but on
occasion they just moved right in and took over -- to the benefit of
everybody. Why or how -- who knows??? But they cared! I've seen this
happen often enough that I added another little reminder to myself
and whomsoever..."Honor the Stranger." They always show up and their
gifts can be extravagant. Strangers in out midst is by no means a bad
thing.
Harrison
-----Original Message-----
From: Michael M Pannwitz via OSList <oslist@lists.openspacetech.org>
To: Rolf Schneidereit via OSList <oslist@lists.openspacetech.org>
Cc: Michael M Pannwitz <mmpannw...@gmail.com>
Sent: Fri, Apr 3, 2020 3:24 am
Subject: Re: [OSList] Meeting of the tribes: Our gifts for crisis and
change
Dear Rolf,
exchange is what OSLIST thrives on.
For me, it is (was) THE worldwide place for reflecting and learning and
unfolding about my working and living as an os facilitator... in
addition to my regular interaction in local, regional and worldwide
OSonOS, including the Stammtische in Berlin (inactive for the duration
of physical contact restrictions with the hope that the WOSonOS in
Berlin in October of this year will be possible and, of course,
Stammtische again...).
Looking at the 5 or so prerequisites for the unfolding of
selforganisation (the center of my craft), I have always looked
specifically at "diversity" (or as some say "getting the whole system in
the room") and advocated that our os-exchanges would profit from high
diversity as far as participants are concerned. I always felt that
"diversity" was one of the prerequisites that we have some influence in.
For instance, who all we would invite to our events (including OSLIST).
Looking at that aspect, diversity can be expanded in the same way as we
suggest to our clients. Usually, we ask some simple questions in the
planning stage of an event, such as "who all needs to be at the event to
increase the chance for fullfilling both our aspirations we have around
the "burning business issue" and the chance for action on the stuff that
we feel needs to be taken?".
Often, I have found that in answering this question some pretty relevant
groups were not in focus, such as "the customer" which, in a school
setting, might be the students, in a parish the folks that attend the
worships, in a company that specialises on "customer tailored
nutritional products" the consumers of those products... or, in an os
for the future of an NGO the folks that provide the finances or the
government agencies that are needed for cooperation or the competitors
in the same or related fields.
Now, my and the efforts of others to increase "diversity" in "our"
events have been only partially successful. Asking ourselves the
"diversity" question certainly surface those that should be invited. For
an Open Space Learning Exchange or other events we invite to for
reflection and learning etc. that might be:
--- our clients
--- children
--- scholars, scientists, researchers
--- facilitators of all kinds
--- caterers
--- facility managers
--- event managers in hotels etc. where os events take place
--- journalists (newspapers, scientific journals, radio, TV,
internet...)
--- non-facilitators that are curious
--- former participants of os events
--- writers that have produced works around ost
---
---
If we had a planning meeting, this list would certainly be expanded.
In this spirit, we would help expand time and space for
selforganisation... any time, corona, war, hurricanes, climate change,
you name it... even in peace and other happy times.
Apart from expanding on this I presently am participating in efforts in
my immediate familiy, our neighborhood, in Berlin and so on, to slow
down the spread of Corona to find ways to live with it.
Personally, I am enjoying some of the side effects of the presently
challenging situation: practically no contrails over Berlin with clear
skies and many more stars than usual, the reduction of noise (hardly any
cars), the enormous unfolding of actions in civil society... in the face
of closed schools, limiting contact restrictions, a dearth of protective
masks, shortage of toilet paper... what have you.
Greetings from Berlin and looking forward to analog hugs maybe
definitely at the WOSonOS this fall
mmp
Am 31.03.2020 um 09:46 schrieb Rolf Schneidereit via OSList:
> Dear Mates,
>
> would like to get your feedback. I'm wondering: is now the time to
intensify the exchange between tribes like Art of Hosting, Open
Space, Liberating Structures, World Café; Theory U and many others?
>
> With all individual differences - we share extraordinary times.
We're facing an urgent crisis which will cost many lives, we're shure
to expect the next economical crisis and we're amid the fast
expanding crisis of the ecosystem and the climate.
>
> Could it be helpful in this situation if the different streams for
liberation, participation, collective intelligence, deep dialogue and
so on comes together to share their insights, their initiatives,
their gifts? How can we support each other to support the common good
and the necessary transition?
>
> What do you think and sense? I'm going to sent this question to
the AoH- and the OS-List. If this call resonates with you feel free
to sent it to other communities you belong to.
>
> And how?
> The idea appears after a virtual Open Space. One insight: We can
do a really large gathering online. After that I've offered Lucas
Cioffi from Qiqochat a sponsorship for an online event with up to 300
participants but he declined: He will offer the use of Qiqochat for
such an event for free! What we can do there (for example):
> - Check-in (perhaps as Impromptu Networking)
> - conversation café in small circles (recommendation of Christine
Koehler)
> - Open Space
> - Harvesting
> - Check-out
>
> If there is a encouraging feedback the next step will be a first
preparation (zoom) call. Can you imagine to support and host such a
call?
>
> Looking forward to your response
> (or not - following the Law of two feets)
>
> Rolf