[OSList] Leslie's questions

[Catherine Pfaehler via OSList]

Dear Leslie

 

Your wording for the book of proceedings is great. Go right ahead.

 

I provide a form for note-taking (see annex), in which I include "the most
important outcomes in three sentences" for the closing circle, especially
for Open Space Events that are as short as yours or no longer than a day. In
such short events, the sponsor often decides not to copy the book of
proceedings for everybody, so I merely produce a small documentation, i.e. a
list with all the topics, the conveners, and these three sentences, plus the
OS principles and the list with all the participants for everyone to take
home. 

When I finish my introduction, I say "We meet again for the closing circle
at . o'clock - this will be harvest time and for many the most beautiful and
richest moments of the day. Every group will report back their most
important outcomes and we will share our most important experiences - don't
miss it! And now, the day (or evening) is yours, enjoy it!"

The first part of this closing circle then are the reports, and this is the
time when they find the small documentation on their seats. The above
announcement often helps for people to stay longer. However, it is of utmost
importance to ask for "the 3 sentences only" when you open the closing
circle, as coming back to listening mode after all those vivid discussions
is difficult and often creates a sudden drop of energy. This report back to
the plenary contributes to the feeling of ownership of the results with the
participants, especially without a book of proceedings. 

 

Usually in the second part of the closing circle, when the talking stick
goes around and people reflect on their experience in Open Space, very
profound insights and most touching experiences are shared. For me, the Open
Space event is never over before the closing circle has finished. Be
prepared to be surprised.

 

Have fun! Best, Catherine

 

Catherine Pfaehler

Open Space Begleitung

Burckhardtstrasse 2

CH - 3008 Bern

Switzerland

+41-(0)31-536 05 31

www.open-space-begleitung.ch

 



Notes taker form.doc
Description: MS-Word document


Notes taker form, page 2.doc
Description: MS-Word document
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Re: [OSList] Leslie's questions

[Catherine Pfaehler via OSList]

Dear Leslie, 

 

One thing which works out well is a networking table with pin walls next to it 
where people can deposit their material and that part of their ego before 
entering the circle. 

 

Then, announcements like „Whoever takes the talking stick speaks for the whole 
group – you will feel when you need to speak“ can contribute to the holiness of 
„air“ (speaking time).

 

I usually let the talking stick pass around the circle for the closing remarks, 
which focus on questions like yours, as the very last thing in the closing 
plenary session. Often, there is not much time left for that, so I remind 
people to keep time in mind when speaking, which usually works to perfection 
for the event to end on time, and that holding the stick in silence was just as 
valuable as sharing an insight. In this sense, time takes the role of the 
boundary-keeper as to contents.

 

For the 3 most important sentences, I am very strict. I call each group by its 
title and/or number which can be read on the mini-documentation, and when the 
pre-determined speaker says anything other than those three sentences and 
perhaps one additional information per sentence, I intervene, apologizing that 
there is not enough time for broader information.

 

Hope this can point out a direction you will choose next time – kind regards, 
Catherine

 

Catherine Pfaehler

Burckhardtstrasse 2

CH - 3008 Bern

+41-(0)31-536 05 31

 

Von: Leslie Zucker [mailto:les...@lesliezucker.com] 
Gesendet: Freitag, 30. Januar 2015 00:14
An: c.pfaeh...@bluewin.ch
Cc: oslist@lists.openspacetech.org
Betreff: Re: Leslie's questions

 

Catherine, 

Thanks so very much for your thoughtful response, I really appreciate your 
time. I still find it amazing, after all these years how caring and helpful 
people on this list are. 

 

Your wording for the book of proceedings is great. Go right ahead.

I did end up including a lot of context about the event in the Book of 
Proceedings which I just sent out last night to both the people who came and 
who registered but did not show up.  I am also scheduling “debrief” meetings 
with people who said they are vested in the outcomes (funders) but didn’t show 
up to the event itself. Any words of wisdom about talking about the value of 
the event to funders who didn’t come?  My guess is that they will want to know 
what are the top three action items from the event?  The truth is there aren’t 
any action items, per se, but there was value - community building as the 
strongest one, for sure. 

 

I provide a form for note-taking (see annex), in which I include „the most 
important outcomes in three sentences“ for the closing circle, especially for 
Open Space Events that are as short as yours or no longer than a day.

I agree with you that it’s helpful to use a template for the note taking.  I 
did provide one at my event but it didn’t ask for the most important outcomes 
in three sentences for the closing circle. Nonetheless, only half the groups 
turned in any notes.  I will try it the way you suggest next time! 

 

However, it is of utmost importance to ask for „the 3 sentences only“ when you 
open the closing circle, as coming back to listening mode after all those vivid 
discussions is difficult and often creates a sudden drop of energy. 

 

I couldn’t agree with you more about this! I definitely felt the sudden drop of 
energy in the closing circle and found it (frankly) quite difficult to sit 
through.   Although I had suggested concise comments or 1-2 minutes maximum/ 
per person and focused on any one of the three questions that I prepped them 
for (meaning in the opening circle, I told them we’d discuss those three 
questions in the closing circle). The questions were these: 1) What did you 
learn or contribute? 2) What surprised you? and 3) What did you like about this 
process?  That suggestion was clearly not what people wanted to do. Instead, 
they introduced themselves, what their organization does and offers, 
performances that are coming up, etc. Even as the facilitator, I felt trapped 
and unable to exercise the Law of Two Feet. On two occasions, I tried to guide 
the comments back to the three questions, but that only worked with a few 
people, not the majority.  Finally, I just let it be what it was going to be. 
Unfortunately, however, it did mean that the ending was anti-climactic, when I 
really believe that a strong feeling of unity, connection and gratitude is a 
more powerful way to end an Open Space. 

 

I wonder what I could have done differently?   Suggestions, questions, ideas 
are welcome! 

 

Touching on another question - how do you or others successfully fill the 
closing circle with just as many people as the opening circle? Suggestions are 
also welcome for this. 

 

Many, many, many thanks in advance! 

 

 

Leslie Zucker

Trainer, Facilitator and Life Coach for Life's Dancers
+1 (202) 425 7637
les...@lesliezucker.com
www.lesliezucker.com



 

On Jan 28, 2015, at 3:56

Re: [OSList] Leslie's questions

[Catherine Pfaehler via OSList]

Dear Leslie

 

Announcements are a matter of experience – very true…

 

Yes, it does feel a little like grade school, and I more than welcome softer 
formats that still allow to bring something from the groups back to the plenary 
when you have been together for only a few hours! 

 

My experience is that if I don’t ask the groups (before they set off to discuss 
their issues) to also determine who will bring the most important in 3 
sentences back to the plenary in the end, then valuable time gets lost trying 
to decide (while the plenary waits) who will be the one.

 

The other group members listen and perhaps add something, if necessary. It all 
depends on how much time you allocate for this part of the closing circle.

 

Best, Catherine

 

Catherine Pfaehler

Burckhardtstrasse 2

CH - 3008 Bern

+41-(0)31-536 05 31

 

Von: Leslie Zucker [mailto:les...@lesliezucker.com] 
Gesendet: Freitag, 30. Januar 2015 18:32
An: c.pfaeh...@bluewin.ch
Cc: oslist@lists.openspacetech.org
Betreff: Re: Leslie's questions

 

Catherine, 

I’m so grateful for your time and engagement with me on this! Vielen Dank! 

About the networking table, I did this and the table was FULL.  What I failed 
to do was acknowledge / point out that the purpose of that table is for 
networking type of information, so that the rest of the evening can be 
dedicated to the conversations about topics of mutual concern.   Maybe if I had 
said that before the closing circle, people would have avoided saying that kind 
of stuff, taking up valuable time for reflection. 

 

About the closing circle, this is very interesting to me. If I understand 
correctly, you ask for a pre-designated speaker for each topic ahead of time 
that knows their responsibility in the closing circle. Then, you call those 
people specifically to represent that particular group by title.  What do the 
other people who were part of that group say or do in the closing circle?   
Using that format, does it still feel very open and self-organizing? I wonder 
if it feels a little bit like grade school? Am not saying it does, but just 
wondering.  

 

Thanks again for the good food for thought. 

All the best, 

 

 

Leslie Zucker

Trainer, Facilitator and Life Coach for Life's Dancers
+1 (202) 425 7637
les...@lesliezucker.com
www.lesliezucker.com

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[OSList] Follow Up Meeting Design Question

[Catherine Pfaehler via OSList]

Yes, this makes a lot of sense! Great things you are doing!!!

Best, Catherine


Catherine Pfaehler
lic.oec.HSG
Open Space Begleitung
Bümplizstrasse 84
CH - 3018 Bern
Mobile +41-(0)76 - 488 15 46
c.pfaeh...@open-space-begleitung.ch
www.open-space-begleitung.ch

Le Livre Blanc sur le Forum Ouvert est le fruit de la collaboration de 10
facilitateurs du monde entier. Téléchargement gratuit sur
www.forum-ouvert.fr


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oslist-requ...@lists.openspacetech.org
Gesendet: Dienstag, 10. Dezember 2019 22:34
An: oslist@lists.openspacetech.org
Betreff: OSList Digest, Vol 104, Issue 9

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Today's Topics:

   1. Follow Up Meeting design question (Eric M. Kapono)
   2. Open Space Hotline! Tuesday, December 10th at 12 PM EST
  (Tricia Chirumbole)


--

Message: 1
Date: Mon, 9 Dec 2019 15:37:02 -1000
From: "Eric M. Kapono" 
To: 
Subject: [OSList] Follow Up Meeting design question
Message-ID: <001801d5aefa$53023bd0$f906b370$@advancementservices.org>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Aloha all,

 

I'm thinking through a Follow Up meeting to a November 18 session we
convened with 40 folks. This is an initiative of county government and
stakeholders are from multiple sectors and communities across the island.

 

There were 8 initiatives proposed in an Action Planning round, and the
Follow Up is their opportunity to adjust and update in person.

 

The Nov 18 Proceedings went to all 56 persons who originally RSVP'd (i.e.,
about 16 who didn't show up), and all 56 were invited to the Follow Up via
the Proceedings cover letter.

 

My question is about how to involve folks who may not have attended Nov 18,
may not have an interest in working one of the 8 initiatives, and may want
to talk about more than the 8 initiatives.

 

My thinking right now is:

-  Beginning with a Review segment and newbies can sit in on team
discussions of their choosing. [30 minutes]

-  Then, teams share out their progress since Nov 18. [30 minutes]

-  Then, we open space for "what else" with a couple rounds and an
invite for new initiatives. [maybe 2 hrs] 

 

Does that sound sensible?

 

Mahalo!

~Eric

 

Eric M. Kapono, CPF

Advancement Services

for Native Nonprofits

Hilo, Hawaii

808.969.3991

www.advancementservices.org  

IAF Certified  T Professional
Facilitator

 

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Message: 2
Date: Mon, 9 Dec 2019 21:13:11 -0500
From: Tricia Chirumbole 
To: World wide Open Space Technology email list

Subject: [OSList] Open Space Hotline! Tuesday, December 10th at 12 PM
EST
Message-ID:

Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

Hello all!!

It's almost Open Space Hotline time! Join us with whatever inspiration you
are holding!!

We will gather on a device near YOU, *Tuesday* *- December 10th **@12 PM
Eastern Standard Time!*

Pop in and ask questions, workshop ideas, explore possibilities, share
what's up or just listen or say hi! We will gather for 1+ hours - Law of
Two feet applies!

*Sign-up and post topics:* http://bit.ly/OShotline


*Join the call*

from PC, Mac, iOS or Android: https://zoom.us/j/751609912


a. Join by phone: +1 (415) 762-9988 or +1 (646) 568-7788 (US Toll)

b. International numbers available: https://zoom.us/zoomconference

[OSList] Examples of successful OS-outcomes where the interests and needs of the participants were very contrary

[Catherine Pfaehler via OSList]

Dear OS community

 

I have the honor of facilitating an OS meeting in the legislative context
where the interests and needs of the participants are very contrary. After
several failures of actualized by-laws in the necessary political processes,
the responsible federal office this time wants to learn in an OS where the
needs of the people concerned are BEFORE they start rewriting the by-laws.
(Usually, those needs surface only when the parties and offices concerned
are asked to comment the already written by-laws, which is too late to
incorporate most of them.)

 

We had a very interesting preparation meeting where the question came up
whether there are examples of successful OS-outcomes in a context of very
contrarious interests and needs of the people concerned. I would be more
than happy to hear / read some of your stories. 

 

Gratefully yours, Catherine 

 

Catherine Pfaehler

Open Space Begleitung

Bümplizstrasse 84

CH - 3018 Bern, Switzerland

+41-(0)31-558 06 81

+41-(0)76-488 15 46

www.open-space-begleitung.ch

 

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Re: [OSList] OS in Zoom Times - Monday 18th January 2021

[Catherine Pfaehler via OSList]

Dear OS friends, I would love to be a part of the Zoom-Meeting too, but will
come probably close to an hour late. 
Will somebody watch the waiting room and let me enter around then, please?

Thank you Romy for hosting the event!

Looking forward very much to being with you all, Catherine

Catherine Pfaehler
Bümplizstrasse 84
CH - 3018 Bern
+41-(0)31-558 06 81
+41-(0)76-488 15 46

-Ursprüngliche Nachricht-
Von: OSList  Im Auftrag von
oslist-requ...@lists.openspacetech.org
Gesendet: Freitag, 15. Januar 2021 22:39
An: oslist@lists.openspacetech.org
Betreff: OSList Digest, Vol 117, Issue 20

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Today's Topics:

   1. Re: Confused American (Patricia Haines)
   2. Re: Open Space in Zoom times.. (Funda Oral)
   3. Re: OS in Zoom times (Chris Corrigan)
   4. Open Space in Zoom Times - Monday 18th January 2021 - 9am
  Pacific Time/5pm UK time/8pm Istanbul time (Romy Shovelton)


--

Message: 1
Date: Fri, 15 Jan 2021 10:39:15 -0500
From: Patricia Haines 
To: World wide Open Space Technology email list

Subject: Re: [OSList] Confused American
Message-ID:

Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

Useful thread. Didn't get tongue-in-cheek, probably too wired by what's been
happening. A fraught time here in the US

On Thu, Jan 14, 2021 at 4:41 PM CHARLES COLPITTS via OSList <
oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> wrote:

> All Jeff is doing is reminding us what the Qanon expectations were for 
> the Trump administration.  It?s total lunacy, but it?s central part of 
> the Qanon litany.
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
> On Jan 13, 2021, at 11:22 PM, Patricia Haines via OSList < 
> oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> wrote:
>
> ?
> I thought Open Space was about democracy, giving voice to everyone?
>
> On Wed, Jan 13, 2021, 9:26 PM Jeff Aitken via OSList < 
> oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> wrote:
>
>> As a patriotic American I join millions who were confused when the 
>> President did not step boldly into the opportunity in his Jan 6 
>> public speech to announce the arrest of Joe Biden and others for that 
>> satanic pedophilic conspiracy ring. Everything had been perfectly 
>> orchestrated leading up to that moment, it seemed.
>>
>> The gentleman who interviewed Harrison last year on his YouTube 
>> channel, the old friend from DC days with an intelligence background 
>> (who loved the idea of Open Space!) was also greatly optimistic (with 
>> other interviewees on his channel) that this denouement would take 
>> place on the optimal day.
>>
>> What went wrong? I remain confused.
>> ___
>> OSList mailing list
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>> send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org
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>> Past archives can be viewed here:
>> http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org
>>
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Message: 2
Date: Fri, 15 Jan 2021 19:10:22 +0300
From: Funda Oral 
To: World wide Open Space Technology email list

Subject: Re: [OSList] Open Space in Zoom times..
Message-ID:

Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

Thanks Juan! the report looks very nice, Funda

JL Walker B. via OSList , 15 Oca 2021 Cum,
16:31 tarihinde ?unu yazd?:

>

[OSList] Phelim's advertisements and poems

[Catherine Pfaehler via OSList]

Wow, Phelim, you did it again. Grand!!!

Just sent it to our boss as an inspiration 😊

Much love and crossed fingers for you all, Catherine 

Catherine Pfaehler
Bümplizstrasse 84
CH - 3018 Bern
+41-(0)31-558 06 81
+41-(0)76-488 15 46

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oslist-requ...@lists.openspacetech.org
Gesendet: Sonntag, 21. November 2021 23:01
An: oslist@lists.openspacetech.org
Betreff: OSList Digest, Vol 127, Issue 15

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Today's Topics:

   1. Re: An Improbable invitation. A poem about a job. (Peggy Holman)


--

Message: 1
Date: Sun, 21 Nov 2021 13:42:27 -0800
From: Peggy Holman 
To: Open Space Listserv 
Subject: Re: [OSList] An Improbable invitation. A poem about a job.
Message-ID: 
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

Fabulous

I?m particularly drawn to:
> We have spent our lives following our curiosity, trusting the unlikely, 
> believing in the quirky, the subtle, and the irritating, giving time and 
> space to all the improper things that are usually dismissed or discarded in a 
> creative process. We are also all these things ourselves: improper, quirky, 
> irritating. We are not always easy to live with.



Peggy

> On Nov 20, 2021, at 7:31 AM, Harrison Owen SR via OSList 
>  wrote:
> 
> Thank you!
> 
> Harrison
> 
> On Sat, Nov 20, 2021 at 8:05 AM Alan Halford via OSList 
> mailto:oslist@lists.openspacetech.org>> 
> wrote:
> Fabulous!
> 
> On 20 Nov 2021, at 8:42 pm, Phelim McDermott via OSList 
> mailto:oslist@lists.openspacetech.org>> 
> wrote:
> 
> Hello lovely space openers. 
> 
> I wanted to share something. Firstly it?s about a job advert but also about 
> how stuff we do at Improbable has been changed by the practice of invitation. 
> 
> First off I?m sure my wife Matilda won?t mind me sharing this story. She 
> formed and co-runs an organisation called ?Mothers who make? it?s an online 
> and offline support group that grew out of one of our own open space events. 
> It supports the idea that we need to open more space into our work and life 
> spaces so that the the roles of both mother and maker are not separate or 
> marginalised by the other. 
> Check it out you might want to take part. You can join from anywhere in the 
> world. 
> 
> https://www.improbable.co.uk/job-vacancies 
> 
> 
> Anyway a few years back Matilda put out a job advert for a Producer role at 
> MWM in a traditional way. Job specs, salary, responsibility etc.. she got at 
> most a handful of replies. So she decided to create an informal advert. An 
> invitation. She spoke from her heart and from her passion and vulnerability 
> with real honesty about what the job would be and what it would involve. Raw. 
> She got 100 applicants. A real indication that it?s not just the sessions 
> called but the original invite that need passion and responsibility to give 
> it grip. 
> 
> https://www.improbable.co.uk/ 
> 
> So Improbable (link above) is a company that makes shows and opens space 
> wherever we can are currently looking for a new executive director. We put 
> out the formal job advert a few weeks ago and shortly afterwards we put out 
> our informal invite which is  below..
> 
> Please spread the word and notice that we are hoping to ensure no one should 
> exclude themselves from the possibility of interviewing, especially if you 
> don?t work in theatre. 
> 
> Yes this might be you. 
> 
> Here is the Invitation:
> 
> https://www.improbable.co.uk/posts/executive-director-informal-job-ad 
>  >
> 
> Here?s the text so you don?t have to click a link! 
> 
> ?A POEM ABOUT A JOB.?
> 
> An invitation to Join us. A poem about a job. 
> 
> On our Gathering blog, 
> https://www.improbable.co.uk/posts/the-gathering 
> 
> you may have read that we?re looking for a place to belong and to create 
> belonging. We've been gathering clues, seeking out places, talking to people, 
> in our quest for a home for the company. We have also just put out a call for 
> a very particular, key collaborator - last week, we announced that Improbable 
> is looking for a new Executive Director. 
> 
> Our Executive Director will, of course, be helping to take care of Improbable 
> - what it is, what it does, what its unfold

Re: [OSList] urgent need of your wisdom : how to reassure a political guy who fears that the OST format will not be inclusive enough ?

[Catherine Pfaehler via OSList]

Ah, Christine, c’est trop beau – merci de l’avoir partagé!



Meilleures salutations de Berne (très chaud aussi…), Catherine



Catherine Pfaehler

Burckhardtstrasse 2

CH - 3008 Bern

+41-(0)31-536 05 31



Von: Suzanne Daigle via OSList [mailto:oslist@lists.openspacetech.org]
Gesendet: Montag, 6. Juli 2015 04:29
An: Christine; World wide Open Space Technology email list
Betreff: Re: [OSList] urgent need of your wisdom : how to reassure a political 
guy who fears that the OST format will not be inclusive enough ?



Christine You rock. Thanks for posting! Thanks for sharing!
Suzanne

On Jul 5, 2015 9:11 AM, "christine koehler via OSList" 
 wrote:

Dear Martin, Harrison, Lisa



Thank you very much for your answers. It helped !



I had the call with the guy, and we had a long conversation together. We talk 
about the range of outcomes he wished for. Having Harrison's voice in mind I 
told him that to my knowledge, there was no other way to have 90 people engage 
in 3 hours with the ability to act together soon and keep connected on the long 
run in spite of divergent interests.  he insisted on having 2  guys presenting 
briefly before I explained how it worked. We ended up with the agreement of  5 
people supposed to speak 5 mn  each, including himself.



Of course they spoke 10 mn each, so I shortened the opening keeping it to a 
minimum.

It was obvious that the sponsor was doubtful and his glances at me - and his 
team- were  quite cold. But he played the game.

And guess what... of course it worked !



There were 30 sessions and about 20 action plans.

In spite of heat wave (and no chairs for breakout sessions , because of  no 
chairs allowed in the huge hall...), people didn't leave during breaks, and 
obviously were not in a hurry to leave after the closing... Everybody was very 
happy.

During closing circle, all standing,  the sponsor admitted he was very 
doubtful, then added quietly" today I learned a lesson about participative 
democracy". Another guy said he was used to open space, and that this one was 
very convivial.



:)



I'm glad I know how to breathe.



Lisa, you asked me why I am asking when I know the answers. Precisely for these 
reasons. Knowing that there are other people somewhere that are as crazy as I 
am and do believe the same,  help me breathe and open the space the best I can.



Christine



On Tue, Jun 30, 2015 at 6:51 PM, Lisa Heft -  wrote:

Hi, Christine -



Several things come to mind. And I know you already had your phone appointment. 
And I am wondering what you sensed and did and what happened. But still I will 
share reflections if it helps in general or as you reflect.



1) What does your intuition / gut / sensing say? I imagine you know your own 
answer. Is there a reason you hesitate when you can feel inside exactly what to 
do and say?



2) I agree that it sounds like OST is a good approach if the issue is complex 
such as this. However there are huge power dynamics operating as well, right? 
So these next things come to mind:



- if the sponsor

fear that there it will not enough reflect the diversity of actions and 
timeframe  and the possibility to create a kind of frame to support long term 
action on the territory.

 — then her/his intuition may be speaking loudly, not just her/his fear, no? If 
this all is so, does that not tell you both that it is more important to take 
more time to plan (rather than the rushed planning) and find a longer meeting 
time on another date? if it is so important?



And SO many things support long-term action. Not a single short event by 
itself. Instead, relationships, infrastructure, time, ability, resources, 
partners, champions, desks and computers, ability to step outside one’s daily 
tasks to add in these tasks, SO many things. Are these in place before the 
event to support the actions that are being invited? If not, is asking for 
action appropriate for this particular event? Or is this for part of that 
strength, such as in ideas, relationships, and so on ? Does all that have to be 
accomplished by one short event? And if it is complex, why so short?



3) I always go with what is realistically achievable, given the circumstances 
which I may or may not be able to inform.



- Without knowing more details, dynamics, ideas and emotions brought up during 
your pre-work conversations, I can only say that as an outsider to this my own 
intuition / gut / body says to take advantage of what a short OS meeting can 
=realistically= deliver - which is a highlighting of emergent issues, ability 
for people to notice who else cares about these things, ideas generated for 
opportunities and for describing challenges, and that’s about it.  With a 
documentation design that really captures, with another event scheduled after 
people can rest and reflect on their documentation (data), then going into the 
next step of mapping out (or even a small group having a conversation about) 
what are resources / relationships /

[OSList] florian fischer has passed away

[Catherine Pfaehler via OSList]

Dear Open Space family



Upon my return home tonight, I found a letter in the mail.



„on sunday evening october 18th, florian has sunk back into the secret of
life. he departed decidedly, has spread his wings powerfully for his last
journey. – we live on a little bit and will then come too. until then, he
will stay in our hearts forever.“



His family has sent a beautiful card with texts from florian. The one on the
front side reads:



„beginning

over is over



in the beginning there was no end.

so it was decided,

that beginning shall follow beginning,

forever.



over-is-over since means:

give space to new beginning.“



On the back side of the card, I read „today, his family and closest friends
have said good-bye to florian, full of gratitude, on the evangelic cemetery
of alt-schöneberg, berlin.“



With fond memories of florian who, with katharina and shirin, magnificently
held space for us when we visited them in Rodalquilar in October 2007 full
of sadness and shock as we had just received the news of the death of my
daughters and their father and spouse, and who was my coach in my first big
Open Space… Fare well, my dear friend!



Catherine



PS: If you want to send a card, the address of katharina’s and florian’s
home is now: Katharina Fischer-Möcklinghoff, Münchener Strasse 6, D – 10775
Berlin





Catherine Pfaehler

lic.oec.HSG

Open Space Begleitung

Burckhardtstrasse 2

CH - 3008 Bern

Telefon +41-(0)31 - 536 05 31

Mobile +41-(0)76 - 488 15 46

c.pfaeh...@open-space-begleitung.ch

www.open-space-begleitung.ch



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facilitateurs du monde entier. Téléchargement gratuit sur
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[OSList] PS from florian

[Catherine Pfaehler via OSList]

On the inside of the card, there is a text on the butterfly.



„akelim akel akel, eideli tell, rotiti.“

florian said this when he was not even 2 years old.

Translated to grown-up language (and to English), this reads „the butterfly
wags his wings, i will tell daddy, he will be glad“.

little florian standing in a big meadow, happy about this colourful being in
the grass in front of him which moves, with the impulse to pass on this
happiness to his next being…



And I realize that there is more to the choice of this text… „our
butterfly“…



Thank you katharina and your family for choosing the words so well. And do
forgive my translation…



Catherine Pfaehler





Catherine Pfaehler

lic.oec.HSG

Open Space Begleitung

Burckhardtstrasse 2

CH - 3008 Bern

Telefon +41-(0)31 - 536 05 31

Mobile +41-(0)76 - 488 15 46

c.pfaeh...@open-space-begleitung.ch

www.open-space-begleitung.ch



Le Livre Blanc sur le Forum Ouvert est le fruit de la collaboration de 10
facilitateurs du monde entier. Téléchargement gratuit sur
www.forum-ouvert.fr







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[OSList] florian fischer has passed away

[Catherine Pfaehler via OSList]

Dear All

Florian's clarity had impressend me through his posts to oslist. I became
curious about who this person was and wrote to him off-list, which
established our contact sometime in 2004. 

Then there was a time when I was no longer subscribed to OSLIST because of
too little time for reading. During this time, he forwarded Roger's email
that he was looking for somebody in Switzerland who could facilitate an OS
gathering both in German and French - Roger had been introduced to OST by
Lisa in Singapore shortly before and wanted to use it in his work. Florian
asked me if this was not something I would like to consider. I answered
"only if you help". So the two of us met Roger in Basel and received the
task to organize a bilingual week-end in Open Space in Switzerland, my first
paid OS facilitation. Florian required that I do the front work; he was my
patient backup for all the many questions I had, and we had agreed to split
the money we would receive. This was a very empowering way to allow me to
become an OS facilitator. 

We had later agreed that he would be the German speaking facilitator for the
event and I would do the French part. Two days before the event in July
2005, Florian wrote to me that he couldn't be present because of a serious
health issue. After a moment of fear, I thought "well, the Universe believes
I can do this without Florian, so I better believe this too..." and informed
Roger. Florian had already contacted Wolfgang asking if he would do the
German speaking part as my assistent. It was a rich and very full three days
- I didn't only do the necessary OST announcements, but had to translate the
many announcements of workshops by participants. I was exhausted afterwards,
but as always, it worked out perfectly well, empowering not only the
participants in a very difficult theme, but myself as well...

In October 2007, my then husband Stefan and I had booked a week in the
beautiful cottages of Florian, Katharina and Shirin in Rodalquilar,
Andalucia (Casas Eva, www.rodalquilar.com). The day before we were scheduled
to arrive there, we received the shocking news that my daughters, their
father and spouse had died in Thailand (I had posted about this to oslist
then, as the Open Space principles were utterly helpful for me then once
more...). Florian, his wife Katharina and their daughter Shirin were there
to receive us despite of everything, offering their internet and telephone
connection for the necessary actions and holding space for us in a most
beautiful, supportive way, cooking for us, seeing to it that we slept enough
- being totally present and totally invisible at the same time, as we all
strive to be when holding space.

Life has allowed us to be in touch lightly yet intensely, to be witnesses of
essential moments in each other's lives, and to honour who the other was.
What a gift...

Gratefully, Catherine 


Catherine Pfaehler
lic.oec.HSG
Open Space Begleitung
Burckhardtstrasse 2
CH - 3008 Bern
Telefon +41-(0)31 - 536 05 31
Mobile +41-(0)76 - 488 15 46
c.pfaeh...@open-space-begleitung.ch
www.open-space-begleitung.ch

Le Livre Blanc sur le Forum Ouvert est le fruit de la collaboration de 10
facilitateurs du monde entier. Téléchargement gratuit sur
www.forum-ouvert.fr



-Ursprüngliche Nachricht-
Von: OSList [mailto:oslist-boun...@lists.openspacetech.org] Im Auftrag von
via OSList
Gesendet: Freitag, 30. Oktober 2015 21:04
An: oslist@lists.openspacetech.org
Betreff: OSList Digest, Vol 54, Issue 30

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Re: [OSList] How to shift a destructive "information-meeting" to a constructive dialogue meeting?

[Catherine Pfaehler via OSList]

Dear Thomas



It sounds so similar to everywhere… What comes to my mind is a peer spirit
circle-meeting instead of these information meetings, with concentric
circles like in Open Space - as for an Open Space meeting, the time given
for the first meeting seems too short. Open Space could set in in a later
stage and help integrate. We’ll look at this idea more deeply with two
colleagues here. Have you come across peer spirit circles? Ann Linnea and
Christina Baldwin have published widely, see www.peerspirit.com.



A wonderful opportunity indeed! Thank you…



Best, Catherine Pfaehler





Catherine Pfaehler

lic.oec.HSG

Open Space Begleitung

Burckhardtstrasse 2

CH - 3008 Bern

Telefon +41-(0)31 - 536 05 31

Mobile +41-(0)76 - 488 15 46

c.pfaeh...@open-space-begleitung.ch

  www.open-space-begleitung.ch



Le Livre Blanc sur le Forum Ouvert est le fruit de la collaboration de 10
facilitateurs du monde entier. Téléchargement gratuit sur
 www.forum-ouvert.fr





Von: Thomas Herrmann via OSList [mailto:oslist@lists.openspacetech.org]
Gesendet: Donnerstag, 18. Februar 2016 11:34
An: 'World wide Open Space Technology email list'; 'GC list'
Betreff: [OSList] How to shift a destructive "information-meeting" to a
constructive dialogue meeting?



Dear friends in Open Space/GC-list

I have decided to focus my time and energy, as much as possible, to
contributing in a critical area here in Sweden. Last year we received 160
000 asylum seekers. Of course this means some challenges but also lots of
fantastic opportunities. Many many people are engaging as volunteers,
villages who have “been sleeping” for decades wake up etc etc



One of the challenges is that neighbours often become afraid when new asylum
camps are opened near where they live. Or homes for lonely refugee children
(35 000 came last year). There are so many rumours going on, and shit is
spread on social media – so many “normal” people are very much afraid from
stories they heard – often false ones but also that single events create
pictures in people’s heads.



In my hometown one school which was being rebuilt to house lonely refugee
children was burnt down L and we had many fires like that all over the
country L



What the authorities usually do when a new housing is to open is to invite
the public to a “information-meeting” where they put some politicians, the
CEO of the company running the camp, some officials from the municipality in
front of a crowd of people who are worried and some are even outright
hostile with racist ideas. You can imagine what usually happens… I was in
one of those meetings a couple of weeks ago, it was horrible.

I think the usual impact is:

·   Increased fear and hostility towards people coming to our country
from war zones.

·   Increased mistrust to the politicians and municipality.

·   People at the front get more or less badly hurt.



Not a very good result. In fact it’s outright dangerous to arrange these
kind of meetings. But mostly they don’t know better. Which is quite
surprising to me as there are thousands of trained facilitators in our
country.



Since some time I have been working with colleagues in our Open Space and
Genuine Contact communities to create alternative ways to have such
meetings. We have some good ideas but would also like to hear what comes up
for you? Normally these meetings are conducted in the evening, length of 2-3
hours. Normally they are not well planned and not facilitated other than
trying to control them. They are called “information meetings” which says a
lot.



So I’d love to hear your experiences, ideas, suggestions…



Thomas Herrmann

Open Space Consulting AB

  www.openspaceconsulting.com

Ni når oss per telefon: +46 (0)709 98 97 81 eller Epost:
 tho...@openspaceconsulting.com



Open Space Consulting AB är ett företag med STORA ambitioner att guida
ledare, organisationer men även lokalsamhällen att nå sin fulla kraft för
att infria sina drömmar. Vi bidrar med kunskaper och praktiska verktyg för
att stödja er att finna er bästa väg.



Mer information

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasherrmannopenspaceconsult

Facebook Företagssida: https://www.facebook.com/OpenSpaceConsulting





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[OSList] Needed: Open Space Success stories for city planning

[Catherine Pfaehler via OSList]

Dear OS community

A potential sponsor is asking for Open Space success stories in the field of
city planning, specifically: outdoor meeting spaces/areas in neighbourhoods
- places where people like to come and meet, chat, be. 

Please share your city planning events and successes with me or point me to
them on your websites. 

Best regards and many thanks already, Catherine 

Catherine Pfaehler
Bümplizstrasse 84
CH - 3018 Bern
+41-(0)31-558 06 81
+41-(0)76-488 15 46
www.open-space-begleitung.ch



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