Dear Artur, I haven't seen it on OS list either, I don't know why. Sometimes it just happens with my e-mails to list. :-( I am lucky that at least some people can receive and spread them. With this message I actually did not intended to make a poem, I wrote what I thought. But reading it over now - it is really like a poem! Thank you and Koos and Doug for nice words! I am happy that you liked it.
With greetings, Mikk On Nov 23, 2012, at 5:34 PM, Artur Silva wrote: > I have not seen your initial message, Mikk, until Koos answered it. It did > not came to me L > > > But it is excellent! Thank you! > > > Artur > > From: Koos de Heer <k...@auryn.nl> > To: World wide Open Space Technology email list > <oslist@lists.openspacetech.org>; World wide Open Space Technology email list > <oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> > Sent: Friday, November 23, 2012 8:26 AM > Subject: Re: [OSList] Beginnings, Middles and Ends... Where are we? > > Beautiful Mikk, Thank you! > > Made my day. > > Koos > > At 17:57 22-11-2012, Mikk Sarv wrote: >> I think opening space is also creation of structure. >> The structure is like a body, where Spirit can live. >> When the body gets old, it dies and Spirit leaves the body. >> But Spirit needs the body or structure. >> >> Long moments of silence at the beginning are like pain of birth. >> After OS event everybody often feels like newborn. >> People, who like Structure, might feel Spirit as something evil, what >> destroys everything. >> People who like Spirit may feel the Structure as evil. >> But they both are just sides of the same dance. >> Opening Space is giving birth. It offers for Spirit a new body/structure to >> go on with dance. >> >> With greetings, >> >> Mikk Sarv >> >> >> On Nov 22, 2012, at 4:45 PM, JL Walker wrote: >> >>> Dear Arno, >>> Anticipating the response of HO, I can take the risk to say that the >>> structures of management are always part of the map and the structure of >>> the principles and the law of OS is always part of the territory. >>> Make sense for you this? >>> Hugs, >>> Juan Luis >>> >>> De: oslist-boun...@lists.openspacetech.org >>> [mailto:oslist-boun...@lists.openspacetech.org] En nombre deArno Baltin >>> Enviado el: jueves, 22 de noviembre de 2012 4:51 >>> Para: World wide Open Space Technology email list >>> Asunto: Re: [OSList] Beginnings, Middles and Ends... Where are we? >>> >>> Dear Harrisson! >>> >>> Could you please elaborate on the difference between creating a structure >>> and opening space. When facilitating OS meeting I also create a structure >>> by setting the space and introducing the rules and law (isn't it?). And at >>> the end of OS I leave the space opened as inviting to take the structure >>> (of mind - some attitudes based on the OS experience, ther rules and law) >>> with. >>> >>> Be well, >>> >>> Arno >>> >>> Narva mnt 25, 10120 Tallinn >>> Eesti Vabariik >>> >>> >>> >>> 2012/11/21 Harrison Owen <hho...@verizon.net> >>> Juan Luis – Always nice to hear from you! And my answer to your question is >>> something like this: Only create structure when you have to, and then >>> create as little as you possibly can. Structure is useful in organizations, >>> but it certainly can get in the way. So don’t overdo it. Ask yourself, >>> “What is the minimal amount of structure necessary to get the job done.” It >>> is always easy to add if you need it, but once some structure is created >>> (committee, procedure, etc) it seems to stay around forever, even when >>> nobody can remember what it was for… >>> >>> 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 >>> >>> From: oslist-boun...@lists.openspacetech.org [mailto: >>> oslist-boun...@lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf OfJL Walker >>> Sent: Wednesday, November 21, 2012 1:53 PM >>> To: 'World wide Open Space Technology email list' >>> Subject: Re: [OSList] Beginnings, Middles and Ends... Where are we? >>> >>> Many thanks Harrison. Just now I could give me time to read everything >>> about your email slowly. >>> Makes me much sense for the moment that we are living here in Chile with >>> our CDIC project (Centro de Desarrollo de la Inteligencia Colectiva), when >>> we started to give us account that would be necessary some structure. >>> The question is how we can move forward without that decays the Spirit and >>> what could be the structure that would allow that purpose? >>> Hugs, >>> Juan Luis >>> >>> De: oslist-boun...@lists.openspacetech.org [ >>> mailto:oslist-boun...@lists.openspacetech.org] En nombre deHarrison Owen >>> Enviado el: lunes, 19 de noviembre de 2012 21:27 >>> Para: 'World wide Open Space Technology email list' >>> Asunto: [OSList] Beginnings, Middles and Ends... Where are we? >>> >>> I’ve been thinking about us, or should I say OS…. >>> >>> It seems to be a truth of life that everything (us included) has a >>> beginning, middle and an end. The separation between beginning and end can >>> be quite various (longer or shorter), but one thing is for certain. For >>> every beginning, there is an end. Along the way it is inevitable that >>> people ask, how are they doing, and what next? >>> >>> What is true for life in general seems to be true for organizations of all >>> sorts, including ours, by which I mean the Good Old OS Community. Perhaps >>> you never thought of the OS Community as an organization, and certainly if >>> you understand organization to be what might be called The Standard Model >>> (The Leader, Board of Directors, and all the Rest) the OS Community doesn’t >>> qualify. On the other hand, were you to look at what OS Inc. has done, that >>> assessment changes, I think. As a matter of fact there are loads of >>> Standard Model organizations that don’t even come close to our >>> accomplishments. First of all we have been around for 27 years with >>> thousands of “members” all over the world. Each year “we” produce global >>> gatherings in multiple places, along with training programs and >>> consultations. And when it comes to the end product, Opening Space, the >>> numbers get a little mind boggling. Not bad at all – just don’t look too >>> closely at how it all gets done. J So how are we doing? Well past the >>> Beginning for sure, but what now, and where next? >>> >>> Quite a while ago, I found myself thinking and writing a lot about the >>> natural life cycle of organizations (“Spirit: Transformation and >>> Development in Organizations” and “The Power of Spirit”). Beginnings, >>> middles and ends were pretty central to this – but there was more. All >>> about what seemed to be happening along the way, and what, if anything, we >>> might do about that. >>> >>> To represent my understanding of the natural history of organizations, I >>> came up with a simple graph which, for lack of a better term, became known >>> as The Spirit Chart. Unfortunately we cannot do graphics here on OSLIST, >>> but the graph is simplicity itself, and so I am sure that you can quickly >>> draw it, or imagine it in your mind’s eye. The vertical axis is titled >>> “level” and the horizontal axis is “time.” On the chart, there are two >>> lines, one called “Spirit” and the other “Structure.” At Time 1 (the >>> beginning) Spirit is high and Structure is low. Over time (moving from left >>> to right) the lines cross in the middle, and at the end -- Spirit is low, >>> and Structure is high. And there you have it: Beginning, Middle, and End. >>> >>> As you might suspect, I did not gather masses of data in order to construct >>> my chart. Indeed I really can’t imagine precisely what that data might be >>> or how to gather it. All that said, common sense and experience supports >>> the story that the graph seeks to tell… All organizations start out with >>> High Spirit(s) – and virtually no Structure. At the moment of creation it >>> is all potential, a wonderful idea, a gigantic WOW! The good news is that >>> something is moving and shaking. Excitement and optimism rule the day. But >>> there is a price. Orderly procedures simply do not exist, massive amounts >>> of energy is burned for minimal results, the Wheel is constantly >>> re-invented. >>> >>> But then things change. Rules and Structures are created to focus and >>> direct all that wonderful Spirit. Initially there is resistance from some >>> Free Spirited Folks, but the net result is positive and beneficial. Work >>> gets done, schedules are kept, product goes out the door. And best of all >>> there is plenty of Free Spirit around to creatively explore new >>> opportunities, new ways of doing business. >>> >>> But over time, the lines cross. The Spirit Line and the Structure Line >>> intersect and then separate, with Structure rising and Spirit falling, >>> being constrained in smaller and smaller spaces by the overburden of >>> Structure. For a while nobody notices, for the organization is doing the >>> business in productive and orderly ways, and who could complain about that? >>> But there comes a time when the organization is defined and imprisoned by >>> its structure and rules. Spirit is in evidence mostly by its absence – >>> except in the stories and memories of how it “used to be.” When you are out >>> of Spirit, you are out of business. At least that is the story. >>> >>> But there could be a different ending. Were it somehow possible to release >>> the Spirit from its prison, renewal might happen. But for that to occur, >>> the prison walls must break. Or to put it in slightly different terms, the >>> confining structure must shatter so that the Spirit may reform in new ways. >>> This, I think, is an accurate, albeit metaphorical picture of >>> Transformation: Spirit breaking loose to take on new form (trans-form). >>> >>> So where are we? Clearly we have had our initial WOW! And although it is >>> certainly true that each time some new person joins our happy Tribe, having >>> just experienced the opening of space for some group of people – that WOW >>> is heard once more. It is also true that for a large (and increasing) >>> number of our band the experience is no longer a strange one. We’ve been >>> there before, and while it is always a delight, it really becomes quite >>> predictable. I would never say boring, but predictable for sure. Sit in a >>> circle, create a bulletin board, open a market place, and the folks will go >>> to work. Every time. >>> >>> The curious thing is that 27 years into our adventure, our organization is >>> still as lively and spirit filled as it is – a status that just about >>> everybody recognizes in all of our common gatherings, as for example the >>> recent WOSONOS in London. In my own experience of organizational life, this >>> record is pretty remarkable. In every other organization I have known, or >>> been a part of, by the time it reached its 27thyear, an awful lot of the >>> original Spirit, enthusiasm, to say nothing of agility and flexibility had >>> disappeared. People talk about “mature organizations” -- when they finally >>> got beyond the “wild days in the garage” (computer start-ups, for example) >>> and settled down into a more orderly mode of being. Think of Amazon, Apple, >>> Microsoft, et al. Somehow we seem to have escaped some of that, and how >>> could that be? >>> >>> I think part of the answer comes from the nature of our “product” and what >>> we do. The truth of the matter is that every time we think we have it all >>> figured out, and have “finally” arrived at the “right” way of doing things >>> – we are in for some surprises. It turns out that we really didn’t know >>> what we were talking about. Somehow, Open Space was/is so much more than we >>> ever thought, and what we do/did, so much less. What starts out looking >>> like just another approach to better meetings or group technique subtly >>> morphs into the story of the cosmos (self organization). And we really >>> don’t DO anything at all. We simply offer an invitation, and then get out >>> of the way. >>> >>> To be sure, there has been a developmental process in our approach as we >>> have gone along, but it apparently moves in the diametrically opposite >>> direction from similar processes found with other approaches. Put it all >>> under the heading of “Thinking of one more thing NOT to do” and pretty soon >>> (well maybe someday) – we’ll end up with nothing. No approach at all! >>> >>> Of course, there have been a few signs of approaching Middle Age. You might >>> call it hardening of the organizational arteries – conversations about the >>> “right” way to conduct an Open Space, usually accompanied by an expanding >>> list of critical details with attendant Do’s and Don’ts. Fortunately we >>> then receive a marvelous report (Sandy Gee, being the latest) how just >>> about everything was “wrong” – but surprisingly – it all worked just >>> perfectly. >>> >>> To be sure I have heard some chatter about “guidelines” (Thomas H. J) – but >>> no proposal that we “get ourselves organized” – and certainly nothing as >>> forbidding as a governmental structure with appropriate Boards and Bylaws! >>> So we seem to be dodging the bullet, at least for the moment. And it may be >>> that we have some distance to go before the end. I doubt, however, that our >>> longevity will ever have anything to do with what might be called The >>> Standard Organizational Approach, usually characterized as >>> “institutionalization.” Indeed I more than suspect that once again we will >>> find success by going in the opposite direction. Rather than building >>> durable structures that might last for the ages (none do … so far) – it >>> will be a story of the constant shattering of structures and procedures to >>> release the Spirit in new and vital directions. Transformation, I believe >>> it is called. >>> >>> But there will come an end, of that I have no doubt. But I hope that the >>> end of OS Inc might occur with hardly a ripple or note. Not unlike old >>> soldiers who never seem to die – they just fade away. OS Inc will become >>> quite invisible when it is clear to all that everything is Open Space. >>> Blending into the woodwork, as it were. Nothing new, Nothing special. Just >>> what is. >>> >>> >>> 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 >>> >>> >>> Se certificó que el correo no contiene virus. >>> Comprobada por AVG - www.avg.es >>> Versión: 2013.0.2793 / Base de datos de virus: 2629/5905 - Fecha de la >>> versión: 19/11/2012 >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> 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 >>> >>> >>> Se certificó que el correo no contiene virus. >>> Comprobada por AVG - www.avg.es >>> Versión: 2013.0.2793 / Base de datos de virus: 2629/5909 - Fecha de la >>> versión: 21/11/2012 >>> _______________________________________________ >>> 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
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