hello anne, just a few notes to add to sheila's posting, as i was helping out there, too....
here are the proceedings posted online: http://www.mkedcd.org/valley/valley_conversations.htm and while it has yet to be finished and announced, there is an online forum that shows how this might be extended: http://www.globalchicago.net/mkecgi/Ultimate.cgi?action=intro then there is harrison's story of the highway project on tribal lands in the western US. from the original user's guide... On the 21st of April 1992, 225 people (or thereabouts) gathered for a two-day meeting to develop cooperative arrangements for the effective expenditure of one and one-half billion dollars designated for highway construction on tribal and public lands. Roughly one-third of these people were Native Americans, one-third federal bureaucrats, and one-third from state and local governments. On the face of it, the prospects for a peaceful, let alone productive, meeting seemed less than bright. The participants were all natural, if not historical, enemies. As a matter of fact, the results were rather surprising. In the course of the two-day meeting, that diverse group created, and totally self-managed, an agenda built around some 52 different task groups. The agenda was created in less than one hour, and the various task groups produced about 150 pages of proceedings in 36 hours. Thanks to the wonders of modern computers coupled with overnight printing, copies of the final proceedings rolled hot off the press in time for the departure of all participants on the morning of the third day. During the concluding session, one of the Native Americans said that never before had he felt so listened to and so much a part of the discussions. The feeling was shared by all parties. It is also noteworthy that the decision to hold the meeting was made in March in the same year. Thus, the whole idea went from conception to delivery in about six weeks. There was one facilitator for the total event. Stated in bald terms, these claims for the April meeting may sound extreme, if not outrageous. For the conventional wisdom says, and everybody knows, that creating a meeting of such size, complexity, and potential for conflict takes months of preparation and an army of planners and facilitators. Furthermore, the notion that the proceedings not only could be completed but delivered to the participants prior to departure is going a little too far. Unfortunately for the conventional wisdom, the event took place exactly as described, and more than that, this was not the first such event. Over the past eight years dozens of gatherings have taken place with similar results. While the experience may not yet be commonplace, it is definitely not a fluke. It is repeatable. It is called Open Space Technology. cheers, m -- Michael Herman ...inviting leadership in evolving organizations Michael Herman Associates 300 West North Avenue #1105 Chicago IL 60610 312-280-7838 voice 312-280-7837 fax [email protected] The Global Chicago Network http://www.globalchicago.net Michael Herman Associates http://www.globalchicago.net/mha
