Hello, György -- I am so very proud of you.
Your OS will be marvelous, I know it. It seems as if you have a good amount of time for a short but complete OS from 9:30-15:00. You will just have to decide if convergence in the form of - a closing circle (each person comments or if there are too many people, a sampling of people comment by coming to the center one at a time during the last hour, for example) - coming together to 'vote' on a few top issues and then reconvening in -- let us say -- five groups (the five top issues) to write up next steps and people who will take responsibility for each -- then a coming back together in a circle for sharing - other ways for participants to share what they bring back out with them into the world, what personal commitment they make to themselves, or other thoughts reflecting on their time together We can share many ideas with you regarding convergence. And it depends upon whether your participants need to walk out of there with next steps or whether the coming together of itself is what they wanted and perhaps they'll just want to share feelings at the end. I know that my colleagues will share their thoughts on timing in messages soon to come. Remember if there is food for lunch that you will want it to be out before the latest morning session ends and to stay out for a time after the afternoon session begins. People will want to sit and eat, but some other people will want to work through lunch and will want to pick up a quick snack before they jump into the afternoon session. I have also learned to make beverages available at all times throughout the day, if possible (I do not know what your resources are). We talk and talk all throughout the day and that is very thirsty business. What are your thoughts about latecomers, colleagues? Part of me feels the facilitator has the mobility to greet them and let them know how it works whenever they walk in the door. The other part of me knows they will be taken care of by the self-organization of the group. What will your theme, your question be for the day? What issue, perhaps, would the alumni like to work on, given all those great minds and energy in the same room for one fabulous day? Last thought: try to make sure that the Open Space is its own complete event. In other words, the cultural program is not part of the OS, but instead the OS comes to completion before you move on to the next group activity. These are just a few stray thoughts. I eagerly await and learn from the messages soon to come from my colleagues. Lisa Lisa Heft Berkeley, California, USA * * ========================================================== [email protected] ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of [email protected], Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
