At 11:35 AM 5/29/01 -0700, Laurel wrote:
Regarding your theme, I wonder if "What can we realistically do this year and who is going to do it?" is the tone you want to set. If you're aiming to energize folks and focus them on the future, putting the theme in that context sort of puts a damper on creating commitment, excitement and passion. Sticking to only what is "realistic" and setting the timeframe within the next year may not be the best way to find the creative solutions that OST is so able to accomplish. I'd be leaning toward something "sexier" like "Making Ithaca dollars the currency of choice" or "Enhancing community spirit in Ithaca with local currency" - with that type of theme, you'll have both the structural types and the promoters finding their common ground (passion!) and then being able to build from there.
I totally second Laurel's observation on themes... Particularly this theme. Make sure there is plenty of space there in which people can grow -- getting beyond what's "realistic" on to something that might be exciting, challenging, perhaps impossible, but nevertheless worth doing. I do understand all the conversation around "givens" -- but I also understand that all too often, the "givens" are big stones around your neck when you are trying to swim across the river. Truthfully, I never met a "given" that couldn't be changed, given the passion and commitment to do so. It may take a little time, and occur in ways not in accord with the conventional wisdom, but there you are. Harrison Harrison Owen 7808 River Falls Drive Potomac, MD 20854 USA phone 301-469-9269 fax 301-983-9314 Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org Personal website www.mindspring.com/~owenhh [email protected] To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of [email protected] Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
