of the four practices i've mentioned here before (opening heart,inviting attention, supporting connection and grounding the energy)all of this proceedings and newsroom practice falls into the realm ofthat fourth practice, grounding the energy. to me, the most important thing about grounding is that we createsomething that the client/community recognizes as "real", as a realproduct, a clear sign that something happened. might be a document,or bigger as a wiki, or smaller as simply a list of issues discussed. might be as simple as a closing circle that uses a talking stick whereeveryone takes a little bit off of it. i think anything can work, as long as it (1) makes the connectingthat's already happened show up -- to the client/participants -- as'really real' and (2) provides some foundation the next opening ofheart(s). michael
On 2/14/06, Lisa Heft <[email protected]> wrote:>>>> Hi, Diane ->>>> Diane wrote:>> < I'm getting the feeling for it now. My FS & AI & WC experiences did not> have a "newsroom" component, so I'm in learning mode about this part. In the> other processes, the notes were on newsprints or table covers or worksheets,> which got typed up after the event was over, and then sent out or posted> online. Leaving with the record is something I've never experienced.>>>>> Some of us feel the group needs to leave with a record - some of us feel> that the record available throughout the event (posting hard-copy discussion> notes on a Breaking News wall) works in a similar way (shows participants> their accomplishments, gives them data for defining action planning if that> is part of the design, gives them data for the conversations still to come)> -- and participants can receive their own copy within a week or two> post-event (which can also work to reinvigorate the energy and carry forward> the momentum of the event as the mind and body remember what it felt like).>>>> It also depends upon the design and the ability of the hosting team. If the> OS is very short, participants may find it harder to leave their discussions> to go transcribe their notes. Or if there is not time for the host team to> produce a document (not a long enough OS, for example). And of course, if> there is not the technology (computers, printers, photocopy shops) to do so> or if culture (language, literacy, and other cultural issues) informs> another way of doing things (having someone illustrate the event during the> process, storytellers sharing the news, whatever works for the community> being served). All of these things affect whether and how documentation is> done.>>>> The idea is that – for notes - the participants themselves should ideally be> the ones responsible for transcribing the notes, not a team of secretaries> or the host team. Open Space is based on passion and personal> responsibility. Though in cases where there is not enough time together, or> literacy issues, or other reasons, others can support the OS by acting> specifically as scribes at flip-charts or laptops or by transcribing notes> post-event. The possible problem here lies both in taking responsibility> away from the participants (but can't be helped if the OS is very short) and> in interpreting peoples' notes-writing. The other elements that are lost> with someone else transcribing notes are 1) the way people work together at> the Newsroom to help each other think through their notes and 2) the way> sitting, thinking, reflecting and 'reading between the lines' can help a> participant add more to their notes and increase their depth and clarity.>>>> Are you thinking of a particular event – and if so does the design include> the time within the OS itself for which to make all this happen? Is the> cost for technology a reasonable burden for the host team? Are you using> the distribution of the Book of Proceedings within the meeting to help> people read the data before they re-open the space for action planning> sessions, or…?>>>> Ahhh, more questions…>>>> Lisa>>>> ___________________________>> L i s a H e f t>> Consultant, Facilitator, Educator>> O p e n i n g S p a c e>> Berkeley, California, USA>> [email protected]>> www.openingspace.net>>>>> * *> ==========================================================> [email protected] ------------------------------ To subscribe,> unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of> [email protected]:> http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To> learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:> http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist -- Michael HermanMichael Herman Associates300 West North Ave #1105Chicago IL 60610 USAPhone: [email protected] skype: globalchicago http://www.michaelherman.comhttp://www.openspaceworld.org Executive Facilitation ...gettingthe most important things done inthe easiest possible ways. * * ========================================================== [email protected] ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of [email protected]: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
