Frank - I like the idea of an Emergency Action Kit for OS, but my problem is I don't have a clue what might go in it. After all OS is just a lot of empty space in which we do nothing (but be a lot). But that might work. Just get an empty box with a good lid. Then sidle up to some un-suspecting sort and say "Pssst - Want to see the Secret of the Universe?" If they say yes - open the lid - and they will see exactly nothing. I guess that is our problem, there is very little to see and not much to say. But you could try a little underground activity. . .
If you feel frustrated with the meeting, that pretty well guarantees that some others feel the same way. Find them! Start with their frustrations and open things up. For example if they were to say that they never get a chance to talk about what they really care about - ask them what they care about, write it down, post it, and get gone. Like that. Opportunism is about the only way in that I know. If everything is going perfect (or at least people think it is), nobody in their right mind would try Open Space, particularly the people who are deeply invested in the current mode of operations (the Organizing Committee). However, when you see a crack in the surface, work on it! And if it is a bigger crack, particularly one that looks like a real business issue with lots of complexity, diversity, conflict, and immediacy - you may just have a winner. Wait until all the folks have beaten their heads to a bloody pulp trying to solve it, and then quietly suggest that there is an alternative. If they say yes too quickly, tell them to think about it again before they do anything as crazy as Open Space. If they really insist, well you might just open some space .. :-) In the meantime I would just use the Law of Two Feet. They may not know it is The Law, but you do, and at the very least you might sustain your sanity. Harrison Harrison Owen 7808 River Falls Drive Potomac, Maryland 20854 Phone 301-365-2093 Skype hhowen Open Space Training <http://www.openspaceworld.com/> www.openspaceworld.com Open Space Institute <http://www.openspaceworld.org/> www.openspaceworld.org Personal website <http://www.ho-image.com/> www.ho-image.com OSLIST: To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives Visit: <http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html> www.listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html -----Original Message----- From: OSLIST [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Frank Deitle Sent: Saturday, April 08, 2006 1:16 AM To: [email protected] Subject: SOS for OS! Dear Open Space Friends, I just finished my first of three days attendance at a Fellowship for Intentional Community organizational meeting in Madison, WI(www.ic.org). It is not an OS meeting but I was expecting it to be at least engaging enough for me to learn and contribute as these folks in the intentional communities movement have been honing their process and facilitation skills for many years. This evening I am feeling disillusioned and frustrated. And my attempts at having conversations about Open Space have not been very productive. I am not feeling very clear about how and where to focus my energies for the next two days. I'd like to see Open Space be a more integral part of the FIC toolkit and the intentional communities movement in general--a movement I have a lot of passion for. And these are the people I would think would jump for the next best process--if they only knew! So I'm seeking advise from the list on two matters. 1) I could use something like a script sheet to talk about OS with these folks--like step by step instructions. Maybe an Introducing OST for dummies. The thing is, I feel like a pretentious bastard when I talk about OS and that's not how I want to come across. To a certain extent I think these folks believe they are getting along just fine doing things as usual (and of course in my opinion (which I haven't stated) they don't really know what they are missing). 2) I could use some list advice on how to funcion as an OS individual in a non-OS meeting while maintaining some sense of integrity and respect. I think developing some kind of OST emergency action kit would be a good topic for an OSonOS. Love and Thank You, Frank Deitle * * ========================================================== [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 * * ========================================================== [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
