Dear Diana, your description was so concisely informative, the history of this event very special and the story of your granddaughter moved me to tears even more as a first time grandma. Your words: "I felt her small hand slip lightly into mine" just about did me in. I am convinced that my practice of Open Space has bonded me even more deeply with my 5 month old grandson in a soulful way. Thank you for sharing this as beautifully as you did. Suzanne also a fortunate grandma On Feb 16, 2015 4:55 PM, "Diana Larsen via OSList" < [email protected]> wrote:
> Hi all, > > Last week, we held the 7th annual Agile Open Northwest conference in > Portland Oregon. > > *The Facts: * > *Theme:* Agile Vision for Agile Practitioners > *Duration: *2.5+ days (+ represents holding the closing activities after > lunch on the third day) > *Registration: *246 people registered including organizers, volunteers, > sponsor representatives, attendees, etc. > *Circle Set-up:* 3 concentric rows (inner 60, middle 70, outer 80) about > 60-70 ft (~ 20 m) in diameter > *Attending:* ~190 people sat in Opening Circle, others drifted in (or > out) over the course of the event, only a dozen badges had not been claimed > by the end of the conference. > *Marketplace: *We posted sessions one day at a time over the three days. > *Session times:* 16 over three days - 6 on Day 1, 7 on Day 2, 3 on Day 3 > *Sessions possible:* 208 + more outside pre-arranged times or spaces > *Sessions held:* ~140 > *Session spaces: *13 (9-11 were filled during any one session time, fewer > in the evenings and early morning) > *Session length:* 60 minutes + 10 minutes to move between sessions > *Location:* http://leftbankannex.com Converted aeronautic machined-parts > manufacturing shop, 14,000 sq ft on two floors with a mezzanine. Lots of > concrete, metal, windows, and vast empty space repurposed for events. Very > industrial chic and highly configurable. The event coming in the day after > ours was a huge Bar Mitzvah. > *Experiments: *We tried it with a “crew” of OS facilitators, so everyone > could attend sessions, secure in the knowledge that someone(s) somewhere > was attending to the space holding needs. It mostly worked, there are a few > aspects of this I’d change. Harold Shinsato was one of the crew members. He > may have more to say (or not). > *My role:* Organizer of the OS crew, participant, bumblebee, butterfly, > board member. > > *The best part: * > On the last day, I brought my 4-year-old grand-daughter, T. She had been > on the exploratory visit last fall when the co-chairs chose the facility, > and I thought she’d like to see it all decked out for the event. Also, her > Mom needed time to do a few things that are made difficult with a 4 y/o in > tow. I feel blessed that I knew bringing her wouldn’t cause a moment’s > concern to any of the other board members, chairs, or organizers. What a > great community! > > T was interested and a little overwhelmed. I’m not sure she’s ever been > with such a large group before. She spent most of the day shyly curious and > quietly observing, getting her bearings. The buffet breakfast was a treat > for he, so the day started well. She sat intent through "morning > announcements” as member of the OS crew welcomed everyone to the third day > and facilitated additions to the marketplace. She attended three sessions > and butterflied during the two session times before lunch. > > She was fascinated by the lunch break with many tables of 8 people locked > in deep discussions. “What are those people doing?” We explained the > delight of being able to talk about something you care about with other > people who care as deeply…people that you might not otherwise see often. T > considered this for a moment, then nodded her affirmation. > > We moved to the closing. She and i found chairs in the circle, as a > facilitator started it off, asking about sessions attended, giving > participants time to announce actions going forward, etc. Toward the end, I > asked her father to come sit with her. I needed to move into a different > place in the circle to receive the microphone and close the conference > space. > > I had been sitting in my new seat only a few minutes and my colleague was > still facilitating the harvest, when, spontaneously, T began running around > the outside of the circle, defining the space, inadvertently causing those > who were standing outside to move closer into the circle. Her shoes hit the > floor creating a rhythmic tattoo and an energetic boundary around the > community. She made 5 or so circuits. I sat in awe , feeling my eyes > moisten and goosebumps rise on my skin. Then, it was time for me to take > the microphone. > > Walking into the circle, as I accepted the mic and began to say a few > words, I felt her small hand slip lightly into mine. Each person said > their short, last comment and I invited them to stand and look around, to > see who remained and remember those who had to leave earlier. She continued > to walk the circle with me. Together we invited everyone to turn around and > step out into their futures, closing the conference > > Completely unprompted, from her own instinct, she provided the perfect > reminder that all we do contributes to the world of future generations. She > was totally present and, in her way, invisible, as she held space for the > very first time. > > From a very fortunate Grandma, > Diana > > > > ************** > Diana Larsen > http://futureworksconsulting.com > Envisioning a world where everyone at every level of the organization can > say, "I love my work; this is the best job EVER!" > ******************** > > > _______________________________________________ > OSList mailing list > To post send emails to [email protected] > To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] > To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: > http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org > >
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