Hi,
Of all the group processes that facilitate group learning that I've worked
with in the last dozen years, currently I'm most enthusiastic about "Open
Space" gatherings, what the originator, Harrison Owen, calls "Open Space
Technology." I just call it "Open Space."
It hews closely to ideas associated with the self-organization of complex
adaptive systems; in particular, the idea of generating complex activity
from a few simple rules. Open Space seems ideal, to me, for cultivating
the 7E's and for responding appropriately to entropy production dynamics.
Open Space gatherings open and close in a circle. As many of you probably
know, there are four principles:
"Whoever comes are the right people.
Whatever happens is the only thing that could have.
Whenever it starts is the right time.
When it's over, it's over."
And there is the "Law of Two Feet:
If you're not learning something, or contributing something, please feel
welcome to use your two feet and move on."
And there is the admonition: "Be prepared to be surprised."
One of the beauties of Open Space, is that it invites spontaneous activity
and taking responsibility for issues about which one feels passion.
Wonderfully complex agendas are emerged quickly, and dealt with
effectively, and efficiently. Gatherings are easily convened and easily
scaleable from just a few people to more than a thousand.
We're hosting several "Becoming a Peacemaker" Open Space Conferences in
Alaska during the week of September 11, including one in Soldotna near
where I live on the Kenai Peninsula for which I will "hold the space" as
the facilitator.
Hah! You're invited. ...grin... Our invitation follows.
Grins,
Dan Chay
Date: Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 7 & 8, 2002
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Location: Skyview High School Commons, Soldotna
Cost: Free
Food: Participants are asked to bring their own sack lunches, and, if
convenient, a potluck/snack to share with others.
The week of September 11 will be a time to compare our interactions
globally with what happens in our homes, work places, and communities. It
will be a time to interact creatively within and across the boundaries
that normally define our days, and a time to instigate new courses of
action.
INVITATION
We are inviting you and other people who have interests about which they
feel passion and responsibility: school administrators, teachers, youth,
parents, business persons, agency people, government leaders, political
candidates, professionals, and non-professionals.
Open Space conferences are organized to facilitate the most rich,
fruitful, and creative conversations of the sort typically one might
expect to happen spontaneously during a coffee break. The overarching
theme is "Becoming a Peacemaker" - and any issue may be brought to the
fore. Be prepared to be surprised. Open Space conferences are fertile
places.
MORE INFORMATION
This conference is being co-sponsored by the Center for Mediation and
Community Dialogue and the Alaska Dispute Settlement Association.
Similar gatherings are being organized in Anchorage and Fairbanks during
the same week. For more information about Open Space process, or the
"Becoming a Peacemaker" gatherings in Kenai, Anchorage, and Fairbanks,
see: http://www.adsa.ws .
KENAI PENINSULA CONTACT INFO
Phone: 283-9227
Email: chay@alaska.com
We hope to see you there. Also, if you are comfortable doing so, will
you please forward this invitation to others you think might enjoy this?
Grins and best wishes,
Dan Chay
http://www.learning-communities.com
The Open Space Law of Two Feet:
"If you're not learning something, or contributing something, please
feel welcome to use your two feet and move on."
Open Space Principles:
Whoever comes are the right people. Whatever happens is the only thing
that could have. Whenever it starts is the right time. When it's over,
it's over.
--"Heidi and Dan Chay" <chay@alaska.com>
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