November 2000
In this issue, we have some
notes from the Berlin OPEN SPACE on OPEN SPACE (OSonOS - VIII), further notes
from Birgitt Williams about her 2000 programs in Australia, data from the
Berlin Review program in Melbourne in November, and data about the Berlin Review
program in Brisbane in December.
Of special note – FOR YOUR DIARY times for Harrison
Owen’s programs in Australia and New Zealand in March-April, 2001, and Birgitt
Williams in 2002, as well as other options for 2001, and Vancouver OSonOS in
August 2001.
That’s all for this issue. in Australia in March 2001.
Berlin Reflections
131 participants; from Germany and Austria 72, Sweden 5,
France 3, USA 15, Canada 6, Denmark 16, Australia 2, Spain 2, Portugal 1,
Hungary 2, Slovenia 1 UK 4, Netherlands 1, and Belgium 1.
Some 39 (and more) topics were
explored in sessions and reported on. A
few other topics got air on the extra day with some 70+ people involved.
The reports are available on the
OS Web page.
“What can we learn from our clients?”
was a feature session for Andrew Donovan, and Brian Bainbridge found great
depth and newness in the sessions on “New ways for Open Space Training”,
and “Expectations of Seasoned
Practitioners”.
The client focus underlined that
Open Space is a learning environment for practitioners and as well as for
participants and used the BOSCH experience of an Open Space for about 1000 as
the basis for this. A video (in
French!) of that gathering will be available here early in 2001 and will help
insight for us, too. The presence of a
BOSCH Executive at the OSonOS added great strength to the learning.
Basic Training for Open Space
led by Michael Pannwitz of Berlin in Moscow and Budapest and (in 2001) in Stockholm
added anew understanding of the need to respect and honor the culture in which
the events will happen. And perhaps we
in Australia will be able to do that better as we move towards doing our own basic
training rather than depending – as we have so far – on North American sources.
The “Seasoned Practitioners”
session emphasised the need for there to be opportunity at OSonOS to explore
more deeply some of the issues that emerge – which is not that easy when there
is a substantial number of OST Learners present who have not yet opened space.
That will be given special
attention at the next International OSonOS in Vancouver.
Australia tentatively offered to
stage the OSonOS in 2002 or 2003 in Melbourne, and that will get some air in Vancouver
if we are prepared to move in that direction and if attendees wish to come this
far.
Berlin Debriefing
In Melbourne on November 14,
some 21 bodies gathered – of whom two were practically new-born so as to introduce
them early to Open Space. There were
also two youth who will be involved in the next Spirituality, Leadership and
Management Conference at Ballarat, part of which will be in Open Space.
Vigorous discussion touched the
use of convergence, the three sessions mentioned above, the need to deepen understanding
of Open Space in small group gatherings for Space Openers, doing our own basic
training in OZ, ties with New Zealand, using Harrison Owen for an OSonOS when
he is in Melbourne, access to the Bosch video and others, some reflection from
Peg Holman who was in Melbourne from Seattle where she is seminal to OSI-USA,
the new book from Harrison Owen, and possible thinking about an International
OSonOS in the next couple of years.
Brisbane Debrief
A similar option program is
planned for Brisbane on Tuesday, December 14 at the Coorparoo Conference Centre, from 6.00 p.m. until 9.00 p.m., with Andrew
Donovan and Brian Bainbridge. If you
can come and/or bring others, please let Brian know at briansb@mira.net or 0412 111 525. $20 will be the venue fee and finger food
will be available with other refreshments.
We have tried to reach most Queensland people in an earlier email with
these details and hope for a good attendance, of course.
Harrison Owen in Oz and NZ
Harrison will be in New Zealand
– most likely in Wellington – for a 1-Day program on Monday, March19,
2001. Program details from Anne Bailey <
zenergy.wellington@xtra.co.nz
or Anne Pattillo < pattillo@actrix.gen.nz > or Helen
Patterson < helenchristchurch@yahoo.com
>.
Harrison will do a one-day Open Space
for Business Execs in Melbourne on March 22, with Monash-Mt Eliza Business
School. Brochure from Clarence DaGama
Pinto < cdagmap@monashmteliza.edu.au
>.
Friday-Saturday, March 23 -24,
2001, he will open an OPEN SPACE on OPEN SPACE in Melbourne – possibly at
Eltham, for all users of Open Space in Australia and New Zealand. A very important gathering for everyone who
comes. Fuller details early in
January. Contact is Fr Brian S
Bainbridge < briansb@mira.net >.
A “Book Promotion” is likely to
be set up for Harrison’s “THE POWER OF SPIRIT : How Organizations Transform” in
Melbourne on March 21. Book promo will
also be part of each of the other programs he leads.
We hope to have a 1-Day program
in Canberra Sunday or Monday, March 25-26, in Sydney Tuesday-Wednesday March
27-28, and in Brisbane Thursday-Friday March 29-30. Details are yet to be finalised, and any help in making those
gatherings happen would be nice, please.
Birgitt Williams in Oz and NZ
The schedule is now for Birgitt
to be in New Zealand and Australia commencing April 8 through April 26 or thereabouts.
A major program is likely in
Sydney and Bev Pavey < pavey@nsw.bigpond.net.au
> is the planning contact.
Birgitt plans some time in New
Zealand, then in Sydney and Melbourne – at this stage.
Watch this space!!!
BIRGITT ON OZ-2000
(Delayed from the last issue. Ed)
I acknowledge with gratitude and
respect all of the people I met on my
recent journey to Australia. The
Open Space Institute, in ensuring professional development opportunities, negotiated
with me to do an Open Space Technology basics training program in Brisbane and
an Advanced Program focusing on the Open Space Organization in Melbourne, as
well as making me available to the Catholic Development Fund in Canberra. The
Open Space Institute wanted to achieve training for people in Australia and New
Zealand that was affordable and subsidized many of the costs through
providing my accommodation and
food, and in choosing economical venues, as well as contributing many many
hours of non-paid labour. Denis Cowan looked after the program in Brisbane and
he and his wife Diane were wonderful hosts to me. Brian Bainbridge looked after
the program in Melbourne and was a wonderful host to me there. We had 27 people at the Brisbane training and 24 at
the Melbourne training. Another 55 people participated in the Open Space
Technology meeting in Canberra, put
together by Herbie O'Flynn.
Both training programs, focusing
on professional development and skill and
capacity building, had an effect
that was deeply personal as well, for many
participants. For me, a
highlight of both programs was the closing circle. In Brisbane, the group
developed a medley of song, each verse using a melody from different songs and
featuring a concept that they had learned about Open Space Technology. In Melbourne,
people spoke of deeply transformative experiences. One participant told me that
I was a good trainer and that she was glad that I lived on the other side of
the world, to much laughter in the room. It was a great compliment because she
had started out as such a skeptic. And in the closing circle in Melbourne, Andrew
Donovan, Vitaliy, and Denis Cowan spoke
of their intention to put work into the Open Space Institute, and to get things
started by putting an event together for people working with Open Space
Technology to keep learning from each other. And Brian Bainbridge, who has been
instrumental in keeping the Institute going, was overjoyed.
In the closing circle of the
Open Space Technology meeting in Canberra, sponsored by the Catholic
Development fund, with leaders from many Catholic agencies and organizations,
spoke not only of their appreciation of the Open Space Technology meeting that
led to so many commitments for action, but also spoke emphatically about the
importance of using Open
Space Technology as a meeting
process throughout the Church.
The journey with you was a
privilege. Thank you."
BIRGITT WILLIAMS
August 2000
NEWSNOTE
I am working on setting up an
Open Space Discussion Forum on internet with particular focus on exploring the
issues and opportunities for corporate responsibility. The fo-
Rum will soon be on www.ethyca.com
Please feel free to participate
and/or give me any feedback on <vitaliy. geyman @rmit.edu.au>
From Vitaliy Geyman
Books & Booklets
“OPEN SPACE TECHNOLOGY” is a small pamphlet prepared by Harrison
Owen (with Anne Stadler). It is
published by Berrett-Koehler in San Francisco.
If you need a well-prepared and well-presented brochure to help
prospective users understand Open Space, this is exactly on target.
If you wish a copy, the charge is $6.50 and there are plenty of copies
on hand from OSI-OZ.
Harrison Owen’s THE POWER OF SPIRIT : How Organizations Transform” is now
available; e-mail to OSI-OZ for copies. The charge is $53.00.
DIARY DATES
19.3.2001
Harrison Owen - Wellington
22.3.2001
Harrison Owen – Monash Mt Eliza Business School
23-24.3.2001
Open Space on Open Space, Melbourne with Harrison Owen
25-26.3.2001
Harrison Owen – Canberra
27-28.3.2001
Harrison Owen – Sydney
29-30.3.2001
Harrison Owen – Brisbane
June 2001
Open Space Basic Training
-
Melbourne
??
18-21.8.2001
Vancouver OSonOS XI
April 2002
Birgitt Williams Programs in NZ and OZ.
OSLIST
Much discussion about ideas and developments about Open Space occur at
this NET address.
If you aren’t yet on this LIST it’s time to do that. An e-mail request to briansb@mira.net will access help on how to join
this free List.
OPEN SPACE
INSTITUTE OF
AUSTRALIA
OSI-OZ MEMBERSHIP is set at $25 per annum. You don’t get a lot for $25 today, but it
helps spread the word about OPEN SPACE and arrange and promote programs as can
be.
Maybe you can help keep the spirit growing by your membership.
And thanks to those who already help with this work.
*********************
The Institute can be reached c/o
Fr Brian S Bainbridge
P.O. Box 395
BLACKBURN Vic. 3130
Tel: 0412 111 525
OR
C/o Viv McWaters
PO Box 665
Torquay Vic. 3228
Tel (03)5278 3864
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