Remembering Fr. Brian Bainbridge



Fr. Brian Bainbridge’s death caught so many of us by surprise. He was a great friend and teacher and student with OS practitioners around the world. He belongs on any short list of people responsible for making Open Space the global phenomenon that it has become. He travelled the world facilitating and teaching, learning and conferencing (he almost never missed the annual OSonOS) and then always returned home to life as a parish priest — where he really did practice what he preached about self-organization. Andrew Rixon and Kate Kneebone offered these reflective interviews with Brian. They’re published today to mark the second anniversary of his passing.

1. Brian a co-discoverer of Open Space Technology?
2. Brian’s scholarship at the international level
3. Opening Space with the world bank and becoming a parish priest
4. Reflections on his role within the Catholic church
5. Among other things, how Brian became a priest – there was no masterplan
6. Brian’s love of world travel and sabbaticals!

Andrew and Kate posted all six of these into a playlist on YouTube.

open space on open space – old and new


Recently on the OSLIST, David Smith of imaginAction, Victoria, Australia, shared this short video of OSonOS 2002. It happens to feature our old friend, Father Brian Bainbridge, hosting the annual international practice conference, when it went down under.

Seems an appropriate lead-in to the newest world OSonOS invitation, coming from also-under friends in Chile. The 19th annual Open Space on Open Space will happen in October, 2011. You are invited. Click here for details and registration.

The Company of the Future


Harold Shinsato sent this to the OSLIST after last year’s Open Space on Open Space practitioners conference:

I’ve just finished uploading a 50 minute video of the highly interactive discussion held at the Berlin WOSonOS – “What is the company of the future?” which was convened by Deborah Maarek. I found it packed with really great experiential reports of how to build a company around a much more sustainable, participatory, and light weight model.

Berlin WOSonOS – Company of the Future from Harold Shinsato on Vimeo.

There is a place for interactive notes for the session here – I put the link to the video also in this site, in case you want to find the video in the future.

Second European OS Learning Exchange


Please join us for the Second European OS Learning Exchange (first was in Paris in 2009) from May, 17 through 20, 2011 in Italy.

This event is a unique chance to meet and link up with other European colleagues and learn how they are using Open Space in their work and daily practice. Living, experiencing and working in Open Space for three days with people from all over Europe interested in Open Space Technology. How does it work? Why does it work? How can I make a living with it? What is self-organisation, anyway, and what does it have to do with Open Space Technology? What is it useful for? Why are people so enthusiastic about it? Come find out!

The sponsoring team is a group of three organisations: Poliste (IT), Genius Loci (IT) and boscop (DE) and we have so far 6 Co-Inviter from 5 countries. 27 people signed already up for the event and we have plenty of space since the venue we are meeting at has about 2000 sqm. All the details about the event are here at http://en.boscop.org/events/636.

8th Haitian OSonOS Gathering


John Engle sends this report and also publishes on-the-ground regular updates on progress at http://www.haitipartners.org/the-blog/:

We just completed 9th Annual Haiti Open Space on Open Space. Here’s a quick blog entry with link to photos and a short video.

http://www.haitipartners.org/2010/06/9th-annual-haiti-open-space/

We are grateful more than you can imagine for generous support of OSI (US), which is made possible through people like you. THANK YOU!

Open Space is thriving in Haiti. More than 80 people convened from around the country for this gathering. The atmosphere was upbeat and even joyful. The resilience of Haiti’s people continues to amaze me.

Thank you for your interest in what’s happening in Haiti and for your generous support. We feel so fortunate to be a part of this global network.

With deep gratitude,

John, on behalf of many here

Open Space on Open Space: Berlin and Melbourne in May


This is a special invitation to a free Open Space on Open Space in Melbourne on Tuesday May 11 at the Abbotsford Convent.

Of course, the WOSonOS is in Berlin, Germany May 12 – 15.

You may also be aware that Fr Brian Bainbridge (who died in early February this year) was instrumental in the growth and development of Open Space in Australia and New Zealand. He also maintained the Open Space Institute, circulated regular newsletters and trained many of us in the art and practice of Open Space Technology. He was also well known throughout the world and attended all but one of the last 17 World Open Space on Open Space events. He was, of course, planning to attend the WOSonOS in Berlin.

We have decided to host a Fringe Open Space on Open Space in Melbourne on May 11 to continue the tradition of having local Open Space on Open Space events and to honour Brian’s contribution. Fringe because it’s the day before the WOSonOS and we hope to post some pictures and reports on the (yet to be created) new Australasian Open Space Institute web site for those in Berlin, and elsewhere, to enjoy. It’s also an opportunity to explore the future of Open Space in Australasia – and to do what we always do at an Open Space on Open Space: have conversations about what matters to us, whatever that might be.

Oh, you’re wondering who ‘we’ is? Well, it’s me (Viv McWaters) and Andrew Rixon (Australia) and Anne Pattillo (New Zealand) and Chris Corrigan (Canada) and Johnnie Moore (UK) and Geoff Brown (Australia). So you see it’s our mini World Open Space on Open Space, and even if no-one else comes we’ll have great conversations.

But we’d love you to join us.

Date: Tuesday May 11 2010
Venue: Abbotsford Convent, 1 St Heliers Street, Abbotsford
Time: 9.30 am – 4 pm
Cost: Free
Format: Open Space

Please mailto:viv@mcwaters.com.au if you plan to attend, or if you have any questions. That way we’ll know how many lunches to order.

OSonOS 2010 in Berlin


Datum 12. Mai 2010 – 15. Mai 2010

Tags: OSonOS , WOSonOS

Dateien: accomodation_WOSONOS_2010 , Flyer_18th_WOSonOS_Berlin

18th World Open Space on Open Space Harrison Owen, 2009: “…At the end of the day Open Space Technology is not about having great meetings. Nor is it simply another tool in the facilitators’ tool box, although both are doubtless true. For me the true equity I find in OST is the ongoing natural experiment and learning experience of living intentionally in a self-organizing world.”

Teilnehmerzahl 150
Dauer 3 days
Sprachen Englisch

Please join us! Details…

Open Space on Open Space – San Francisco


What are the possibilities of Open Space in our lives, organizations and communities? What capacities and tools do we need, to move to the next level with this work? Let’s gather and learn from one another. Jeff Aitken, Kaliya Hamlin, Lisa Heft and Heidi Nobantu Saul invite you to…

OSonOS 2010

Open Space on Open Space

January 15-17, 2010

in San Francisco, California, USA

complete details

Several days in and about Open Space — where the newly trained and the longtime practitioners will share our excitement, encouragement, trials and errors — and explore how we use this remarkable organizational and community-building process, on its own or with other tools and methods.

Report from 1st European Open Space on Open Space, Paris 2009


This report from Christine Koehler in Paris:

Appreciation, common ground, and deep conversation: all appear in Open Space as natural, emergent phenomenon. Best of all the people believe they did it all by themselves. And they did! Further more they know at some deep level that they can do the same thing again – and will. That is true empowerment. It is not the method, the process, or the facilitator. It is the people. And I can go and take a nap knowing that they will do an infinitely better job no matter how hard I might work. –Harrison Owen to OSLIST, July 30, 2009

On October 30, Saturday October 31 and Sunday, November 1rst 2009, was held the first European Learning Exchange , for a 3 days Open Space format, in one of the most beautiful scene in Paris : La Grande Arche de la Defense Facilitators, organizations, sponsors, colleagues who use Open Space Technology as a wonderful way to help groups self-organize and solve their most important problems with passion and responsibility were welcome.

We explored how we can best assist sponsors, organizations and ourselves to expand space and time for self-organization

Thirty-four participants coming from France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, USA, speaking and holding sessions in English or French or in both langages, a facilitator from Germany, a team speaking 3 langages, gathered together at La Grande Arche . There was great ayurvedic food with spicy tastes, great energy, passionate discussions, interesting topics.

Twenty-three topics were posted as well as 18 action plans :

* open space film
* Quelles conditions idéales pour une efficience optimale ?
* Situation of Open Space in France and in Europe
* Follow-up of interventions : experience, practice
* Open Space in the Balkan Countries
* OsT et IT
* prepare participants to prepare to be surprised
* How to measure the ROI of collaborative facilitation designs ?
* How and where can we use OS ‘facilitation methods in France ?
* How do l calculate my fee for OST-facilitation
* WOSonOS 2010 Berlin
* Sustain cross pollination (follow-up)
* Cercles de reconnaissances
* How can we use collaborative approaches to support Eco-responsive initiatives ?
* comment aider les entreprises à créer un environnement favorable à l’épanouissement des salariés, quête de sens et valeurs partagées ?
* Open Space in participatory planning and public deliberation processes
* What is unique about OST ?
* Learning Exchange : reloaded, continued, deepen
* OST as ldentity building process
* What could a community of OSniks do in France ?
* A network of practitioners of collaborative approaches
* Talking alternatives processes into the French organizations
* La décroissance
* Comment créer une culture collaborative en entreprise ?
* Next steps (18 )

To have a better feeling about this event, look at our pictures and videos: Invitation on slides, Photos on Flickr.com are here and here. Watch the Video of closing circle. You can also download the Book of proceedings ( pdf file ).

See you next time in Berlin in may 2010 for World Open Space on Open Space. We expect to have passionnate discussion about the future of Open Space events in Europe. Come and join us there !

OSonOS in San Francisco, Training in SF and NYC


What are the possibilities of Open Space in our lives, organizations and communities? What capacities and tools do we need, to move to the next level with this work? Let’s gather and learn from one another.

Jeff Aitken, Kaliya Hamlin, Lisa Heft and Heidi Nobantu Saul invite you to several days in and about Open Space — where the newly trained and the longtime practitioners will share our excitement, encouragement, trials and errors — and explore how we use this remarkable organizational and community-building process, on its own or with other tools and methods:


San Francisco, California, USA
January 15 through January 17, 2010

Casual gathering to meet old and new friends and colleagues
Friday, January 15, 2010 – 5:00-7:00 pm
(nibbles, beverages and conversation – dinner on your own)

Open Space on Open Space
Saturday, January 16, 2010
8:30 am arrival, 9:00 am prompt start; Evening News until 5:00, pot-luck dinner to follow

Sunday, January 17, 2010
8:30 am arrival, 9:00 am prompt start; Closing Circle ends at 4:00, Newsroom open until 5:00
(included in the registration fee, Saturday and Sunday breakfast nibbles and lunches – join us to create a ‘pot luck’ dinner on Saturday evening)

To Register

Contact lisaheft@openingspace.net for more information and a registration form. The sooner you register and send payment, the more we can help share resources with others who would like to come – so we encourage you to register now. We would appreciate your registration form no later than January 5.

The Site

The OSonOS will be held at beautiful Fort Mason, a historic military garrison that now houses arts organizations, the world-famous Greens restaurant, reception facilities and more. Walk outside to enjoy the fresh Bay air, wave to sea lions, crabs and shore birds and see the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island. The rest of San Francisco is just a bus or a taxi ride away. If budget is an issue, there is even a hostel nearby with the best view in the world.

Getting Here

Fly into San Francisco International Airport (SFO), which is about 15.5 miles from Fort Mason. Take a rental car, taxi (about $52 dollars US one-way, including tip), BART train to the MUNI bus system ($8.10 US for BART, $2.00 for MUNI), or shuttle into the city ($19.00 one-way including tip). Local city transit is via BART, MUNI, taxi, your car or your own two feet or wheelchair. Oakland International Airport, in the East Bay, is about 23 miles from Fort Mason. We recommend you stay at an accommodation near Fort Mason / Marina District / Fisherman’s Wharf area. Parking at the Fort Mason site is $8 per day or evening if you park inside the gates; free if you park outside the gates but do watch signs for restricted parking areas.

Accommodation

Delegates are responsible for their own accommodation – please ask for a list of local places to stay if you need one. Our list includes a full range of accommodations from the $30/night dormitory-style hostel to large hotels.

Global Village Marketplace and Silent Auction

One of our traditions for an OSonOS is to have a Global Village Marketplace – where we sell folk art, poetry or other lovely items to each other to raise money for our own travel expense or for the Access Queen (scholarship) Project. We will also have a Silent Auction for the Access Queen Project – highest bidder gets to buy the lovely item for this same fund. So pack into your luggage some lovely artisan work, poetry, shawl or other item to sell to other OpenSpaceniks, and bring a little extra money if you like (US dollars please) to buy lovely things from your lovely colleagues.

Suitcase Cuisine

As Saturday is a ‘pot luck’ dinner, feel free to pack into your luggage, buy nearby or bring from home a special food or beverage item to contribute to our buffet.

Open Space Learning Workshop
December 9-11, 2009 in San Francisco

As the OSonOS is not a training but rather an invitation to explore OST on deeper levels, we encourage anyone who has not yet learned the method or facilitated Open Space to attend a workshop or read Harrison’s book and jump right in a few times before attending this conference.

The Open Space Learning Workshops bring together those who are new to the method and those who have experienced it — an opportunity to share your learning and understanding of the method and to prepare yourselves for facilitating your own Open Space. You will experience an Open Space meeting and learn how to design, prepare hosts or clients, coordinate and facilitate the meeting and help organizations or communities support the actions and momentum that come out of the event.

This experiential workshop will include all of the things you may wish to know for holding your own Open Space event – from planning, preparation and design to logistics, talking with sponsors/clients, developing invitations and themes, recording proceedings, event follow-up, ‘what-ifs’ and anything else you personally would like to share or ask about. Registration fees are flexible – money should never get in the way of learning. Participants are encouraged to read Harrison Owen’s book “Open Space Technology: A User’s Guide” prior to this workshop.

For more information about content, schedule and pricing for the December workshop, contact Lisa Heft at lisaheft@openingspace.net.

For those of you nearer to the New York region
– our colleagues in New York are hosting a training the same January weekend as this OSonOS – if you have not yet learned about Open Space and are in that region, let Lisa know and she can send you more information.

WOSonOS Report


Gail West, convener of the group that hosted the 18th annual World Open Space on Open Space practitioners’ gathering, reports from sunny Taiwan:

It was a time of deep, conversation, fun in the sessions and outside, celebration, I-Ching readings, spacial massage, reiki healing for one of the participants who got ill the last day, one child who came with her Mother, drawings, delicious food and more. And so……………. before the closing circle on Day 3, we had a whole-group conversation about “what’s next?” Following an invitation from Michael Jr to a global open space community gathering in Berlin in May 2010, we declared a consensus from this gathered group on behalf of others who were not able to be present in Taiwan, to have the 18th WOSONOS in Berlin in 2010. We hope to see many of you (including those not on this listserve) in Berlin in May 2010!

There were lots of camera folks here, so another round of photos, as well as the group discussions can be found in the included links. Enjoy!

Click for WOSONOS 2009 pictures on flicker or WOSONOS 2009 Group Discussion Documents Anyone can just sign-in, add new post, leave some comment, or start a new discussion.

Another Successful OSonOS in Haiti


John Engle reports more success from Haiti…

I’m delighted to share photos from 8th Annual Haiti OSonOS, which convened for three days 70 Haitians, many of whom are educators and community leaders from around the country. These photos taken by Haitian pro photographer, Eric Graham:

A special thanks to Open Space Institute, USA for providing scholarships for 16 participants.

With deep gratitude, John

PS Here’s an unprofessionally done video, created by me ; ) I made it especially for folks who were there but I’ll share it here in case some of you want to get a better feel for the meeting.

17th Annual World Open Space on Open Space


The 17th annual world open space on open space (OSonOS) practitioner gathering in Taipei, Taiwan – October 15-17, 2009 is now available for viewing and registration.

Deuxième Forum ouvert sur le Forum ouvert


Second Open Space on Open Space in French

Imagining, Being and Living Open Space!

June 18-20 2009 in Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette, Quebec, Canada, near Ottawa.

For you who have experienced Open Space and who are interested in learning more about this participative and highly performing method for group work, you are invited to the second international gathering in French.

Organized by members of the R̩seau francophone du Forum ouvert (RFFO) РOpen Space Francophone Network. For additional information: http://fosurfo.blogspot.com. RFFO is a member of Open Space Institute of Canada.

Registration :
Marquis Bureau – marquis@mbureau.com ou 819 766-2873
Hélène Lamoureux – helenelamoureux@sympatico.ca ou 819 459-4446
Odette Levac – levacmao@hotmail.com ou 819 561-5123


Deuxième Forum ouvert sur le Forum ouvert

Imaginez, être et vivre le Forum ouvert!

Du 18 au 20 juin 2009 à Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette, Québec, Canada, près d’Ottawa.

Pour vous qui avez fait l’expérience du Forum ouvert et qui vous intéressez à en apprendre davantage sur cette méthode participative et performante de travail en groupe, voici une invitation à la deuxième rencontre internationale en français.

Cet événement est une initiative de membres enthousiastes du Réseau francophone du Forum ouvert (RFFO). Pour de plus amples renseignements : http://fosurfo.blogspot.com. RFFO est membre de l’Open Space Institute of Canada.

Inscription :
Marquis Bureau – marquis@mbureau.com ou 819 766-2873
Hélène Lamoureux – helenelamoureux@sympatico.ca ou 819 459-4446
Odette Levac – levacmao@hotmail.com ou 819 561-5123

17th Annual World Open Space on Open Space


From Gail West and the Taiwan hosting team…

The final date has been set. We invite you all to the 2009 WOSONOS in Taiwan 15-17 October 2009! This grand event will take place in Taipei at the National Training Institute for Farmers’ Organizations in the northern part of the city located within a few blocks of Yang Ming Shan Mountain. In light of the chaotic economic situation, we are working to keep the expenses as low as possible and will let you know when all is finalized.

We encourage you to make your time in Taiwan an extended trip in order to visit our lovely, unique island, Take full advantage of hiking in the mountains, enjoying the seashore, museums, temples, aborigines villages, hot springs relaxing, a short (2 1/2 hour) high speed rail trip down the west coast to the southern cities of Kaohsiung and Tainan, the east coast scenic mountains, gorges and sea coast, the people, the food and more……….!

Our Conference website is in the making, thanks to the support from the San Francisco 2008 team, but you can find useful information on Taiwan by looking at the linked websites on our current blog http://wosonostaiwan.blogspot.com/ or just google it.

Open Space on Open Space Proceedings


The proceedings from the sixteenth annual Open Space on Open Space, about 80 sessions worth of notes, thanks to 120 or so friends and practitioners, from more countries than I could tally from the participant list… are now posted for downloading. Enjoy!

Open Space *Online* on Open Space


You are invited to join the Worldwide OpenSpace-Online on Open Space Technology on September 20th, 2008

Together with a group of co-inviters Gabriela Ender and her team from Germany invite worldwide face-to-face Open Space practitioners to a next global OpenSpace-Online Real-time Conference on Open Space Technology.

The title: “Open Space Technology – What can we learn, teach, explore, share, discover with each other about our work?”

Let’s get together in real-time to exchange experiences, ideas, dreams and resources. This Internet conference also provides wonderful opportunities for greeting old Open Space friends and for meeting new Open Space colleagues from around the world.

Through a sponsor cooperation with NEULAND this event is free of charge.

Interested? You are warmly invited to visit the invitation website and to register online before September 12th, 2008.

WOSonOS XVI Day One Topics


Sessions convened today at the international World Open Space on Open Space included:

*Public Space with Heart and Meaning: Creating Coffeehouses that Matter
*Hearing (telling) Stories on OS Spreading Around the World
*Designing a Research Project: Open Space on Basque Conflict with Teenagers
*Conflict Resolution at the Cross Roads: If conflict exists, how do we co-exist in a conflict situation? Can a traditional justice system work?
*How to Transform a Town Using Open Space Technology
*Signs of a World Awakening
*Discussion and Movement
*Combining OST with World Cafe
*Ways to use OS to Weave Community to Transform Culture
*OS in Commercial/Business Settings
*Bringing OST to Global Climate Change Problems and Solutions
*Freedom and OS
*How Can we Develop Communicatively Competent Citizens to Realise the Re-emergence of Deliberative Democracy to Address the “Crisis” in Western Cultures?
*World Wide Open Space on the Future of Humanity
*How to Answer When the Sponsor Asks, What is the Facilitator Doing?
*An Open Space School
*Facilitating with Kids
*Executive Leadership and Open Space
*17 Ways to Ruin Open Space
*Using Open Space in Local Government
*Open Space Institute – US Annual Member Meeting: What’s Happening?
*Nonviolent Communication and OST
*OST Tricks for Here and Overseas
*OS Facilitator Intentional Learning and Teaching — Sharing Wisdom
*How to Use Open Space to Create a NV Movement in Argentina
*OS as ‘Public Art’ in Communities and Across Communities
*Open Space as Ancestral Space
*Magic Stick (what would we do if we had one, which we do?)
*Coming to Ground: Crafting Home
*OS on Broadway, How Far Can I Go: I’m doing a big $10M Broadway musical – could it be organised in Open Space. Or are the stakes too high for the producers?
*How Is and Can Online Social Tools be Used Before and After an Open Space Event to Build Community?

WOSonOS XVI events underway


While tomorrow is the official start of World Open Space on Open Space XVI, conference events are well underway.

The week started with an extremely well-attended (40+ participants) two day Open Space Technology learning workshop led by Lisa Heft. People from Uganda, Russia, Spain (Basque country), South Korea, the Netherlands, UK, and other countries attended the workshop.

Tuesday evening Harrison Owen presented the third edition (expanded and updated) of Open Space Technology: a User’s Guide. Harrison encouraged the approximately 100 attendees to dive in to the wine and crackers after a short talk about Open Space, self-organization, and his upcoming book, Wave Rider: Leadership for High Performance in a Self-organizing World. It was a delightful meeting of new and old friends of Open Space.

This evening, Wednesday, was an informal gathering also held at the historic Fort Mason site. This was the traditional pre-conference informal gathering. More wine, a delicious dinner, and extremely rich conversation.

Lisa Heft gives a taste of the whole WOSonOS experience thus far on the OSlist.

More reporting from the conference forthcoming!

Look at OSonOS in Haiti


John Engle sends pictures from the 7th annual OSonOS in Haiti.

There were about 80 participants. Mostly were Haitians coming from towns and villages from around the country, plus eleven from Dominican Republic and several from the US. Great meeting! Lots of synergy as usual and plans for trainings, conferences, exchanges, etc.

Way to go, Haiti!

The 7th Annual Scandanavian OSonOS, near Oslo, August 2008


If you can’t make the 16th Annual World Open Space on Open Space (see below), maybe you can join the 7th Annual Scandanavian OSonOS. It will take place in Ã…s kommune in Norway, not far from Oslo, on August 8-9. The full invitation is still being worked out by our Norweigian colleagues, but you might keep an eye on sidebar at www.openspaceconsulting.com for details.

The 16th Annual World OSonOS Conference, San Francisco, July 2008


The World Open Space on Open Space (WOSonOS) is a conference in and about Open Space — for facilitators, organizations and colleagues who use Open Space.

Join us July 21 through 28, 2008, in San Francisco, California, USA. “What Can We Learn / Share / Teach / Explore / Discover with Each Other about our work in Open Space around the world?” That is what we want to find out!

This year, a full week of events includes an Open Space Learning Workshop (July 21-22), an Author Evening with Harrison Owen and the launch of his Third Edition of Open Space Technology: A User’s Guide, and several days in and about Open Space with colleagues from around the world.

Online Registration

The 16th Annual World OSonOS Conference, San Francisco, July 2008


The World Open Space on Open Space (WOSonOS) is a conference in and about Open Space — for facilitators, organizations and colleagues who use Open Space.

Join us July 21 through 28, 2008, in San Francisco, California, USA. “What Can We Learn / Share / Teach / Explore / Discover with Each Other about our work in Open Space around the world?” That is what we want to find out!

This year, a full week of events includes an Open Space Learning Workshop (July 21-22), an Author Evening with Harrison Owen and the launch of his Third Edition of Open Space Technology: A User’s Guide, and several days in and about Open Space with colleagues from around the world.

Online Registration