The Open Space Institute of Canada

OSIC and MEMBER EVENTS

Notice of members’ events is presented for information only and does not constitute

an endorsement of the event by the Open Space Institute of Canada.

Posted in the language used by the member

(Updated July 21, 2008)

Key Points Emerging from the June 19th OSIC Tele-Meeting

THEME: What are we hearing/learning about the concerns, needs and wants of our clients – and how does this relate to our knowledge of Open Space and the services OSIC provides?

Clients are looking to have conversations to identify common agendas and to create breakthroughs.

While collaboration and partnerships are “preached” in organizations, individual performance is what is measured. What does open space offer in this context?

Senior level people who are shifting careers discover a new level of connection when they experience open space. They always express an element of surprise in discovering this.

It is important to help the client identify his/her need. Opening conversations should explore and clarify the alignment between the values underlying open space, the client’s values and where applicable, the organizational values.

First we must understand the issue that the client wants to address, so that we can then determine if open space will do so effectively. Does the client need to mobilize people efficiently in a change process? Does he/she need to look for solutions in an efficient way? How willing is the client to open and share the space on the agenda? Then, we are able to see if OS is effective.

If the client is looking for an “activity” to entertain or please participants, then open space is not appropriate. It is important to say so and to explain why, without judging. This will protect the integrity of OS technology.

It is important to understand and convey the possibilities and limitations of OS.

OS has to be seen/experienced to be appreciated.

OS can serve as a tool for diagnosis and needs identification in a large organization. This has happened successfully in health organizations and in mergers and acquisitions situations.

Where OS results were not implemented by the client, as originally agreed, it is important to ask what factors contributed to this outcome. What we see is the need to have a conversation with the client, early in the process, about the risk for him/her of engaging in OS.

Opening the space with the client/sponsor on his/her vested interest in status quo of large organizations is important and congruent with the practice of open space.

Before arriving at a final agreement with the sponsor/client, it is important to meet with the highest level of authority (not always the sponsor/client) to inform his/her of OS project and to obtain support for follow-through of OS results.

Next meeting	October 9th 2008
Facilitator	Judy Gast (to be confirmed)
Theme	Collective Mentoring on OS
To reach out to newly trained people and provide a forum for learning through mentoring

World Open Space on Open Space 2008
San Francisco, California, USA

Monday, July 21 and Tuesday, July 22, 2008 – Open Space Learning Workshop

(for anyone who has not yet experienced Open Space – to learn about process and pre-work so that your explorations at the WOSonOS event with others can go deeper – for those who will be unable to come to the WOSonOS who would like to learn how to facilitate Open Space – or for those who may use Open Space but wish a chance to learn more with others.)

Tuesday evening, July 22 – A casual conversation with Harrison Owen and the launch of his 3rd Edition of “Open Space Technology: A User’s Guide”

(some time with ‘the guy in the hat’ and opportunities to be the very first owners of this latest greatest edition of this incredibly useful book)

Wednesday evening, July 23 – Welcome reception

(casual evening with little things to eat as we all arrive from our various homes around the globe and visit with each other)

Thursday, July 24 through mid-afternoon on Saturday, July 26 – World Open Space on Open Space

(exploring learning, inquiry, applications, variations, use across cultures and industries, tools and resources, complex questions, initiatives you are working on or would like to start

– whatever it is that *you* would like to convene a session about as together we learn and share from each other about - and in - Open Space)

For any of you who may be staying over - Monday, July 28 – Fabulous Facilitators lunchtime conversation with facilitators from across the San Francisco Bay Area.

And be prepared to be surprised – there are one or two more events in our WOSonOS 2008 week and season!

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Place: Conference at the Presidio, workshop, reception and other activities at Fort Mason, both in San Francisco, California USA.

Cost: Pay what you can. Contact Access Queen at lisaheft@openingspace.net if you may need help covering any of the costs, seek a room share, or need other resource support.

To Register: http://www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaid=150208

When you register you will receive a list of accommodations.

To receive advance notice for the September virtual WOSonOS: http://www.openspace-online.com/event/WOSOonOS-2008

Workshop
Whole Person Process Facilitation:
Session 2 of the Genuine Contact™ Program

Dates:	October 28-30, 2008
Location:	Auberge Prema Shanti, Val David, QC (see www.premashanti.ca for further details)
Cost:	$1,200 Early Bird Registration by October 1 $1,500 Regular Registration thereafter
Facilitators:	Marquis Bureau (Mbureau International Inc.), Michelle Cooper (Integral Visions Consulting Inc.) and Donna Clark (Emergent Futures Consulting Inc.)

About the Workshop
This workshop series will be offered simultaneously in English and French.

Organizations invest a lot of resources in meetings, so it is important that they are effective. How do you tap into the collective creativity and intelligence of the group to achieve the extraordinary results you are after?

We invite you to learn how to facilitate highly participative, highly effective meetings using Whole Person Process Facilitation (WPPF). Applied when you have specific outcomes that you need to achieve, these meetings:

Are efficient, effective and highly productive
Enable teams and leadership to emerge
Facilitate communication and learning
Improve morale

When used as part of an intentional leadership practice, WPPF can help you to build healthy organizations and transform the way you do business.

Whole Person Process Facilitation is a 3-day experiential workshop in which you learn how to facilitate meetings that attend to adult learning principles, whole brain learning, multiple dimensions of the individual (body, mind, emotions, and spirit), the learning environment and the facilitator.

What will I Learn at this Workshop?

You will leave this experiential, interactive workshop equipped with practical and holistic processes and tools that will enable you to:

Tap into the potential of individuals and the organization as a whole;
Design and lead meetings from two hours to several days in length, where there is a known agenda but there is lots of room for creative solutions to be identified;
Engage the multiple intelligences and learning styles of participants;
Achieve and maintain long-term organizational health;
Increase the capacity of organizations to work with and thrive with change;
Work with information, knowledge, and wisdom that comes from beyond the five senses.

All participants have access to support and mentorship following the training through an international network of consultants. For more information and registration details visit http://www.integralvisions.com/sessions.htm.

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