STORIES, The Newsletter of the Open Space Institute (US)
Issue 7, December, 2004
Purpose of the Newsletter
The purpose of the newsletter is to make our stories available to each other
so that we continue to learn and grow. We hope they will serve you for
education, examples, connection and pleasure.
This newsletter is intended for the use of friends and members of the Open
Space Institute (US). It may be reproduced in any useful way with
acknowledgement. When copying, please include the
author/contact/publication information at the end of each story.
In This Issue
1 -- Editor's Note
2 -- Stories
3 -- December Stillness
4 -- Announcements
5 -- Coming Events
6 -- Open Space Training
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1 -- EDITOR'S NOTE
In the northern hemisphere, we are now in the season of winter solstice,
with long, dark nights and short days, the sun often overshadowed by rain or
snow clouds. I've been enjoying the dark, venturing out for damp or foggy
walks-but I soon return to the fire. And I find that, like my Scandinavian
ancestors, I want to light candles at night and in the early morning, to
make a small circle of light in the darkness.
The news of the season is dark as well-war, and acts of terror, and the
horror of tens of thousands of people, homes and livelihoods swept away by
earthquakes and tsunamis in southeast Asia. In the midst of these days of
chaos and darkness, the stories that you may read below come to me with the
grace of lighted candles on a winter day.
I find myself moved and inspired by what people are doing with everyday
tools: the gift of appreciation, which helps us discover shared values and
wishes, and the simple ritual of opening a larger space, a space which
welcomes diverse points of view and makes room for our creativity. This
issue is devoted specifically to combining Appreciative Inquiry and Open
Space in working with organizations. And these stories are representative
of the many ways that we are growing, learning, bringing together all the
best methods we know, on behalf of our clients, our communities, our lives
together.
I appreciate Peggy's good work in gathering these stories for our pleasure.
I think you will enjoy hearing about the candles your friends and colleagues
are lighting!
Joelle Lyons Everett
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2 -- STORIES
This issue, devoted to stories about Open Space and Appreciative Inquiry
contains the "rough cuts" of the November 2004 issue of the Appreciative
Inquiry Practitioner. For your reading pleasure:
http://www.openspaceworld.org/tmnfiles/newsletter0412AIP.htm
Emerging in Appreciative
Space...................................................................Peggy
Holman
Open Space as
Appreciative........................................................................Harrison
Owen
An Open Invitation to the
Appreciative.........................................................Diana
Whitney
Cross-Cultural Integration: Mobilizing the Grass
Roots..................................Sharon King
Engaging Strategy with Apprecitive Inquiry and Open
Space.........................Larry Peterson
Liberation & Communication: Tapping the Wisdom of the
Collective.............Christine Whitney Sanchez
Rapid High-Participation Strategic
Planning...................................................Sallie Lee,
Debbie Morris, and Birgitt Williams
Learning to Lead: A School for
Executives....................................................Diane Gibeault
A Wealth Creating Dynamic Duo: AI and
OST.............................................Anne Stadler
Unicef in the Former Yugoslavia: Annual
Retreat...........................................Carla Vliex
Constructing the Future Together - Appreciative Space
Launch.....................Kaj Voetmann and Sara Inés Gómez
Open Space and Appreciative Inquiry
Together...Online..............................Gabriel Shirley
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3 -- DECEMBER STILLNESS
There is no peace on earth:
But still
A star hangs low against the black December sky,
Catkins hang on winter-bare red branches,
Cold, silent waiting holds the world.
There is no peace on earth:
But still
A friend holds my eye with a steady smile,
A fire on the hearth holds back the winter darkness,
A child, playing by the hearth, sings snatches of a song.
There is no peace on earth:
What use, against the darkness,
One fire, one smile?
What use, against the darkness,
One child, one star, one song?
There will be peace on earth:
Be still.
--Joelle Lyons Everett
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4 -- ANNOUNCEMENTS
THE OPEN SPACE WORLD MAP
The OS world map tracks the spread of Open Space Technology (108 countries
presently). In addition, it provides space for everyone working with Open
Space (estimated to be more than 10 000) in all of those countries. All are
invited to include themselves in this Map. Inclusion is self selected,
conferring neither title, nor certification nor endorsement through others.
Expenses are covered through fees that are structured so that nobody is
excluded by reason of cash. The Map is a service of Michael M Pannwitz.
Curious? Please visit:
http://www.openspaceworldmap.org/
WORLD-WIDE OPEN SPACE RESEARCH PROJECT
What has been the effect of Open Space in the world? That's what we want to
find out. Information on how you can participate coming soon....
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5 -- COMING EVENTS
Open Space on Open Space in the U.S.
San Antonio, Texas
November 2005 (dates TBD)
Participants in the first 2004 U.S. OSonOS thought it would be a good idea
to have another, probably in November and probably in San Antonio Texas.
Stay tuned at this address for more information:
http://www.openspaceworld.org/network/wiki.cgi?OpenSpaceOnOpenSpaceInUS
Open Space on Open Space - international
Halifax, Nova Scotia
August 3-6, 2005
Stay tuned to this address for more information:
http://www.openspaceworld.org/wiki/wiki/wiki.cgi?OpenSpaceOnOpenSpace
Until the site is ready, contact Judi Richardson judir@accesswave.ca
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6 -- OPEN SPACE TRAINING
For the most current information on Open Space training resources, visit
http://www.openspaceworld.org/wiki/wiki/wiki.cgi?OpenSpaceTraining
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STORIES is published occasionally, online, by the Open Space Institute (US).
To subscribe, contact Peggy Holman, usa@openspaceworld.org
To submit your story, contact Joelle Everett, jleshelton@aol.com