Dear Harrison,

Happy belated Birthday, dear Harrison Owen.

I’m sorry this reply is late, Harrison, as I’ve been fighting off a bout of Covid symptoms. I’ve also been reflecting on the profound influence you and your work have had upon me and my company, Improbable. Since that book fell itself off my shelf and told me it was about time I read it! As circles widen, there are also all the other people who have come into contact with the concept of Open Space through you and the wonderful fellow creators of Open Space Technology all those years ago.

Many of them have felt that influence through our own (now numbering in the hundreds) Open Space events. Others have experienced it through the practice of Open Space in our shows, as we have incorporated the principles into our daily rehearsals and the creation of our shows. Your’e gift was an abundance of spirit. Some are feeling it right now coming off the stage in our current show, “My Neighbour Totoro” at the Barbican in London.

Thank you so much for this generous gift, which now exists outside of you, beyond you, and all of us who believe in this crazy, sometimes scary, sometimes beautiful wave that we call life. I’ve been honored to be riding the waves with you.

Lots of Love,

Phelim

I generally pick up emails only at the beginning and end of the working day. I am currently aiming to respond the following day. If it is urgent please call me on 07956 187298.

___________________/////////////

Sent from my iPhone

On 4 Dec 2023, at 14:34, Eva P Svensson via OSList <everyone@oslist.org> wrote:

Dear Harrison,I’m standing in line to cheer to you for your birthday and my thanks for Open Space, such a gift and blessing. My way into Open Space was through Thomas Herrman and Eiwor Backelund holding a training here in Sweden more than 20 years ago - and as other has said -those days change my life - or merely I finally found what I was looking for - and believed in. The training was held the same days that you were in Italy (I think?) holding an OST meeting in a very stressful situation amongst religious leaders. During the training we were following your story about what happened here on the list and we were very exited when we read the morning news that all went well.

I also remember my first posting here on the list and YOU answered - and it was like I was ”chatting” with ”Freud” or any other well known guru :-)

So Happy Birthday and hoping for many more to come

:o)

Eva

4 dec. 2023 kl. 14:10 skrev Rijon Erickson via OSList <everyone@oslist.org>:

Harrison,

I imagine your 88 years lived like 88 keys of a piano, each with a different combination of strings, pegs, and hammers, each having a different pitch, and each contributing a different and special part of the music being played.

Keep playing The Music with SPIRIT!

Rijon

On Mon, Dec 4, 2023 at 5:03 AM Funda Oral via OSList <everyone@oslist.org> wrote:

Dear Harrison,

I had travelled from Istanbul to Berlin for your 70th Birthday and we had a great party at Berlin Open Space Cooperative. Now i am in Berlin again. Next year we are organizing Wosonos in Istanbul.

Ever since, i keep bothering everybody around me with this simple yet somehow difficult to explain method, Open Space Technology.

Thanks Harrison, OST has also changed my life as many of my colleagues and it keeps me hope for the humanity.

Best wishes and Happy birthday💐

Funda Oral

www.fundaoraltoussaint.com

4 Ara 2023 Pzt 05:09 tarihinde Audrey Hepburn via OSList <everyone@oslist.org> şunu yazdı:

Dear Harrison and friends i Open Space！

Congratulations Harrison and miss you very much！

I would like share you a good news，excpet " Wave Rider" has been published in China，"The power of spirit" has passed reviewed by the China National publishing House，so we will get the Chinese version as soon as possible.

The ESG Ecological Conference was successfully held last month and used Open Space. More than 3 million people watched the live broadcast and 500 people attended the on-site meeting. Almost all participants in China's ESG files are shocked by the energy brought by Open Space.

Happy birthday!!! This is my 88th birthday gift for you!

Love you and every my OpenSpace Family!!

Audrey Hepburn

郑晓琼（Audrey Hepburn）

Founder&CEO

Open Space Technology Beijing Co.,Ltd.

Wechat：gulobano

Email： openspace_china@126.com

Tel： 86-18600086781

Peace•Flow•Passion•Responsibility

---- Replied Message ----

FromHege Steinsland via OSList<everyone@oslist.org>Date12/03/2023 10:32Tochris.corrigan<chris.corrigan@gmail.com>CcSuzanne Daigle<sdaigle4@gmail.com>,
Harrison Owen<hhowen@verizon.net>,
OSList <everyone@oslist.org>Subject[OSList] Re: Happy 88th Harrison!

Dear Harrison and friends i Open Space!Congratulations Harrison with celebrating the gift of Open Space.

My way in to the life and practice of open space was first guided by Ingunn Svendsen in Norway pointing me to Thomas Herrmann in Sweden for workshop in the Genuine Contact program. My life and work changed from there.

I was also happy to meet you Harrison in London wosonos in 2012.

Now Open space is finding its way into Municipalities on the west cost of Norway, Aalesund. The work, spirit and approach is more needed than ever!

All the best

Hege Steinsland
Sendt fra min iPhone

3. des. 2023 kl. 07:14 skrev Chris Corrigan via OSList <everyone@oslist.org>:

Happy birthday Harrison.

Of all the things I have learned from you, perhaps the most important is how you have continually gifted Open Space Technology to the world. The principle of “trust the people” in every way is the essence of facilitating Open Space. But it is also the principle of how to host a community of people within an organization, a network, a global community.

Open Space Technology changed the way I work, and has been massively influential in so many important areas of work and life and community. And it was through your convening and generosity that I discovered many of the key collaborators that have been my partners and friends and teachers and colleagues over the past 28 years.

So a personal thank you to join this chorus of love and gratitude. Thank you for always operating from Spirit and inviting it the flow between us all.

Have a happy birthday!

Chris

On Sat, Dec 2, 2023 at 5:23 PM Suzanne Daigle via OSList <everyone@oslist.org> wrote:

Dear Harrison,Wow 88…like an infinity sign representing the timeless influence and inspiration that you had on so many of us by introducing Open Space. Your gift was the gift of a more vibrant life, full of spirit, deep friendships and love. With a multiplier effect that is impossible to describe. Something we experience that is bigger than words. Like life. I got hooked in 2009 and the feeling of it never left me. It just grew and grew.

Today may you feel the shared love and appreciation from so many of us, as described by colleagues here and others who may not know it’s your birthday today.

Big hugs,

Suzanne from Canada not too far from Camden Maine where many met by the sea, with a picture here of you on the waters there

<image0.jpeg>

Sent from my iPhone

On Dec 2, 2023, at 7:33 PM, Donnan Stoicovy via OSList <everyone@oslist.org> wrote:

Happy Birthday, Harrison! So fortunate to have you as a part of my professional learning. Blessing to you as you celebrate your 88th birthday!

Open Space change my approach to so many learning situations. I was just explaining it to someone on Friday who listened but was unwilling to let go of her plan for a meeting. I will circle back at another time.

Best wishes to you for good health, enduring friends and continued learning!

Donnan Stoicovy

On Dec 2, 2023, at 6:16 PM, Tova Averbuch via OSList <everyone@oslist.org> wrote:

Dear Harrison

I embarked on a journey to the USA in 1997 determined to find a new paradigm of change work in organizations. A year passed and I was deeply disappointed for I moved my family and found nothing. Luckily by 1998 I met OST through and the User's guide and in 1999, a moth before heading back home to Israel, I met you in a week's seminar. Meeting OST had changed me and the work I do in the world in a profound way.

In 2000, you wrote you were coming to Israel to teach with me. I was so intimidated and happy at the same time. No words to tell you how fortunate I felt. Working together in Israel and Rome, meeting again in POP on Whidbey Island, spending time in my home with my family, colleagues and friends, are all moments I cherish.

Sometimes we agreed sometimes we fought but you are the person and teacher who changed my life more than anybody else.

On your birthday it is a good time to remember and tell the story of how blessed I feel for being your friend, learning and working together. To thank you for having my back every time I needed it and opening more and more gates in my soul, as the space I opened was not enough…

Thank you and bless you for all the richness and encouragement you brought into my life, and for some of the unnecessary burdens you helped let go of… J

Wishing you great health of body and soul, friendship and calm,

I miss you

Tova Averbuch

Holon

Check out my new book!
Initiating and Inviting Generative Change

Tova Averbuch, Dialogic OD consultant  tova@tovaaverbuch.com ; +972 52 8305343
WEB I Facebook I LINKEDIN

From: Birgitt Williams via OSList [mailto:everyone@oslist.org]
Sent: Saturday, December 2, 2023 8:30 PM
To: Peggy Holman <peggy@peggyholman.com>
Cc: Open Space Listserv <everyone@oslist.org>
Subject: [OSList] Re: Happy 88th Harrison!

Dear Harrison,

Happy Birthday and blessings for a magical new year of your life. We met in April 1992 when you came to Ontario, Canada to lead one of your four day trainings in OST. The timing was just right in my life to experience all that you offered to me as beneficially life changing, transformative. Drs. Larry Peterson and George Herrmanson were the sponsors of that event and I continue to be grateful to them for bringing you and your work into Canada.

By December 1995, Larry Peterson, Paul Levy (and his partner whose name I have sadly forgotten), and I formed the Open Space Institute of Canada with you present, challenging us to do so. You had, and probably have, a 'let's get it done' approach. I was also present at the inaugural meeting of the Open Space Institute-USA with a number of dear friends including Anne Stadler and Peggy Holman. I admit to being one of the advocates of a networked system of the Open Space Institutes, not wanting the OS Institute in the USA to be the hub for all of us worldwide. There was no resistance as we all were in co-creating and emerging.

You and our conversations have been some of the most significant in my life. I have so much gratitude to you for the many gifts that landed in my life from our friendship.

with love,

Birgitt

Birgitt Williams

Senior consultant-author-mentor to leaders and consultants

Specialist in organizational and systemic transformation, leadership development, and the benefits of nourishing a culture of leadership.

www.dalarinternational.com

Upcoming Workshops

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On Sat, Dec 2, 2023 at 12:48 PM Peggy Holman via OSList <everyone@oslist.org> wrote:

Dear Harrison,

Just a few words to celebrate you. We met in 1995 when a friend from Antioch University Seattle sent me an article from Training Magazine on Open Space Technology and I called you. It changed my life. You gave words and a framework to something I’d been playing with: the importance of random encounters for creativity and innovation — for “learning organizations" to flourish. Of course I joined the party. WE started this listserv. When you came to Seattle as part of your world tour with the idea of forming the Open Space Institute (OSI) in 1996, I was one of 7 who contributed $10 so we had the $70 required to apply for nonprofit status in the US. We quickly learned that our colleagues in Australia and Canada, who also formed OSI’s, expected that we add -US to our name. We did. And a network was acknowledged.

All this is to say happy birthday Harrison. Thank you for being you. It has been a ride! May we continue to be present to what emerges as increasing numbers discover the challenges and opportunities of living life in open space.

Love,

Peggy

_________________________________
Peggy Holman
peggy@peggyholman.com
Twitter: @peggyholman

Bellevue, WA 98006
206-948-0432
www.peggyholman.com
www.journalismthatmatters.org

Enjoy the award winning Engaging Emergence: Turning Upheaval into Opportunity

"An angel told me that the only way to step into the fire and not get burnt, is to become
the fire".
-- Drew Dellinger

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Bästa hälsningar

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I wanted to log these up; I know that there were facilitators and sponsors who did the heroic work. Chat world not having yet gifted us an OS.LLM- it might take me hours to find their names so perhaps if they read this they coud re-edit or add smarter cooperation invites. 
They need verification . After all the law of 2 feet or the people who come are the right people are conditional on things like people not bringing guns or "NO" trumpers. Even open spaces non-rules are conditional on where in bring everyone over a conflict barrier more productive space you are at - scaling sustainability isnt yet a species given of human intelligence 2025report.com  EconomistWater.com 

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2025report.com ED3u.com EconomistWater.com : teachforall.net: 2030= SDGen

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Like many people 9/11 meant to me (born 1951) that first 50 years of my life ironically working on coding biggest corporate brand partnerships/ media and valuation had not mover the richer scale positively. In popular speak we'd al been greenwashed, and sadly the millennium goals were opening ever moore greenwash. (Today i think the UN does 4 impossible jobs and it needs to let go of sdgs into youth's education ai agency as it has failed every year (but one) i have tried to attend un meeting ie since 2015 due to accompaniment by a young chinese open space agent of WIMS Womens Intelligence Moral Sentiments)
 In looking for what I ddnt know how people scaed1000 people networks or town halls, open space seemed to be the necsessary magic from my first encounter
1 Probably 2002?? Martin Leith & Bridget Peake host Create the World We Want -(3rd host Charlie?? merchant banker friend of Bridget who herself had newly arrived in London from Kentucky)2 2004 1000+ co-space at Quaker House Euston. This had problems sharing a conference's audience it only got one day. It was also facilitated by a dear friend who hadnt met Harrison, Colin Morley but had marketed a mobile phone brand with tag line who d you want 1:! with?. Colin was killed the next year in 7/7 -i know its selfish but its devastating we you lose a close co-working mentor suddenly. I am very very angry with eg Tony Blair  and the G7 whose selfish meeting in Glasgow caused London  Year of EndPoverty to have zero protection on 7/7 Obituary: Colin Morley In my case anger makes me want to spend less time reading inane academic silo stuff and more on action in spite of being an introverted mathematician

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Obituary: Colin Morley

A tribute to Colin Morley, who died in the explosion at Edgware Road on 7 July 2005.
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Unfortunately colin's open space truncated collecting headline actions of each meeting. The consequence was neither be the change nor 80 awful impact hubs went forward with intelligence actions they could have gravitated around. Quite a loss as you may know London's good brotherhood : Attenborough brothers. He of BBC and King Chares green intel name of David; he of directing film if Gandhi and patron of London student clubs of Gandi name of Richard. When I was in 3ed grade in Wimbledon I bumped into both because of being in same class as David's son Robert. Small worlds huh.
Possible chronological blip - So next we got subprime. I went to a superb open space in east end of london actually part of csr of one of uk's main banks. This was first time I'd seen proper reporting process (excellently ever seen by a Canadian Open Spacer) which meant before anyone left the 3 days they could take 100 page printout of ever event and forward action contact point. One interesting event I witnessed first hand- about 4 local (no-white)  schoolgirls came in at 4pm first day. They bumped into a meeting i was listening to. They sat down quietly. There were perhaps 8 people - it was hosted by a rather dry head of the part of the local authority we wee  situated in. The 15 year old girls questions ran rings round him. He exploded with anger and withdrew about 10 of his supporters from the event. Very useful as it turned out.
My point is that if we had the tech or the presence to share those open spaces that properly documented what happened-albeit coding enough privacy so that those who came up with courageous call fir actions are not executed, our democracy today might not be at the edge of extinction
If i understand correctly phelim impromptu open spaces turns some actions discovered into performance theatre. I understand that he is also a world class director of action opera - eg an opera on Gandhi as well as a mentor of some artsts like Monica Yunus who change the world in new york
And then i met and was privileged to have 4 lunches (two attended by young American-Chinese)  with Harrison many at his favorite Irish pub and in one case discussing which country might yet take open space into education. I think Harrison and I expected it would be Asian not American. But then the first story Harrison ever told me - 1984, soon after I Harrison invented open space I had meeting in Washington with top people at the education ministry. They listened to how open space worked. The senior adinnistrator replied Harrison if you are right 95% of what we do in amercan education is designed the wrong way, Other experts at the table said 99% wrong. They all voted- Harrison please do not expect to be welcomed anywhere in US education
Has anyone else heard that story. It was one of 10 pretty extraordinary stories he told me and friends - perhaps when you are into your third pint of beer Harrison was at his most exciting to people like me who dont have to do the facilitating but try to curate the edgiest innovation memes - the human intelligences we (King Charles AI World Series)  need to engineer AI

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KIng Charles AI World Series

AIVeryGood testimonies Feb 24: Nvidia CEO LLM World Gov UNG 17 AI Policy Condy Rice B16-9: World Bank Ajay Banga...
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chris macrae dc +1 240 316 8157 

❤️🦅☺️🧘🏻‍♂️🙏
Toke

Toke Paludan Moeller

toke@interchange.dk

Peace is not everything - but everything is nothing without peace.

+45 2616 6919

www.practisingforpeace.net

https://www.practisingforpeace.net/new-gallery

www.interchange-tomo.com

Den 2. dec. 2023 kl. 18.49 skrev Peggy Holman via OSList <everyone@oslist.org>:

Dear Harrison,

Just a few words to celebrate you. We met in 1995 when a friend from Antioch University Seattle sent me an article from Training Magazine on Open Space Technology and I called you. It changed my life. You gave words and a framework to something I’d been playing with: the importance of random encounters for creativity and innovation — for “learning organizations" to flourish. Of course I joined the party. WE started this listserv. When you came to Seattle as part of your world tour with the idea of forming the Open Space Institute (OSI) in 1996, I was one of 7 who contributed $10 so we had the $70 required to apply for nonprofit status in the US. We quickly learned that our colleagues in Australia and Canada, who also formed OSI’s, expected that we add -US to our name. We did. And a network was acknowledged.

All this is to say happy birthday Harrison. Thank you for being you. It has been a ride! May we continue to be present to what emerges as increasing numbers discover the challenges and opportunities of living life in open space.

Love,

Peggy

---

Peggy Holman
peggy@peggyholman.com
Twitter: @peggyholman

Bellevue, WA 98006
206-948-0432
www.peggyholman.com
www.journalismthatmatters.org

Enjoy the award winning Engaging Emergence: Turning Upheaval into Opportunity

"An angel told me that the only way to step into the fire and not get burnt, is to become
the fire".
-- Drew Dellinger

OSList mailing list -- everyone@oslist.org
To unsubscribe send an email to everyone-leave@oslist.org
See the archives here: https://oslist.org/empathy/list/everyone.oslist.org