Dear John,

 here is a response from an "elder hand".
 Read and reflect, I suggest.

 cheers
 mmp


 -------- Weitergeleitete Nachricht --------
 Betreff: 	Re: [OSList] Fwd: Has there ever been a discussion of a
 Succession Plan for OST?
 Datum: 	Wed, 8 Oct 2025 18:39:12 +0800
 Von: 	Gijs Van Wezel <gijsvanwezel@gmail.com>
 <mailto:gijsvanwezel@gmail.com>
 An: 	Michael M Pannwitz <mmpannwitz@posteo.de>
 <mailto:mmpannwitz@posteo.de>



 Great Sharing Michael,
 And still bright and active!
 Respect for you.

 Have a great day
 and greetings from Malaysia

 	

 Gijs van Wezel | Certified Life Coach

 E: gijsvanwezel@gmail.com

  P: +60 173410667

 Website <https://www.ambitions.team/>| Book a session
 <https://www.ambitions.team/contact-gijs-van-wezel/>

 https://www.linkedin.com/in/gijsvanwezel/
 <https://www.linkedin.com/in/gijsvanwezel/>



 On Wed, 1 Oct 2025 at 13:55, Michael M Pannwitz via OSList
 <everyone@oslist.org> wrote:

      Dear colleagues and friends,

     in my ost-practice from 1996 (56th year) to 2012 (72nd year)
     I first worked by the book.
     It always worked.
     Beginning in 1998 I heeded the suggested "one thing less to do".
     Reflecting during and after each ost-event I accompanied.
     It also worked.
     Made it even simpler and enlarged the space for selforganization.
     At the end I produced a fat book with 100 colored pictures,
     the German
     version of "Open Space Technology - A User's Guide".
     In addition of dropping stuff there were also changes.
     Toward the end of my active practice I did not use
     "facilitate an ost event" but
     chose "accompany an ost event".
     That was closer to "total presence and absolute
     invisibility", one of the characteristics
     of OST.

     In other words there was no plan. There was practice, high
     learning.
     In fact, surprise, selforganization is planless.
     All we can do is to work on expanding time and space for the
     force of selforganization.
     Plans are part of the worst enemy of our work which is "Control".

     Now, into my 86th year I keep rereading the broad band of
     literature on our art.
     Yes, its still simple and not easy.
     And I do hear a lot of ost practice... hope a lot of us can
     show up at the WOSonOs in Kenya...

     Greetings from Berlin and have a great day wherever you are...

     mmp


     Am 30.09.2025 um 21:47 schrieb John Warinner via OSList:

     Hi Thomas -
     Has there ever been a discussion of a Succession Plan for OST?
     Thank you,
     John

     *John Warinner
     *(541) 815-4103*
     *johnwarinner@gmail.com

     Michael M Pannwitz
     Draisweg 1, 12209 Berlin, Germany <https://www.google.com/maps/search/Draisweg+1,+12209+Berlin,+Germany?entry=gmail&source=g>
     +49 30 7728000mmpannwitz@posteo.de

     WOSonOS will be in Kenya in November 6th-8th, 2025, have a look
     https://www.wosonos2025.org/

     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

 Michael M Pannwitz
 Draisweg 1, 12209 Berlin <https://www.google.com/maps/search/Draisweg+1,+12209+Berlin?entry=gmail&source=g>
 +49 30 7728000mmpannwitz@posteo.de

>  Dear John, > > there is a host, there are participants/folks that attend and someone > who accompanies > the ost event with an assistant and a helping hand(s). > I call these elements "roles". > There can be further roles, especially in large events with large > teams and further staff such > as caterer... etc. > These roles are structural elements. > The tasks of the roles are defined. > > There is also an overall time line, visible for everyone that can be > changed during the process. > > You can see the overalltime three day ost event of NACOA with 150 > participants  in Berlin in 2010 > named a "Strategiekonferenz"- http://www.meine-openspace-praxis.de/Dateien/7-Verlauf-3Tage.pdf > As you can see, the event begins with a break. This introduces the > memory of the value of > breaks, reminding that an ost event is a huge coffee break. > > Have a great day > mmp > > Am 08.10.2025 um 15:14 schrieb John Warinner: >> Thank you Michael. >> >> The intention to host, attend, and/or participate in an OST event >> sounds like a plan. >> >> This circularity reminds me of conversations regarding the existence >> of God and/or Free Will. >> >> Perhaps each question is a zen koan. >> >> Perhaps each response is too. >> >> I wish you well, >> John >> >> *John Warinner >> *(541) 815-4103* >> *johnwarinner@gmail.com >> >> >> On Wed, Oct 8, 2025 at 5:27 AM Michael M Pannwitz >> <mmpannwitz@posteo.de> wrote: >> >> Dear John, >> >> here is a response from an "elder hand". >> Read and reflect, I suggest. >> >> cheers >> mmp >> >> >> -------- Weitergeleitete Nachricht -------- >> Betreff: Re: [OSList] Fwd: Has there ever been a discussion of a >> Succession Plan for OST? >> Datum: Wed, 8 Oct 2025 18:39:12 +0800 >> Von: Gijs Van Wezel <gijsvanwezel@gmail.com> >> <mailto:gijsvanwezel@gmail.com> >> An: Michael M Pannwitz <mmpannwitz@posteo.de> >> <mailto:mmpannwitz@posteo.de> >> >> >> >> Great Sharing Michael, >> And still bright and active! >> Respect for you. >> >> Have a great day >> and greetings from Malaysia >> >> >> >> Gijs van Wezel | Certified Life Coach >> >> E: gijsvanwezel@gmail.com >> >>  P: +60 173410667 >> >> Website <https://www.ambitions.team/>| Book a session >> <https://www.ambitions.team/contact-gijs-van-wezel/> >> >> https://www.linkedin.com/in/gijsvanwezel/ >> <https://www.linkedin.com/in/gijsvanwezel/> >> >> >> >> On Wed, 1 Oct 2025 at 13:55, Michael M Pannwitz via OSList >> <everyone@oslist.org> wrote: >> >>  Dear colleagues and friends, >> >> in my ost-practice from 1996 (56th year) to 2012 (72nd year) >> I first worked by the book. >> It always worked. >> Beginning in 1998 I heeded the suggested "one thing less to do". >> Reflecting during and after each ost-event I accompanied. >> It also worked. >> Made it even simpler and enlarged the space for selforganization. >> At the end I produced a fat book with 100 colored pictures, >> the German >> version of "Open Space Technology - A User's Guide". >> In addition of dropping stuff there were also changes. >> Toward the end of my active practice I did not use >> "facilitate an ost event" but >> chose "accompany an ost event". >> That was closer to "total presence and absolute >> invisibility", one of the characteristics >> of OST. >> >> In other words there was no plan. There was practice, high >> learning. >> In fact, surprise, selforganization is planless. >> All we can do is to work on expanding time and space for the >> force of selforganization. >> Plans are part of the worst enemy of our work which is "Control". >> >> Now, into my 86th year I keep rereading the broad band of >> literature on our art. >> Yes, its still simple and not easy. >> And I do hear a lot of ost practice... hope a lot of us can >> show up at the WOSonOs in Kenya... >> >> Greetings from Berlin and have a great day wherever you are... >> >> mmp >> >> >> Am 30.09.2025 um 21:47 schrieb John Warinner via OSList: >>> Hi Thomas - >>> Has there ever been a discussion of a Succession Plan for OST? >>> Thank you, >>> John >>> >>> *John Warinner >>> *(541) 815-4103* >>> *johnwarinner@gmail.com >>> >>> >> Michael M Pannwitz >> Draisweg 1, 12209 Berlin, Germany <https://www.google.com/maps/search/Draisweg+1,+12209+Berlin,+Germany?entry=gmail&source=g> >> +49 30 7728000mmpannwitz@posteo.de >> >> WOSonOS will be in Kenya in November 6th-8th, 2025, have a look >> https://www.wosonos2025.org/ >> >> 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 >> >> Michael M Pannwitz >> Draisweg 1, 12209 Berlin <https://www.google.com/maps/search/Draisweg+1,+12209+Berlin?entry=gmail&source=g> >> +49 30 7728000mmpannwitz@posteo.de >> > Michael M Pannwitz Draisweg 1, 12209 Berlin +49 30 7728000mmpannwitz@posteo.de

Thank you Michael. You've got me thinking about the difference(s) and relationship(s) between a Plan, a Structure, Roles, and Process. All very interesting, John *John Warinner*(541) 815-4103 johnwarinner@gmail.com <johnw@watersolving.com> On Wed, Oct 8, 2025 at 5:47 PM Michael M Pannwitz <mmpannwitz@posteo.de> wrote: > Dear John, > > there is a host, there are participants/folks that attend and someone who > accompanies > the ost event with an assistant and a helping hand(s). > I call these elements "roles". > There can be further roles, especially in large events with large teams > and further staff such > as caterer... etc. > These roles are structural elements. > The tasks of the roles are defined. > > There is also an overall time line, visible for everyone that can be > changed during the process. > > You can see the overalltime three day ost event of NACOA with 150 > participants in Berlin in 2010 > named a "Strategiekonferenz"- > > http://www.meine-openspace-praxis.de/Dateien/7-Verlauf-3Tage.pdf > > As you can see, the event begins with a break. This introduces the memory > of the value of > breaks, reminding that an ost event is a huge coffee break. > > Have a great day > mmp > > Am 08.10.2025 um 15:14 schrieb John Warinner: > > Thank you Michael. > > The intention to host, attend, and/or participate in an OST event sounds > like a plan. > > This circularity reminds me of conversations regarding the existence of > God and/or Free Will. > > Perhaps each question is a zen koan. > > Perhaps each response is too. > > I wish you well, > John > > > *John Warinner *(541) 815-4103 > johnwarinner@gmail.com > > > On Wed, Oct 8, 2025 at 5:27 AM Michael M Pannwitz <mmpannwitz@posteo.de> > wrote: > >> Dear John, >> >> here is a response from an "elder hand". >> Read and reflect, I suggest. >> >> cheers >> mmp >> >> >> -------- Weitergeleitete Nachricht -------- >> Betreff: Re: [OSList] Fwd: Has there ever been a discussion of a >> Succession Plan for OST? >> Datum: Wed, 8 Oct 2025 18:39:12 +0800 >> Von: Gijs Van Wezel <gijsvanwezel@gmail.com> <gijsvanwezel@gmail.com> >> An: Michael M Pannwitz <mmpannwitz@posteo.de> <mmpannwitz@posteo.de> >> >> Great Sharing Michael, >> And still bright and active! >> Respect for you. >> >> Have a great day >> and greetings from Malaysia >> >> Gijs van Wezel | Certified Life Coach >> >> E: gijsvanwezel@gmail.com >> >> P: +60 173410667 >> >> Website <https://www.ambitions.team/> | Book a session >> <https://www.ambitions.team/contact-gijs-van-wezel/> >> >> [image: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gijsvanwezel/] >> <https://www.linkedin.com/in/gijsvanwezel/> >> >> >> On Wed, 1 Oct 2025 at 13:55, Michael M Pannwitz via OSList < >> everyone@oslist.org> wrote: >> >>> Dear colleagues and friends, >>> >>> in my ost-practice from 1996 (56th year) to 2012 (72nd year) I first >>> worked by the book. >>> It always worked. >>> Beginning in 1998 I heeded the suggested "one thing less to do". >>> Reflecting during and after each ost-event I accompanied. >>> It also worked. >>> Made it even simpler and enlarged the space for selforganization. >>> At the end I produced a fat book with 100 colored pictures, the German >>> version of "Open Space Technology - A User's Guide". >>> In addition of dropping stuff there were also changes. >>> Toward the end of my active practice I did not use "facilitate an ost >>> event" but >>> chose "accompany an ost event". >>> That was closer to "total presence and absolute invisibility", one of >>> the characteristics >>> of OST. >>> >>> In other words there was no plan. There was practice, high learning. >>> In fact, surprise, selforganization is planless. >>> All we can do is to work on expanding time and space for the force of >>> selforganization. >>> Plans are part of the worst enemy of our work which is "Control". >>> >>> Now, into my 86th year I keep rereading the broad band of literature on >>> our art. >>> Yes, its still simple and not easy. >>> And I do hear a lot of ost practice... hope a lot of us can show up at >>> the WOSonOs in Kenya... >>> >>> Greetings from Berlin and have a great day wherever you are... >>> >>> mmp >>> >>> >>> Am 30.09.2025 um 21:47 schrieb John Warinner via OSList: >>> >>> Hi Thomas - >>> Has there ever been a discussion of a Succession Plan for OST? >>> Thank you, >>> John >>> >>> >>> *John Warinner *(541) 815-4103 >>> johnwarinner@gmail.com >>> >>> >>> Michael M PannwitzDraisweg 1, 12209 Berlin, Germany <https://www.google.com/maps/search/Draisweg+1,+12209+Berlin,+Germany?entry=gmail&source=g> >>> +49 30 7728000 mmpannwitz@posteo.de >>> >>> WOSonOS will be in Kenya in November 6th-8th, 2025, have a lookhttps://www.wosonos2025.org/ >>> >>> 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 >> >> Michael M PannwitzDraisweg 1, 12209 Berlin <https://www.google.com/maps/search/Draisweg+1,+12209+Berlin?entry=gmail&source=g> >> +49 30 7728000 mmpannwitz@posteo.de >> >> > > Michael M Pannwitz > Draisweg 1, 12209 Berlin > +49 30 7728000 mmpannwitz@posteo.de > >