【正文】 r the discussion. That means saying where and when the group will meet, convening the group, and entering the results of your discussion into our puter system (if you are using a system). You may offer as many issues as you like, and if at the end of the day, you do not see your issue on the wall, there is exactly one person to plain to. Yourself.Once all the issues are up, we will then open the Village Market Place, and everybody will be invited to e to the wall and sign up for as few or as many of the groups as they desire. From there on out, you are in charge.Even though Open Space is truly open, there are some principles and one law that we need to keep in mind. The Four Principles are. . . [see above]. And the Law is what we call the Law of Two Feet. Everybody has them. . . . [see above].We find it helpful to write the Four Principles and One Law out on a large piece of paper which may be hung on the wall for future reference.Keeping the Four Principles in mind, along with the One Law, it is now time to get to work. Along that line, there is one question to start. What are the issues and opportunities around our theme, for which you have real passion and will take genuine responsibility?And when you have identified an issue or area, give it a short title, write it down on the paper provided and sign it. Leave some room at the bottom for others to sign.If you have a relatively large group (25 and up) it is helpful to have paper available in a pile in the center of the circle. A basket of magic markers will also help. The paper should be large enough so that when taped to the wall it may be easily read by the group from a distance of about 10 feet.As soon as you are ready, stand up where you are, read out your title, and tape it to the wall. Don39。t wait to be asked. Go when you are ready.Keep on going until everybody with a subject they want to work on has posted it on the wall. There will be a certain amount of noise and confusion, which is positive and good, but keep it down a little bit so people can hear. Most important, don39。t let the people start to discuss any of the items at this point. There will be plenty of time for that.When it seems that all the items have been posted on the wall, ask if there are any more, and direct the group39。s attention to the wall. If your group is like all others we have worked with, the wall should now be covered with things to do. You might say something like:“For those of you who wondered whether we would have something do, you might take a look at our wall. You might also note that we have generated the items for our agenda in less than ____ minutes.Our next act is to figure out who is going to do what, when, and where. To move that business, I would ask that every person who has an item on the wall go up and write down the time and place where your group will meet.Make sure your name is on the paper. For example, your group will meet from 10 to 12 o39。clock in conference room C, or maybe out by the swimming pool. Space is on a first e, first served basis.Prior to this part of the program, the leader should post a list of available meeting places. Of course if you are the only group meeting in a conference center, the space problem is simplified, and the groups can meet anywhere they feel fortable.Don39。t worry about conflicts. We39。ll work all that out in a moment. Once you have selected a time, move your paper to the appropriate part of the wall. If you want to meet early, put it on the left side. For the end of the meeting, put it on the right. Those who want to gather in the middle, put it in the middle.For meetings lasting longer than one day, it is helpful to divide the wall with tape into as many sections as there are days. You might also post Morning Announcements with a time at the beginning of each day, and Evening News just before supper. Additional time demarcations are not needed, and tend to get in the way.While they are doing that, all the rest of you might also stand up and take a look at the various offerings. When you find one that interests you, where you could learn or contribute, sign your name on the bottom. Sign up for as many as you like, and don39。t worry about conflicts. We39。ll take care of them in a minute. It may seem a little chaotic, but it turns out that chaos is the way the fields of the mind are plowed so that new ideas can grow.At this point, things are likely to get pretty noisy, and some might say chaotic. Leaders used to having things happen in relative silence, and in strict order may get very nervous. It is all right to be nervous, but don39。t try to straighten things out. THE GROUP WILL TAKE CARE OF ITSELF. A little chaos at this point is a good and necessary thing. First of all, everybody probably needs a stretch and some conversation. But most of all the rising noise level is a positive indication that the group is getting to work, and good things are happening.Let the group bubble along for a few minutes, but before long some people will start to experience conflicts. They want to go to two different groups which are supposed to meet at the same time. Or two different groups are scheduled to meet in the same place at the same time. When you sense this happening, or even if you don39。t, stand up and get the group39。s attention. You may have to raise your voice, but noise won39。t hurt.Some of you may be finding a few conflicts, but it should be easy to work out. It is called negotiation. If you want to go to two groups meeting at the same time, find the group leaders and see if you can get them to merge their sessions or change their times. Of course, if they won39。t do that, you will just have to make a choice, but that is the way life is.From here on out you are on your own. As soon as your group is ready to go to work, go to it. We39。ll see you all back here at ______ [Evening News, Closing Session, whatever].We find it very useful at this point fo