[Oe List ...] Chronological History - Our Common Future Oaxtepec

Mon Jun 12 08:28:13 PDT 2017

Hello Beret

Thanks for your good work on the archives, and for your questions about
Oaxtapec. I’ve scanned my files and discovered that memory will have to
suffice. I do have some memories of the event that may be worth recording.

*First,* the place was gorgeous. However it was selected, it was an
excellent choice.

*Secondly*, there were at least three “outside” notable worthies as guest
speakers: Harrison Owens, Jean Houston, and David Campbell.

*Third* is a story: I was assigned to be on the regulatory to plan the
event. Karen Snyder and LeDona Wagner were also on that team, along with
others who I can’t remember. We arrived on sight a week in advance and got
to work. Most of us had experience of planning Priors Councils and Summer
Programs, so it was sort of a familiar task, though challenges were
significant: dealing with the dispersed location of the housing and the
incorporation of the guests into the program. We worked morning til night
in dialogue with the Panchayat and finally came up with a detailed design
that seemed to incorporate the activities and dynamics we all wanted to
happen.

Sorry, but I don’t have a copy of that design.

Anyway, at the appropriate time, we presented our design to the priory for
their modification before finalization. It had assigned times, places,
teams, and activities in what we considered a trans-rational format that
would get us where we wanted to go.  Harrison Owens, who was invited to sit
in on the meeting erupted with objections at such structures. This was
before he published *Open Space,* but he was already committed to a
structure-less process, and recommended that we ditch our plans and let
happen whatever would. As a group wedded to intentionality, that seemed
heretical (to me), but that’s essentially what happened. Of course, the
guests had scheduled times for their presentations, but beyond that, our
carefully crafted plans went down the tubes! 😊.

Later, during the week Harrison and I met on the porch of our cabin for
pre-breakfast coffee and informal chats with cordial collegiality, though
neither of us managed to convince the other of the effectiveness of our
respective dynamics.

*Fourth*, and this is not for publication, the discussion and decision
about dissolution of the Order was never in any of the pre-plans. We had to
leave the conference a day early, but nothing about such a move had been
publicly discussed before then. The later announcement came as a complete
surprise and probably contributed to my “Theology of Surprise” book. What’s
happened since has obviously been beyond our wildest expectations, but at
the time it came as a bolt out of the blue.

I hope you find these memories useful as background information.

John

On Sat, Jun 10, 2017 at 5:10 PM, Beret Griffith via OE <
oe at lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote:

> Wendell,
> I know you checked for Oaxtapec documents. Wondering if you checked
> Frank's drive for the video?
>
> Colleagues,
> Do any of you have a copy of that Sunny Walker and Rick Jones filmed as a
> report of the event?
>
> Thanks, Beret
>
>
>
> On Sat, Jun 10, 2017 at 5:56 PM, Beret Griffith <beretgriffith at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Perhaps the three of you can pool your memories and come up with Oaxtapec
>> information and stories.
>>
>> Beret
>>
>> On Sat, Jun 10, 2017 at 5:42 PM, Dennis Jennings <
>> dennisjennings1 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Mary Warren Moffat was in attendance at Oaxtapec.  As I recall, she fell
>>> and broke her leg while there.  Nevertheless she is known for having a
>>> great memory
>>> about these events.  Al Lingo was there also. He likely shepherded
>>> Andrew Young.
>>>
>>> I would probably need to be sitting with a group of people to help
>>> stimulate my memory of events.  I am pretty sure I do not have any written
>>> records.
>>>
>>> Dennis
>>>
>>> On Jun 10, 2017, at 4:59 PM, Beret Griffith <beretgriffith at gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> Hello again colleagues,
>>>
>>> There is very little information on the Chronological History re: Our
>>> Common Future Conference in Oaxtepec in the archives, so very little in the
>>> ChronHist. There are a couple of brochures and very LARGE MP3 files of
>>> Andrew Young's talk. (via Wendell Refior)  now available on
>>> Wedgeblade.net.  (see link at the end of this message).
>>>
>>> And, Oaxtepec represents a huge turn for the organization. It would be
>>> very good to have more details on the event and outcome.
>>>
>>> Mary Laura suggested those of you individually named above as colleagues
>>> she recalled were at the conference.
>>>
>>> Glenda Long Eggerling looked at the timeline and wondered if there is
>>> more information surrounding the Order being called out of being at the
>>> Oaxtepec.
>>>
>>> Glenda's questions:
>>>
>>>    1. Is there information about the gathering?
>>>    2.  Who led conference?
>>>    3. What was written about dissolving the Order? Is there a document
>>>    declaring the structures of the Order being called out of being?
>>>    4. Role of the Panchayat?
>>>    5. When was the Panchayat called out of being?
>>>    6. Who was on the last Panchayat?
>>>    7.  What were the practics of letting people know, manage the staff
>>>    centers,  etc, etc.?
>>>
>>> Below is the link to the Chronological History 1952-1988 to see the
>>> original text in the document. You cannot add material in this part of the
>>> document.
>>>
>>> https://wedgeblade.net/files/archives_assets/20197.pdf
>>>
>>> Go to page 110 to see text. If you have changes please send to myself
>>> beretgriffith at gmail.com & David Dunn  dmdunn1 at gmail.com and additions
>>> will be made to the text.
>>>
>>> Thank you! Beret & David
>>>
>>> ________________________________________________________-
>>>
>>> Andrew Young - Part 1
>>> ICAI Address to ICAI Summer Conference in Mexico City Part 1
>>>
>>> https://wedgeblade.net/files/archives_assets/20060.mp3
>>>
>>> ICAI Address to ICAI Summer Conference in Mexico City Part 2
>>>
>>> https://wedgeblade.net/files/archives_assets/20061.mp3
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>>
>>> *Dennis Jennings, Certified ToP Facilitator/Mentor Trainer*
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> *Technology of Participation (ToP) Network*
>>>
>>> *4750 North Sheridan Road*
>>>
>>> *Chicago, IL  60640*
>>>
>>> *Tel Office  773/769-9266 <(773)%20769-9266>   Mobile  773-729-6184
>>> <(773)%20729-6184>*
>>>
>>> *dennisjennings1 at gmail.com <dennisjennings1 at gmail.com>*
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> *Find course dates and register for trainings at *
>>> http://top-training.net
>>>
>>> *ToP Community of Practice - FREE*  First Monday of the month, 11:00 AM
>>> -12:30 PM
>>>
>>> AICP CM units: 14.5 CM for ToP Facilitation Methods and ToP Strategic
>>> Planning
>>>
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>>>
>>>
>>
>
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