Teamwork training for Slovenian Adult Scout and Guide leaders

Last weekend Slovenian Adult Scout and Guide leaders had Teamwork training. In nice natural environment of Sveti Križ above Šoštanj (nort-west part of Slovenia). On high level of about 900 m above sea what give as also opportunity to create breakthrough vision of adult Scouting and Guiding in Slovenia.

We had three aims :

• to build team spirit on the beginning of coomon work,
• to get some knowledge and skills for better work,
• to create future vision of our adult Scouting and Guiding in our country.

First evening we started with Bible story of Moses and Aaron, where God created first team. See: “The Lord Gives Great Power to Moses” (Exodus 4, 13-17). It was great insight in teamwork for all of us.

Next day we had deep learning about team work with practical workshops and reflexions. We had our children with us, who helped us and made us playing and singing.

We will continue with such trainings also in the future. Will let you know. And if you wish we can make it international.

For more photos please see: SkavtNet

Aleš Čerin

Open Space – useful method also in Scouting/Guiding

 

What is Open Space?

Open Space is a large group process invented in 1985 by Harrison Owen. It is a bottom-up process during which participants organize their own agenda around issue of concern to them. Other people volunteer to work in breakout groups on the issues raised. Conversations from each group are then presented to everyone who then vote on priorities, creating an agreed list of priority actions to put them into practice.

Open Space as method works best when:

• Organization or community has a complex challenge,
• Nobody knows the solution to that challenge,
• People are very diverse,
• There is possibility for conflict,
• There is not much time for preparation.

»Motors« of Open Space are passion (care about an issue) and willingness of participants to take responsibility (do something about it) for outcome. Therefore all participants should come to Open Space event voluntarily.

Open Space provides easy access and total involvement of all participants who are invited to work on the selected theme. During the process, participants share experience, hear different views and, most importantly, learn quickly from each other.

As participants create their own agenda (in the frame of common theme) and vote in real time within an open and transparent marketplace, the process generates commitment and ownership of outcomes. It also provides an opportunity for participants to learn from the direct experiences of others in a supportive and positive context.

Guidelines for an Open Space

The rules are simple, although setting up the parameters for an event in Open Space is based on the theories of complexity, self-organization and open systems. There are four simple guidelines:

• Whoever comes is the right person.
  Rather than take care for “experts” to come to Open Space event or to your discussion group, we appreciate everybody who can contribute to quality of good interpersonal interactions, which bring synergic solutions.
• Whatever happens is the only thing that could have.
  In Open Space we don’t try to control the discussion – even if it goes off – that may be exactly the direction for the breakthrough of new ideas. The only time that Open Space does not work is when somebody in charge feels they must control the outcome of the discussion or the event.
• Whenever it starts is the right time.
  Spirit, synergy and creativity are not time dependant. They come in their own time – and this is exactly the right time.
• When it’s over, it’s over.
  This principle is “time saver”. We don’t continue with Open Space or discussion, if all themes are discussed in the depth group wished. But on the other hand, you may wish to continue your discussion for longer than the scheduled time. Creativity and intuitive thinking do not happen according to a schedule – take it where it wants to go.

There is only one law:

• The Law of Two Feet: If you feel you are neither learning from nor contributing use your feet and move to more productive place.
  Your ideas and creative thoughts are needed elsewhere.

Whereas in some cultures this may be seen as rude and disrespectful, in Open Space it would actually be disrespectful to the process and to the greater group to sit and stay in a discussion for which you felt you were not being useful. The result is a room alive with movement and animated discussion as people travel from group to group to use their best energy and thinking where it is most needed.

The final guideline is to:

• Be Prepared to Be Surprised.
  If you carry your preconceived agenda into a conversation, you may never receive the greater results and more intuitive thinking that can come from a group of diverse and passionate people taking a conversation where it can go.

In practice

1. Facilitator and “sponsor” choose a theme of Open Space event. It should be inviting, evocative and people should be inspired to participate. It should be specific enough to indicate the direction, while possessing sufficient openness to allow for the imagination of the group to take over.
2. People gather in circle (natural geometry for good communication) and facilitator “opens the space”. In fact, facilitator creates safe place and safe time for the group to do its business.
3. Participants create their own agenda and start to work in break-out groups. Important conclusions are written down and book of proceedings is formed and distributed to all participants.
4. Open Space Event last from 1 to 3 days. First day is devoted to divergence – gathering all ideas. On second day prioritisation is made and most important themes are deepened. Third day is devoted for action plans (what, who, when).

More materials you can have on:

• “A BRIEF USER’S GUIDE TO OPEN SPACE TECHNOLOGY by Harrison Owen
• Open Space World: http://www.openspaceworld.org/cgi/wiki.cgi?
• A Description of Open Space Technology by Lisa Heft

For questions about Open Space, please contact: ales.cerin@skavt.net

Aleš Čerin

What is happening in Cracow?

No news from 6th European ISGF Conference in Cracow. Niether on official ISGF site, nor here.

Is there anybody who is able to write something? Please send interesting news to this blog (you can register here and publish yourself) or as comment and I will publish them. Wellcome!

Aleš Čerin

Where is our “Africa”?

ISGF president Martine Levy had very interesting meeting with leadership of Slovenian Scouts – young and adult. She met with Slavko Lenart, President of ZSKSS (Youth Organisation) and Katja Anžič, new President of ZBOKSS (Adult Association) and other adult scouts and guides.

We had nice informal meeting and fruitful conversations about her African ecxperiences. We asked ourselves: “Where is our “Africa”? We found it much closer, in our neighbourhood in Balcan. We as part of active and passionate Scout/Guide Movement, could help here in this part of Europe. We know it, we can understand language and there is big need for Scouting and Guiding.

Slavko Lenart described development and success of our youth movement here in Slovenia and presented the international project in Albania.

We had also one-day tour around Slovenia. We visited Ljubljana, the capital, famous cave in Postojna and Lipica stud, where world known white horses are brought up.

Thanks Martine to share her valuable experiences with us.

Martine is coming to Slovenia

Martine Levy, president of ISGF, is coming to “European Guide and Scout Conference”, Portorož, Slovenia.

The day before opening of the conference, she will be the guest of Slovenian Adult Scouts and Guides having informal meeting with our new leadership and all adult scouts and guides. It is very important for all our adult scouts and guides to come in touch with international scouting. And presidents are not visiting NSGFs everyday .
Welcome in Slovenia, Martine!

Aleš Čerin

100 schools in Angola supported by Danes

100 years of scouting! We are a part of the history, so we should also contribute to the centenary.

Danish scouts will collect funds for 100 schools in Angola, ie. 1 school or 10000 euro per local community. All scouts will be active during the year. As adults, we support our scouts with planning and logistics. Personally I serve as secretary in two communities.

What is your contribution to the centenary?

Still prepared.

Niels Rosenbom

Our guild in the mountains

Monday after Easter is free day in Slovenia. Our guild decided to have one day trip to Vremščica mountain (1027 m) in Adriatic region (in Alps there is still a lot of snow). We took some of our children with us and we enjoyed great view over almost whole country .

Vremščica is not very high mountain, but some of us were not very fit after winter period. We were thinking to have such trips regularly. To get more fit. Specialy for this year hiking camp, which will be a 4 days route (about 20 km per day).

And we admired Creators work! On this mountain there is very special flower blossomed around the Easter called Easter flower.

What you are doing in your guilds?

Aleš Čerin

Going active again? On blog!

This blog was opened to be used by all active adult scouts and guides (certainly our brothers and sisters from youth movement are welcome too).

Here you can:

• express your opinion,
• publish your thoughts,
• make your suggestions,
• announce your events,
• report upon your activities in Scouting and Guidning.

How can you join to be contributing author?

1. Register here.
2. After registration please send a message that you have registered to ales.cerin (at)skavt.net. Please send also your e-mail. You will be approved as author of this blog.
3. After approval you will be able to write blogs about themes you are interested in.
4. With registration you can create your own blog if you want.

Any problems?

Please contact upper e-mail.