Dear friend,

I am indebted to you for partnering with me in bringing The Experiment to fruition. Thank you for believing in me and for deciding to invest in this initiative to change lives in Haiti. Brian Sirchio, codirector of Harvest Time, who has worked closely with a number of Haitian organizations for more than a decade says, “We believe that Open Space and Reflection Circles [The Experiment’s core activities] are among the most interesting and encouraging things happening in Haiti in terms of fostering sustainable change.”

By the time you receive this letter, my wife, Merline, and I may already be in the U.S., where we plan to live for the indefinite future. I will continue promoting Open Space and Reflection Circles in Haiti part-time, and I continue to invite you to support the cause. In the States, I will also work as an independent consultant helping nonprofit organizations to become more effective.

Merline’s dream is to be a nurse. We knew when we decided to marry that eventually we would move to the U.S. so that she could pursue this dream. While it grieves me to be leaving the place where I have discovered deep meaning and fulfillment since 1991, I will continue to pursue my passion: developing leadership practices in Haiti that cultivate peace and self-determination. In fact, I will spend at least half of my time supporting communities of Open Space and Reflection Circle practitioners throughout Haiti. This will include spending approximately three months (cumulative) each year in Haiti, and when in the U.S. investing substantial amounts of time raising funds for The Experiment in Alternative Leadership’s new component: The Experiment Fund.

For the past three years, I have focused nearly exclusively on facilitating a wide variety of groups and institutions using Open Space and Reflection Circle methods and on coaching Haitians to do the same. There are now dozens of very skilled practitioners capable of training others and hundreds more who are working to become skilled. (Enclosed you will find a concrete example of the way that our work is multiplying through Haitian leadership.) Open Space and Reflection Circle practitioners are now coming together regularly for exchanges, which helps to ensure ongoing improvement. They don’t need me to coach them. They coach themselves. However, most are in need of money just to survive.

Nearly two-thirds of Haitians have no formal employment. This is where I come in. Using a structure that will cultivate an entrepreneurial spirit, The Experiment Fund makes it possible for independent Haitian Open Space and Reflection Circle practitioners to earn a stipend when they train others. These Haitian practitioners will be paid through grants provided by The Experiment Fund to qualifying Haitian schools and organizations that lack resources but that wish to have their staff trained in these two empowering methods. My job is to raise money for the fund and to coordinate The Experiment Fund Committee, which will ensure good governance.

As coordinator of The Experiment in Alternative Leadership and The Experiment Fund, I am proposing $16,800 (gross) as my salary for fiscal year 2004-05 (July 1-June 30), which is my current salary. I am also proposing that The Experiment in Alternative Leadership budget cover health insurance for Merline and I, along with my travel expenses to and from Haiti and minimal administrative expenses. Any money donated that exceeds these expenses will go to The Experiment Fund to help Haitians in their work. I will seek to cover increased living expenses in the States with fees earned through consulting (see enclosed brochures).

My consulting mission will be to help organizations in doing good better, using Open Space and Reflection Circles as two of my primary tools. This way I remain a practitioner just like my Haitian colleagues, continually honing my skills through a steady flow of new experiences. It also means I am working as an entrepreneur just as they are: we take responsibility for offering valuable services to others and for obtaining compensation. As I begin my consulting practice, I would be grateful to hear from you if you know any people or groups who could benefit from my services.

For nearly three years, The Experiment supporters have pioneered with me in spreading servant leadership in a country where, generally speaking, leadership means dictating. Now, I am inviting you to pioneer with me further through promoting a type of social entrepreneurship, where practitioners work for social change through providing training in Open Space and Reflection Circles. More specifically, I invite you to become a Core Partner—a contributor who designates your gifts toward covering my salary, health insurance, and travel expenses, so that gifts of new givers can go directly to Haitians for training. I will be telephoning you during the coming months to follow up on this letter. In the meantime, email or telephone me with ideas, questions, and/or suggestions. Again, I wish to express my profound thanks to you for partnering with me.

With deep gratitude,

John

John Engle
717-433-0059, john@theexperiment.info
www.theexperiment.info, www.johnengle.info

Tax-deductible contributions can be made to “Beyond Borders,” with “The Experiment” written on the memo line, and sent to Beyond Borders, P.O. Box 2132, Norristown, PA 19404.