DRI International truly is an international organization, and with our growing presence in Latin America, we are pleased to announce a Spanish edition of Thrive! (the official publication of DRI International). Thrive! Espanol went out to our certified professionals in Latin America last week. And we thought there might be some of you who'd like to read it too.

Click here (or on the magazine cover above) to access Thrive! in Spanish. But don't worry, even if you don't speak Spanish, we'll be translating many of the articles and running them in English in the April edition of Thrive! The articles focus on the state of BCM in Latin America and while they are written for and by a Latin American audience, they certainly have universal significance and appeal.

Last week's one-question survey on metrics and reporting got quite a response and showed that risk reporting to upper management is a concern for many of our certified professionals.

Asked to rank their success in using metrics to report the true nature and potential consequence of risk to top management, only one percent of respondents rated themselves a 10 (on a scale of 1-10, 10 being most successful). Another four percent rated themselves a nine, followed by 12 percent at eight.

For the complete lists of results and comments (and there were quite a few very interesting comments and questions!), please visit our DRI International LinkedIn, where each week we host a discussion of one-question survey results. You won't want to miss this one!

It was with a heavy heart that I read of Davy Jones' passing earlier this week. I'm a big Monkees fan (and I'm not ashamed to admit it!), and I'm glad I got to see Davy do his thing this fall when the Monkees toured (and put on a fantastic show!). So, the news got me to thinking, "Is this the end? What will the Monkees do now?" And since I've been writing about business continuity for almost 20 years, that got me to thinking about succession planning...the subject of this week's one question survey.

Succession planning is a process for identifying and developing people within your organization who have the potential to fill key business leadership positions in the company. "Research indicates many succession-planning initiatives fall short of their intent (Corporate Leadership Council, 1998). 'Bench strength,' as it is commonly called, remains a stubborn problem in many if not most companies," according to Wikipedia.

Please click here to answer this week's one-question survey on succession planning and business continuity. It'll take about a minute for you to answer anonymously and we'll report the results in next week's issue, where you'll also be invited to join social media-based discussions on both the topic and the findings. 

If you'd like to suggest a survey question for an upcoming issue, contact DRI Director of Communications Buffy Rojas at brojas@drii.org.

Last week I promised a list for some of my favorite places to eat in New Orleans. Here it is!

For traditional New Orleans food - like gumbo, jambalaya, crawfish etouffee or red beans and rice - the restaurant choices are many and vary in price and atmosphere. For Cajun Food try K-Paul's Louisiana Kitchen, Mulate's, or  Oceana Grill. 

For Creole food consider Brennan's,  Commander's Palace,  Emeril's, Court of Two Sisters, Muriel's of Jackson Square, the Gumbo Shop, or Olivier's. You won't go wrong. I have gone to Olivier's many, many times over the years, and they have great food and service,and it's conveniently located on Decatur Street.

If you are in the mood for seafood, New Orleans has many excellent restaurants to try (a list too long to provide). But if oysters are your thing, you must go to the Acme Oyster House just off Bourbon Street.

For the delicious and ever popular Po'Boy Sandwiches, my favorites are Mother's on Poydras Street, Johnny's,  Parkway Bakery, and  Parasol (featured on "Diners, Drive Ins and Dives"). You can't go wrong with any of these. And for the unique muffuletta, try the Central Market on Decatur. This giant round sandwich with Italian meats and cheeses enhanced with their olive spread is a real treat. Make sure you go hungry, and still be prepared to share.

For the best fried chicken maybe anywhere, Willie Mae's Scotch House at 2402 Ann Street is your best bet, and it was also featured on "Drive In's Diners and Dives." If you want Italian food with New Orleans flair try Irene's on Philip Street.

And if you still have room after a night of feasting, for a fabulous breakfast go to Café Fleur de Lis on Chartres Street. The omelets and pastries are terrific and this small café is bustling - so prepare to wait. And for a sweet treat, head to Café Du Monde for a beignet and a cup of coffee. The beignet is a crispy pillow of deep fried dough which is covered in powdered sugar.

Clearly this list of wonderful food, served with New Orleans friendliness, is endless and only represents my personal experience and preference. Dare to explore the many options for food in this town and you won't be sorry! Next time, I'll clue you in on entertainment and music New Orleans style.

So, come to New Orleans early, enjoy the food...and volunteer with us on May 19th, DRI2012's Voluteer Day, with projects in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity and Second Harvest/ Feeding America.

Clyde Berger, DRI International Foundation, Director of Volunteerism