Watch this video and meet "Disaster" and "Preparedness" -- two characters who will help you understand why you need to take personal responsibility to prepare yourself and your family for potential emergencies. This totally cool clip was produced by the Metropolitan Emergency Managers Committee with funding support from the Kansas City Regional Homeland Security Coordinating Committee's Urban Area Security Initiative grant.

It's on YouTube for all to see (and use!), and it's just the kind of idea that's perfect to steal! Make your own (or use theirs) and then incorporate it into your training or post a link on your corporate Intranet. It'll help people understand why preparedness is important and it'll give you some cool cred. And don't worry about stealing: Oscar Wilde said "Talent borrows, genius steals."

Enterprise risk management (ERM) and business continuity (BC) - two acronyms that together can spell success and security for your organization. In this week's one-question survey, we explore the relationship between the two disciplines. Click here to take the survey.  

And click here to register for DRI2012, where you can learn more about BC and ERM at this just-added session:  

Enterprise Risk Management and BCP 

Organizations that have not evolved out of a silo-based approach to operation often do not see the benefits of enterprise risk management (ERM) or how business continuity functions relate to risk management in general. Although it has been and continues to be debated whether business continuity is a subset of risk management or a separate discipline altogether, it is important to make sure that these functions are communicating. This presentation will provide you with the skills needed to ensure the roles are communicating within an enterprises risk management framework and show areas where risk management and business continuity should be working together.

The session will be presented by Randy F. Jouben, who is the Director, Risk Management at Five Guys Enterprises, LLC headquartered in Lorton, VA. Randy has a diverse risk management background, with more than 25 years of experience. He is also on the local Chapter Board of Directors of the Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS), and he serves as Chairman of the Professional Development Committee for DRI International.

The response to our one-question survey on metrics a few weeks back (and the continued discussion on our LinkedIn on the topic) has us convinced that metrics is something that you want to know more about. So, we're moving beyond one question and will be crafting an entire survey all about metrics.

And here's your chance to make sure we ask what you want to know. Tell us! Have a burning question about what to measure or how to measure it or how to report the results or how to get results that actually mean something or which metrics matter to upper management? Whatever it is that you want to know, is exactly what we want to find out for you! Send your questions to Buffy Rojas at brojas@drii.org.

New Orleans is a terrific place to attend a conference, and DRI2012 is a terrific conference - one that provides an amazing opportunity for you to hear presentations from the leaders in your field. 

This is not one of those conferences where the cookie break is the highlight of your day.

This is not one of those conferences where you sit sheepishly near an exit door and bolt as the speaker drones on about some inane and useless topic.

This won't be a conference where nobody says hello to you if it's your first venture out into the world of BCP conferences.

This is not an ordinary run-of-the-mill conference. And by now, you must know that.

This first-ever DRI International conference is a confluence of the best in your line of work. These folks are not only smart; they are experienced and willing to share their knowledge and recovery stories. The knowledge you get, the networking opportunities that are available to you, the conference venue, the excitement, the opportunity to do some giving back via the volunteer day, the camaraderie amongst your peers, and the joyous atmosphere of the city of New Orleans, make this an experience you will remember long after you leave a fantastic conference and a funky city behind.

I have had the distinct pleasure of being in the BCP business for more than 20 years. I have been fortunate enough to have some of the best BCP practitioners work on my teams. I have mentored many and encouraged all to get certified by DRI International and to attend conferences with an eagerness to learn. And along my journey I have also attended many different conferences in many cities hosted by many different groups. I have presented at some of these conferences, and I know that keeping it real, connecting on various levels, and having a genuine passion for excellence is the key to successful BC planning. In my humble opinion, the speakers at our conference have that passion.

And this is just my opinion too (and I may be a bit biased), but DRI2012 is the one conference to attend in 2012, if you get just one.

But enough about the DRI2012, and back to New Orleans - our host city -- for a final thought.

Although the conference networking kicks off Sunday night and the presentations begin on Monday morning, I know many of you are coming in early to volunteer with us on Saturday and that you also want to experience the music, the food, and the energy that New Orleans has to offer. So, how about going to a music festival the first weekend you are in town. From May 18-20, you can dance, eat local food, and listen to the music that makes this region great. All for no charge - that's right, free - just show up and have fun. How can you beat that? The  Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo Festival is "a free admission music festival in Mid City, the heart of the City of New Orleans, held on the banks of the beautiful and historic Bayou St. John. The spirit of the festival captures the spirit of this diverse and historic neighborhood. It is a family friendly cultural event that celebrates the heritage of New Orleans music, New Orleans cuisine, and New Orleans culture," according to the event website.

Over 20,000 people attended the event last year enjoying live music from three stages, dining on local food, sampling local culture and an art market comprised of local artists. The festival features live music stages, both acoustic and electric with a wide variety of musical genres including New Orleans roots in Blues, Jazz , Funk, Cajun, Zydeco, Latin, Brass, Country, Alternative, Hip Hop and Rock.

Next week, I will chat more about the music festival scene in New Orleans and the excitement and meaning of Mardis Gras.

I am looking forward to seeing you all in New Orleans.

All the best,

Clyde Berger

DRI International Foundation

Director of Volunteerism