Last week, we announced the start of the online DRI Foundation online charity auction. It opened Monday, and I bid on the hot air balloon ride! This week, more items have been added and even more continue to come in; so check back often. And here's one that you can bid on without any fear of competition from me - New York Yankees tickets!

If the home team you root for is the Yankees, click here to support a good cause and your favorite team. The Yankees could use a little support; they must be feeling pretty cruddy with a 7-6 record. Or you could jump ship (just like good old Donnie Baseball) and cheer on my team - the L.A. Dodgers, who are 10-3 and in first place in the NL West!

But enough baseball trash talk. No matter what your team or your taste, there's something for you in the online auction - wine tastings, museum tickets, vacations, electronics, sports memorabilia...you name it. And all have very reasonable opening bids. Come to think of it, if you win the Yankees tickets, you might also need the wine (to drown your sorrows!).

  We've Got the Whole Wide World...At Our Conference!

We're called DRI International, and we live up to our name! Reflecting the international nature of our organization - and our worldwide network of certified professionals - we're thrilled to announce that there will be 17 countries represented at DRI2012, our first-ever conference that's now just 29 days away!

That's right, attendees from 17 countries will be joining us in New Orleans for the only industry event that is truly international in scope. In addition to attendees from around the world, our educational sessions also feature global content, with sessions focusing on Latin America, China, Japan, and more.

Click here to learn more about DRI2012 or to register for this one-of-a-kind event.

 Poetry of Disaster?

This Lady's the Master! 

April is National Poetry Month. Not something you usually see covered in the industry press. But for the literary-minded among you, here's a link to a fantastic article by poet Nicole Cooley (a New Orleans native, who devoted an entire volume of her poetry to Katrina and 9/11) on the poetry of disaster and how it serves us.

Writes Cooley: "I believe we again see a space that only poetry can make for our understanding of disaster-not just a place where we might find solace-though I hope we can-but also a place where we remember how important it is to speak, to give voice to the experience of disaster."

They say there's no such thing as a free lunch. Guess what? They're wrong. As part of your free full-conference pass to DRI2012 in New Orleans, May 20-23, you'll get that free lunch...and so much more!

This offer is extended as a professional courtesy to DRI-certified professionals who are currently unemployed. We know the economy has taken a toll, and we'd like to do our part to help you network, stay sharp, and keep your CEAPs current.

You'll need to cover your hotel and travel costs, but the conference pass is on us! If you're interested, please contact me at brojas@drii.org, and I'll let you know how to register.

This week, we're asking Drive readers about smartphones and BC/DR apps. Here's a link to the survey, and here's a link to an informative article on BC/DR apps.

We'd like to know if your employer provides you with a smartphone and how you use it, as well as which apps work for you -- be they BC/DR-specific or aimed at general productivity and organization. As for me, I couldn't live without Dropbox, Skype, EverNote, AroundMe, Quickoffice, Facebook, and Flipboard (and GarageBand!) on my iPhone and/or iPad.

We hope you'll take a minute to take the survey and make liberal use of the comment box! Results will be reported in part in next week's Drive and in full on our DRI International LinkedIn. And if you've got an idea for a survey question, of there's something you want to know, be sure to let me know.

Last week's one-question survey explored business continuity planning and management within multinational corporations (MNCs) and organizations.

Specifically, we asked about the business continuity reporting structure within the multinational corporation. What is it, how is it structured and why? For the complete results, visit our LinkedIn where you can see the stats and join the discussion. For now, here's a tidbit: 25 percent of respondents chose "by country and into a regional reporting structure," but that wasn't the most popular answer.

We've talked about the things to do in New Orleans, the excitement of the city, and vitality that exists throughout. But now, I want to talk about the vitality and strength of the people of this town.

I have been fortunate to meet and get to know many good people from New Orleans and have had the opportunity to get up close and personal with them.

A few weeks ago, I spoke of the woman who had been evacuated and found her family months after Katrina destroyed her home. That's just one of so many stories of heroism and determination. Here are some stories of other folks that I have met as well as some of what they have endured and had the strength, the will, and the spiritual strength to survive.

Our friend Miss Linda at the Marriott lost her home and her prized photos of fellow Marriott employees. She rebuilt and is a beacon of hope and inspiration in her work, her community, and her church.

The doorman at a hotel near the convention center lost his home and just rebuilt, taking on extra jobs to ensure that he could furnish the new home.

Then there's the woman who came by the Alvar Street Habitat for Humanity project that I worked on several years ago. She brought home-baked muffins and cakes for the worker to purchase at a very reasonable price. She also lost her home and all its contents to Katrina, but when asked how she was doing, she said "I'm fine. I have my friends, my family, and I am truly blessed."

Or Miss Della...she lost her home and was confined to a wheelchair. When she got her insurance money and started to rebuild, she was cheated by contractors who took all of her insurance money and did not do the work. She also felt blessed to have volunteers helping her to rebuild. And although in a wheelchair and 82 years old, she said "If I'd known y'all were coming today, I'd have cooked for y'all."

The stories are many ... get knocked down, get back up ... enjoy community, enjoy friends, enjoy family, enjoy the music and the food --- and overall appreciate life and all the gifts we may have. Isn't that an American story? Isn't the strength of our character and the strength of our of our genuine commitment to each other and country. Isn't that what makes us great. Looking forward to seeing you all real soon in New Orleans.

Have a great week y'all.

Clyde Berger

Disaster Recovery International Foundation

Director of Volunteerism and Vice President