Clyde's Corner:  

Nobody Puts Clyde

in a Corner!

Nobody puts Clyde in a corner. That's why his "corner" is actually a column! Wondering what Clyde is doing here in Drive? Well, last year he told us all we needed to know about New Orleans. This time around, Clyde clues us in to what's up in Philadelphia (the destination for DRI2013) with weekly columns leading up to the conference. And who knows, he might even review Philly's hippest dance clubs. C'mon Clyde, we know you can do "the lift."

Last week we spoke of hoagies and Philly cheesesteak sandwiches, and one reader let us know that in his neck of the woods these sandwiches are called submarines (subs). Any other catchy names out there for these meat-and-cheese-loaded meals in a roll? Or is it a bun or hero loaf? Never mind. Whether real cheese, Cheese Whiz, provolone, American, or Swiss, roast beef, prime rib, salami, or chicken, the sandwiches vary from café, to restaurant, to dive, to diners or drive-ins. Maybe, these sandwiches are even called Po Boys - remember New Orleans ya'll. A Po Boy has shredded lettuce, pickles, mayo and gravy with the meat & cheese of your choice. So where ever you buy your sandwich; whatever you choose to put in it - it's your choice, your brand, your decision.   But you might want to check out this Philly food truck's Korean Bulgogi Cheesesteak, which recently made Food & Wine's Best Sandwiches in the U.S. list.

As with the cheesesteak, there are countless combinations and permutations of how BC planning is done, where it resides in your organization (IT, operations, R&D, audit, risk management, etc.), what your BC project lifecycle looks like, what your plan structure is, who actually does the work, how the plans are tested, how you do your training, where emergency and crisis management fit in, and who the ultimate decision makers are at time of disaster. Every organization and consulting firm approaches BCP a little differently. The moving parts are similar, but the sequence and style may differ.

Is there one right way to do BC planning? Is there one BC philosophy to adhere to? Is there only one way to configure your BCP organization? Are there just one set of BC tools to use and invest in? Is there one way to audit your program? Is there one way to test your plans? Is there only one way to communicate at time of an outage? Of course the answer is no. Business continuity planning is as diverse a field as any you will ever encounter. It is more an art than science in the opinion of some.

That's what makes our work interesting. As pretty much a life-long BCP guy (25 plus years), I have seen plans written and researched in dozens of different ways - each specific to the organization of which it was a part. That's what makes this challenging and fun. There is no one right way, one format, one approach, one philosophy, one single set of action plans and characteristics. No, not one - there are many, many comprehensive and viable solutions to the perplexing question: "How should I approach this?"

When I teach classes for DRI International, my students kindly share their experiences and their program models and corporate BC philosophies. Trust me, the combinations and permutations are really endless. But in every case, DRI International's Professional Practices help you to lay the foundation for responsible planning.

Attending the DRI2013 conference in Philadelphia will provide you with an opportunity to sample the different varieties of Philly cheesesteaks and will allow you the opportunity to hear our speakers talk about the different ways that BC planning can be done with a successful outcome at your company. The diverse nature of our attendees and their experiences will make for interesting conversation while munching on your preferred style of hoagie (hero, submarine, Po Boy). Variety and diversity are the spice of life.

Have a great week,

Clyde 

cberger@driif.org  

Director of Volunteerism and Vice President  

Here's A Toast to the Red Cross

for the Social Media Save of the Year!

Check out this awesome article about the year's worst social media screw ups, but scroll all the way to the bottom first to read how the American Red Cross put a band aid on a Twitter boo boo and turned a gaffe into a "beer for blood" promotion.

Other businesses (Nestle, Kenneth Cole, and Ragu) are called out, but as examples of what not to do. It's worth a read, and you might want to pass it along to your PR folks.

Drama Disruption:  

F(l)ight Attendants Cause Delay

 

A few weeks back I theorized the actual number one cause of business disruption is not power outages, but rather workplace drama. And it seems I may be on to something. I got tons of mail from Drive readers with stories to support my claim, and now this: an Associated Press report that "a squabble between two flight attendants forced a United Airlines flight bound for Chicago to return to Raleigh-Durham International Airport."

According to the AP, airport spokeswoman Mindy Hamlin says "Flight 1214 left Raleigh at 6 a.m. Wednesday. She says a call from the pilot to the tower at 6:40 a.m. suggested there had been an assault onboard, but it turned out to be a tiff between flight attendants."

"United spokeswoman Christen David says the two employees were removed and the flight re-staffed. David said the Chicago-based airline is conducting an internal review and that the argument was not physical. Some passengers were placed on other flights, and David said United would compensate passengers for their inconvenience."

Password Purrfection!  

Drive Readers Steer Me Straight

   

Last week, I asked for the secret to choosing and remembering passwords. I realized I'd been breaking the rules (and so have some of you!), But thanks to the MANY clever and informative replies I received, help is on the way! I'm compiling all of the suggestions into an article that I'll make available to all of you very soon.

I was so pleased to get so many suggestions containing such interesting solutions. Unfortunately, I didn't get nearly as many tips on finding homes for the litter of kittens my son brought home. There's one left! Who wants the adorable wee grey feline pictured here? Just think what a great password it would make: 1FR33kitten!

FEMA Announces 2012 Community Resilience Innovation Challenge

    

Yesterday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that the application period is open for a new funding opportunity to build local resilience, through a Whole Community approach, in communities across America: the Community Resilience Innovation Challenge.

This new opportunity is designed to continue to move community preparedness forward and assist local areas in building and revitalizing community-based partnerships to advance the nation's resilience to disasters.

"The best resiliency ideas originate in our states and communities - not from Washington, DC," said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. "The goal of this program is to empower communities to collaborate and develop innovative ways to effectively respond to disasters."

The opportunity is provided through the Rockefeller Foundation and FEMA and will be administered by the Los Angeles Emergency Preparedness Foundation who will act as a third-party intermediary to encourage local communities to engage in creative activities that enhance disaster resilience. Funding levels will range, with a maximum award of $35,000, and applications are open to most local, state, and tribal agencies and governments; business entities; associations; organizations and groups. Submissions will be accepted through October 26. Additional information on the Challenge program criteria and application process can be found at www.fema.gov and www.ResilienceChallenge.org.

Chuck Berry Contest Winners No Dingalings!

     

It's a tie! The Chuck Berry/Named Strorm Challenge issued last week was won by two Drive readers who came up with an exhaustive list of Chuck Berry songs that contain proper names. Inspired by Tropical Storm Nadine, the contest winners' lists included Chuck Berry classics like "Johnny B. Goode" and "Carol."  

Congratulations to Brian York and Phillip Millard. Your Amazon gift certificates are on the way! May I suggest Chuck's "The Great Twenty-Eight"? You'll be "Reelin' and Rockin'" for sure!

A Free Pass to DRI2013??!!

     

Yup! We're giving away one free pass to DRI2013 at the NEDRIX conference to be held October 22-24, 2012 at the Hyatt Regency in Newport, RI. NEDRIX (Northeast Disaster Recovery Information X-Change) is a non-profit organization, formed in 1991, that provides continuity and crisis management professionals access to real time governmental agencies information during a crisis or event.

Visit the DRI International booth at the NEDRIX event and enter for a chance to win a free pass to DRI2013, June4-7, 2013, in Philadelphia, PA.