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Clyde's Corner:
A New Year's
BCP Resolution
The New Year is into its first month, and our senior leaders may have asked us to review our program model, critical business functions, mission essential applications, communications capabilities, recovery center readiness, command centers, internal and external business partners, risk and impact assessments, planning tools, training and awareness programs, social media capabilities, educational requirements, staffing levels, and more. Starting a new calendar year and budget year always demands some introspection and self-evaluation. Refreshed and renewed, the management team may also assert their energy and ability to make changes in your direction. You may be on the receiving end of their sometimes less-than-appropriate scrutiny and new edicts. As BCP professionals, we need to always be prepared, right? We pride ourselves in being ready. We pride ourselves on having the energy and foresight to predict the unpredictable. But when the boss says, "I want to do a total and comprehensive review of the BCP, IT DR, emergency response, and crisis management program," will you be ready for that? Do you start to get those pangs of paranoia? Thinking they might be looking to eliminate your job or cut staff, budget, travel, education? In the New Year, we should be ready to address all those concerns with a readiness that matches our ability to respond to disasters. When you and your program are being scrutinized with the intent of sweeping changes, it's not good enough just to have a BCP in place. You must also have a solid and viable BCP program protection model. Protection for your program, yourself, and your staff is vital. It's not good enough to have a simple elevator speech about your worth and all the good things you did and plan to do. You must take a hard look at what you have done, what needs to be done, and match that up against that ever growing (and sometimes elusive) risks and impacts. Being proactive with marketing the BC and IT DR project plan is the right approach. You need viable and comprehensive plans, tests scheduled, management involvement, and appropriate budget to support your needs, business partners that support your efforts and benefits model that senior leadership understands. In these challenging times of rising risks and shrinking budgets, new managers may question your every move; it is important that you have a contingency approach for supporting your BC Program. I suggest that you keep a list of your on-going essential BC and IT DR efforts; the downside of not doing those projects, a clear depiction of the risks that may impact your business and colleagues, a very specific and realistic list of the impacts across the organization if BCP went on a hiatus (which seems to be a new approach by leadership: "Let's wait and do this in six months or a year"); a model for addressing BC at your organization with a realistic view of what you need to do and what the benefits are; and a promise to your leadership that there is an end in sight - there is a steady state at some point - that your program and all the "to do" items don't go on forever. At this time of the year, we make our New Year's resolutions and we aspire to be healthier, thinner, more relaxed, more committed to friends and family, a better more involved member of community and/or house of worship, happier, less intense, better prepared emotionally to take on the challenges of home and family, committed to giving back via volunteerism and ultimately a better citizen of the global community of which we are a part. Why not develop a resolution that is designed for the preservation of your BCM program? Why not add that to the list of your New Year's resolutions? Why not be ready for the not-so-unexpected? When the boss asks "Why," be ready with clear and concise answers. Recite them proudly, and keep continuity planning alive at your company or organization. It's important. And since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was this past Monday keep these thoughts in mind ... "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. The true neighbor will risk his position, his prestige, and even his life for the welfare of others." - From his 1963 book, "Strength to Love." Have a great week, Clyde cberger@driif.org Vice President and Director of Volunteerism Disaster Recovery Institute International Foundation |
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| Register Now for DRI2013 in Philadelphia!
You know you want to go to our second annual conference, to be held June 4-7 in Philadelphia, PA. So, why not register for DRI2013 right now? Start the New Year right by making plans to attend a truly outstanding industry event, featuring a truly international conference program, superior networking, meaningful volunteer opportunities, and innovative interaction with the provider community. Register today at www.DRIconference.com! |
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Issue #50
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January 25, 2013
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Greetings!
 He won the race. He lost the tooth. Well, part of it anyway. When my speed demon son face-planted into the boards at the local ice skating rink, he was thrilled to have beaten the teenagers who challenged him to a race, thinking a scrawny 11-year-old didn't stand a chance. I was less thrilled when I saw his "now-I'm-a-real-hockey-player" smile.
But I've taken solace in the fact that his chipped tooth could change the world -- or perhaps his trajectory in it. Seem far-fetched? Maybe. But it was a chipped tooth that changed the face of rock and roll -- or at least its facial hair.
In 1965, Paul McCartney was in a moped accident and chipped his tooth. He also split his lip and decided to grow a mustache to cover up the whole unsightly affair. Well, says Paul, "It caught on with the guys in the group: if one of us did something like growing his hair long and we liked the idea, we'd all tend to do it. And then it became seen as a kind of revolutionary idea, that young men of our age definitely ought to grow a moustache! And it all fell in with the Sgt. Pepper thing, because he had a droopy moustache." (Paul McCartney, Anthology). And so, scraggly rock stars were born.
Accidents happen...especially to my son. And from this one, I hope he learns to slow down a little. But what about when accidents happen at work? That's when you're called upon to clean it up and keep it moving. And you do that well. But I encourage you to go a step beyond and really investigate what went wrong, why, and what might be learned from it. (Here's a list of 10 accidental business successes to inspire you.) You just might discover an opportunity to enact a proactive policy, identify a new best practice, or unearth something that could change the face of your business. Or maybe you'll just figure out a way not to face plant again.
Buffy Rojas
DRI International Director of Communications
brojas@drii.org
(610) 792-4802
P.S. Look closely at the before-and-after photos to see the chip that changed the world, the one that rocked mine, and the repairs!
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Food Fracas: Flaming Cheese and Frozen Soda Close Roadways in PA and Norway!
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 First the "FonDON'T," a truckload of burning cheese cut off traffic to a Norwegian road tunnel for six days as the highly-flammable delicacy smoldered. "Some 27 metric tons of flaming brown cheese (brunost), a Norwegian delicacy, blocked off a three-km (1.9 mile) tunnel near the northern coastal town of Narvik when it caught fire last Thursday," according to the Reuters report. "This high concentration of fat and sugar is almost like petrol if it gets hot enough," Viggo Berg, a policeman told Reuters. "I didn't know that brown cheese burns so well," added Kjell Bjoern Vinje at the Norwegian Public Roads Administration. According to Vinje, in his 15 years on the job, this was the first time cheese had caught fire on Norwegian roads. Luckily, no one was injured and the accident had happened close to one of the tunnel's exits. The tunnel will be closed for repairs for at least a week, maybe two. In another traffic meltdown - well, actually this one's a freeze up - two tractor trailers collided in Reading, PA on Wednesday, according to the Reading Eagle. The one carrying soda split and dumped hundreds of gallons of the stuff onto Route 422. The accident was on a bridge, and we all know that bridges freeze before roads, so I bet you can guess what happened between the 12:40 a.m. crash and the morning commute! What a mess. Let's just be thankful that the second truck didn't lose its load -- it was carrying candy. Imagine if that had been Mentos! So, when people ask "What could possibly happen?" now you've got a couple more unexpected examples. What's the strangest interruption, disruption, disaster story you've heard? Email it to me and we'll run a mashup of mishaps in an upcoming issue of Drive. |
| Give A Little Bit...Or Ask Your Employer to Help |
 The DRI International Foundation is now accepting donations for our Silent Auction to be held at DRI2013 on June 6, 2013 in Philadelphia. The foundation would welcome a service, product, or item to be auctioned off at this event. Any denomination of gift card, gift certificate or actual item also would be greatly appreciated, and all contributors will be listed on our web site. Please consider asking your employer to support this event as well. Your tax-deductible donation will support communities impacted by disaster connect with relief organizations as quickly as possible and when they need it the most. Some of 2013's donations include: lunch and tour of the iconic New York Stock Exchange, theater tickets, hotel stays, sports memorabilia, electronics, and gift cards. Donations can be mailed to: Melissa Smith, Secretary Disaster Recovery International Foundation 691 N. Squirrel Road Suite 111 Auburn Hills, MI 48326 Donations are due by March 15, 2013. Please contact Pascale Phelan, Development Officer, at 914-358-6451 or pphelan@driif.org with any questions. |
| Welcome New Board Member, John Franchy! |
 Exciting news! DRI International's newest board member is John Franchy, an interesting, super-qualified, public sector continuity expert who promises to bring much to DRI.
Franchy is currently assigned as a Mission Assurance Continuity Specialist for the Department of Defense (DoD), where he coordinates and synchronizes continuity and crisis management policies and procedures with the U.S. Intelligence Community. Prior to joining DoD, Franchy served as the Chief of Continuity and Emergency Management at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (2006-2011) and Department of the Army Force Protection/Antiterrorism Officer at a major military installation (2004-2006). A decorated Army combat arms officer and veteran, he held a wide variety of command and staff assignments in the United States, Germany, Korea, and Saudi Arabia (1984-2004).
"I am grateful for the opportunity to serve on the DRI International Board of Directors," says Franchy. "I look forward to contributing in DRI International's efforts to professionalize public sector continuity program staffs through education, training, and certification opportunities and work towards better integrating the Professional Practices into the national continuity policy framework."
"Over the last few years, we have broadened the members of the Board of Directors to create the most dedicated internationally and industry-recognized group of experts in business continuity, disaster recovery, crisis management, emergency response, and risk management of any non-profit organization. As we continue to grow, it is important that we also expand the breadth and depth of our Board," says DRI President Al Berman. "The addition of John Franchy to the Board is a delight. He has been a friend of DRI International for many years, offering his expertise and assistance on a variety of projects. I think very highly of John and truly believe he will be an asset to the Board and the larger DRI community."
Franchy is a DRI Certified Business Continuity Professional (CBCP) and is recognized by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as a Professional Continuity Practitioner. He serves on the DRI Professional Development Committee and is currently engaged with other industry professionals in developing a comprehensive Business Continuity Glossary to standardize terms and definitions across the profession.
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| Awards of Excellence: Nominate Now! |
 You are invited to participate in DRI International's Awards of Excellence Program and Awards Gala Dinner to honor individuals and corporations who are leaders and innovators within our profession. This event will recognize those who have achieved a level of excellence in the fields of continuity management, technology recovery (DR), and crisis management. For a list of awards categories, click here. To nominate, log in to your MyDRI account and click on the Awards of Excellence option on the top right of the screen. And here is a list of FAQs. The awards will be presented as the culmination of the DRI International Conference at the Awards of Excellence Gala Dinner to be held at the Downtown Philadelphia Marriott Hotel in Philadelphia, on Thursday, June 6, 2013. Nominations are due by February 15, 2013. To assure a fair and unbiased assessment of all applicants, we have established a process that allows for blind judging by senior industry professionals drawn from amongst the most highly respected organizations, to independently judge the nominees in each category. For more information, contact the Awards Team by calling (866) 542-3744 or via email at info@drii.org. |
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