There is a very real and recurring challenge that almost always comes up during any larger disaster event and the subsequent response efforts. The challenge is when “regular people” bump into the professional responders. This is not always a problem. Most of the time, there is a way to minimize friction and get everyone working together – at least at a reasonable level. But sometimes, even when people try to do the right thing, it can get frustrating. We have prepared a video commentary based on a local TV news station report from the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. This particular...
Commentary / Exec Dir Journal
As We Build, Disasters Continue
Here’s a commitment I recently made to an audience in Seoul: I promise that before we are able to activate the basic functionality of the new version of IDRN, there will be major events that will highlight what the International Disaster Response Network seeks to address. It’s disheartening to see that prediction come to fruition so quickly through the devastating floods and landslides in Nepal, and the impact of Hurricane Helene across the southeastern United States. Both events are water based. Both have led to loss of life. Both demonstrate the awesome power of water. Both will be impacting their...
Events / Exec Dir Journal
Istanbul Registration
To attend the December 6-10, 2024, International Disaster Response Network (IDRN) Gathering in Istanbul, Turkey, each attendee must complete and submit the following form. DETAILS Our meetings will BEGIN on Friday, December 6th, with dinner and END on Tuesday, December 10th, with lunch. It will take place at: GATHERING VENUE: Eser Premium Hotel & Spa Fatih, Gazi Mustafa Cd No:11, 34500 Büyükçekmece / İstanbul Türkiye https://eserhotel.com.tr/eser-premium-hotel-spa-istanbul-buyukcekmece/ Our local hosting group is Rainbow Tours, and they will handle everything with the hotel, so please don’t be in direct touch with the hotel. ARRIVAL INFORMATION The venue is located on the European side and so most will...
Commentary / Events / Exec Dir Journal
Korean Hosts Shine with IDRN International Leaders’ Forum
We congratulate IDRN South Korea and Together International for a great meeting! The August 27-30, 2024 gathering in Seoul, South Korea, concluded this past Friday. We will hopefully be seeing official stats and media in the coming days, but we want to acknowledge the hard work, resources, and love you poured into this event. We were informed, educated, inspired, and challenged as we also honored the efforts that preceded this important event. This is the first time the Koreans have hosted the bi-annual GLOBAL CHANGING CHALLENGES (GCC) event which was started over a decade ago by IDRN leaders from Southeast...
Commentary / Exec Dir Journal
The Big Picture in Phases
If you encountered the previous POST entitled “Spin Up Time” – consider this the second verse of that song – just with some additional detail you can use in setting your own expectations. Setting Expectations Everyone has expectations – whether they realize it or not. After hearing our vision, you may not need any additional information to sign up and join us. But at some point, most people want more detail as to “What’s the plan?!” It’s a question that everyone should ask, even if they don’t. These 4 Phases are a starting point. We expect to adapt and evolve...
Commentary / Exec Dir Journal
Spin Up Time
Disappointment often stems from unmet expectations. We’ve all experienced it: feeling let down when someone is rude or when a meal doesn’t live up to the hype. While unexpected events can bring joy, it’s hard to be truly disappointed if you had no expectations to begin with. That’s why it’s important to set realistic expectations as we build the IDRN network. This is a long-term project, and the road ahead will have its challenges. But by understanding what to expect in the coming months, we can focus on the progress we make and the impact we create. Spinning Up the...
Commentary / Exec Dir Journal
More than Collaboration
IDRN’s desire to foster “new and better collaboration” involves far more than meets the eye. Growing up in west Texas, you could drive for miles without seeing another car. When you did, it was customary to wave—a simple act of politeness. A friend from the former USSR found this inconceivable, leading to some laughs. However, this act is fundamental to my worldview, rooted in my childhood: acknowledging another person and communicating, “I see you.” This, too, is a core focus of the new IDRN: increasing awareness. As our introduction materials state, lack of awareness is the first barrier to healthy collaboration. Yet, there’s...
Commentary / Exec Dir Journal
Why Grassroots?
Q: IDRN emphasizes the grassroots aspect of our network. Why? A: Most disaster response efforts could benefit from more informed grassroots engagement. First, let us revisit things that are opposite of grassroots. Top-down. Highly structured. Corporate. Government. Elite. An establishment or power structure proactively shaping a culture or society with an agenda. Whatever word one uses, the understanding is that there is power, control, resources, organization, agendas, and the ability to “make things happen.” In the disaster response world, large groups like governments, the United Nations, and large NGOs immediately dominate most people’s thinking. Why? That is because they typically...
Commentary / Exec Dir Journal / External Links
A Month of Vision+Q&A Sessions
May 2024 is an important month as we are consolidating what has been learned from the past 8 months of meetings, travel, and introductions. We will be working to significantly increase and improve the clarity of what the International Disaster Response Network (IDRN) will look like in the future. The initial and specific plans we will be pursuing need to be discussed and vetted through more conversation and tweaks. Ultimately, we hope to find a healthy alignment with all of those people and groups we are actively inviting to be part of this exciting and promising future. As part of...
Commentary / Exec Dir Journal / External Links / Video
Personal Introductions: Viral Growth & Network Effects
Over the recent months, we have been encouraged to meet with people from over 50 different countries – introducing the vision for relaunching IDRN this coming year as a registry focused on improving awareness. That awareness will be multifaceted including: awareness of those responding to a specific crisis event, awareness of various groups’ focuses and personalities as we help those groups find new supporters and volunteers, awareness of the many amazing resources that already exist specifically to help people prepare and respond better, and awareness of best practices that we can celebrate with the hope that others will...