Simply put, I am in a season of expanding our connections and growing the network. This posting is made in the midst of a flurry of travel. Here is a quick review of some recent meetings where connections have been made. This is just a quick update as we head to Thailand tomorrow and during the following week, we’re scheduled to be in Turkey again. DRRN – Birmingham, Alabama In mid-February, I was privileged to meet with a number of people and groups who have been actively working the Helene aftermath as part of a US-based regional meeting of response...
Commentary / Exec Dir Journal
Not a New Idea
I’m in the midst of a season of travel with Birmingham (two weeks ago), London (last week), Miami (next week), Turkey (mid-March). Expanding the visibility of IDRN through direct connections and networking conferences is a very different proposition than is general mass marketing. There will be a time for that, but please hear my thoughts on why that’s not the way to re-launch this network. First-hand connections and introductions are preferred, even though they do take more time and effort. The quality makes the difference and will translate into a more valuable network. When you ponder how this works, make sure...
Commentary / Exec Dir Journal
Daily Posts on “X”
We’re already halfway through the first full month of 2025. Wow! I’ve been posting to my personal “X” account almost every day regarding my work or thoughts regarding IDRN. I thought it would be interesting to see how AI might make sense of my various posts. Note, I’ve been writing on whatever is striking me that day. In other words, there is not an overarching, preplanned narrative. So, I was interested to see if AI might make sense of it all. Here’s the way it made sense of all my postings so far. You can see the actual original entries...
Commentary / Exec Dir Journal / Video
Challenges of Independent Responders
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 PLEASE NOTE the VENUE has changed AS OF NOVEMBER 23, 2024. Please disregard previous venue information and use this information below! 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: Windsor Hotel & Convention Center Yenidoğan, Erciyes Sokağı No: 7, 34030 Bayrampaşa/İstanbul, Türkiye https://www.windsoristanbul.com/ Our local hosting group is Rainbow Tours, and they will handle everything with the hotel, so please don’t be in...
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...