Writings and Ruminations

What is the International Disaster Response Network (IDRN)?

Leanne — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:57:02 +0000

BREAKING NEWS: 8.9 magnitude earthquake hits Japan.

IDRN is engaged.

BREAKING NEWS: 13 million people are suffering from famine in Eastern Africa.

IDRN is engaged.

BREAKING NEWS: Class 5 cyclone strikes Cairns, Queensland.

IDRN is engaged.

BREAKING NEWS: Tropical storm Sendong hits the Philippines.

IDRN is engaged.

BREAKING NEWS: Mount Merapi erupts in Indonesia.

IDRN is engaged.

Some of these events made headlines and some of them didn’t. Regardless, the International Disaster Response Network (IDRN) responded to these disasters as well as many others around the world. Simply stated, The IDRN is a network of organizations and individuals who come together in response to crisis’ and disasters that happen around the globe. They work together in preparation and training so as to provide immediate relief efforts as well as long term sustainability to help victims restore and reclaim their lives after devastation.

As I’ve been blogging about the crisis in the Horn of Africa and supporting the IDRN Africa Response campaign, I realize you may not know much about this organization. Unlike some of the more familiar organizations like, World Vision or World Food Program, IDRN is lesser known program. Though a smaller operation, comparatively speaking, IDRN makes a big difference for millions of people all around the world.

IDRN is an affiliate of the Humanitarian International Services Group (HISG) which “exists to facilitate collaboration for sustainable development and disaster response operations within and across impacted sectors in regions where [they] operate.”[1] To ensure quick and efficient response, IDRN is dedicated to constant training, testing, and organizing of its response networks. You can imagine with organization partners spread around the world, the need for seamless logistics in communication and implementation between partners is imperative. Millions of human lives are at stake after a multitude of different natural and humanistic disasters, so IDRN knows its systems have to be tight and organized.

Who is a part of this network of people? Well, just for Horn of Africa Response alone 25 different countries:

Click International Disaster Response Global Partners to see a more comprehensive list of world partners who are invested in crisis’ beyond Horn of Africa Response.

My favorite aspect about IDRN is they focus on helping crisis-stricken region obtain long-term sustainability. After tending to immediate relief efforts and helping victims out of crisis mode, IDRN helps families rebuild their lives so they can move forward and flourish on their own for future generations. IDRN uses local resources within the affected region, engages with local businesses and their owners, and encourages local men and women to tap into their own skills and capabilities to stimulate their own economy. IDRN volunteers teach families everything from good health practices so as to support their own healthful longevity to business development so families can operate their own small businesses. In fact, “IDRN has helped start over 3000 small businesses through out Africa over the last 10 years with a 73% success rate.”[2]

This is an organization to be trusted and supported. Though my heart is tied to IDRN’s Horn of Africa Response, I support them in all global endeavors. To learn more or to support IDRN visit their website IDRN.info. If you’d like to learn more about IDRN’s work in the Horn of Africa, please visit the IDRN Horn of Africa Response Facebook page.

[1] HISG: http://hisg.org/about-hisg/vision/

[2] HISG Digital Architect—Gunnar Simonsen

Contemplation of my weird-but-not-bad Week

Leanne — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 23:37:10 +0000

This past week was book-ended on both sides… one with a life saved and the other with a life lost. In between were lessons and reminders about life in general. It was NOT a bad week. Just weird… and heavy. In it, though, I practiced fortitude, transitioned to heart-healthy eating, leaned on my God, stood strong for my husband, became a better mom, and recognized the strength and support I have in my close friends and family. I am a lucky woman.

On Monday, my father-in-law received two titanium stents in his heart after showing signs of an impending heart attack. The surgery was none too soon because one artery was blocked 99% and the other 90%. The doctors called those arteries “widow-makers.” They said he would not have made it to Wednesday. He’s one lucky man who’s bounced back in less than a week. His life was saved. Monday was a difficult and exhilarating day.

Tuesday and Wednesday I learned a hard but important lesson about monetizing my business and communicating clearly with clients. I made a mistake, took responsibility for it, and made it right the best I could. It was an uncomfortable 24 hours for me that turned out for the best. I have an amazing and understanding client. I made a new friend in her. Wednesday was a great day.

Thursday I invoiced my first paying client for Pen to Paper Communications, (which means I accomplished my 2012 business goal). I had a wonderful morning at MOPS where I “hostess-ed” the speaker for our group. Our moms were thrilled and enlightened from the speaker’s presentation. I rounded out the day by going to a “kindergarten roundup” meeting for my son’s school next year. I felt like such a mom, and it was wonderful! Thursday was an excellent day.

Friday morning we learned my husband’s grandmother passed away. At 93, she’d been fighting stage-four uterine cancer for several months. There was no shock at her passing, but a gentle sadness that she was gone mixed with a tender joy that she was no longer suffering. We were all close to her, but my husband had an especially close bond with Gamie, so I was sad for Andrew. Later in the day I got a call from Andrew informing me he was seconds away from having to fire his assistant at work. Ugh. Can you imagine losing a dear family member and then several hours later having to confront an employee to let them go? Terrible day for my husband. Friday was a tough day.

Like I said. Weird week, but not a bad week. I imagine I’ll reflect on it for a few weeks. I’m certain I have not yet grasped all the lessons wrapped into these last seven days. Some I may not connect with for a while, but I’ll be thinking and contemplating. I came across a quote, today, I absolutely love (though I’m not necessarily a fan of the man who said it!) because it is a great reminder for me as I contemplate and write my thoughts:

“Action is greater than writing. A good man is a nobler object of contemplation than a great author. There are but two things worth living for: to do what is worthy of being written; and to write what is worthy of being read.“
Ross Perot

Snookie’s Cleavage Dilemma- We Should Definitely Worry

Leanne — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:48:22 +0000

Kudos to the writer who titled this article: Snookie’s Cleavage Dilemma.

Though the “headline” is absurdly ridiculous, I had to click and read what I knew would be an equally ridiculous article. It did not disappoint. Snookie’s cleavage problem definitely falls in to the “bad news” category; so much so, that it kept me awake for part of the night thinking about it.

The article highlights Snookie’s recent weight loss and the unfortunate side effect of smaller breasts, which sadly, no longer spill out over the front of her cleavage-bearing shirts. Now her breasts only pop out of the top of her… tops. Snookie is unsatisfied, but she isn’t letting the issue get her down. With her best friend, JWOWW by her side, Snookie has plans to get implants to help get her breasts back to the fabric-stretching size and perky-ness they once were.

*palm slap to forehead*

The bad news here, is that this is news. I have nothing against Snookie being disappointed with her smaller breast size and wanting to get implants. Every woman has desired standards for her body and has a right to do with her body what she wills. It’s a personal choice. And therein lies the problem. This is not public news… it needs to remain private and within Snookie’s private circle of friends and family.

We wonder why our teenage girls (and even pre-teeners and “tweeners”) are having body-image issues. This article serves as an example of why. It broadcasts yet another message that girls need to strive to be skinny and large-chested. It says, “Snookie is not satisfied with her body even though she’s skinny and beautiful. I want to be like Snookie, so if she’s not happy yet, then I guess I’m not either. I’ll have to work harder like Snookie to look perfect.” The fact that this issue makes entertainment news means it’s newsworthy to a young person. Labeling cleavage issues as a “dilemma” is dangerous. Teenage girls listen to this stuff. We hear the statistics all the time about young girls and eating disorders, depression, and the quest to look like their favorite stars.This article says to a girl, “I am not good enough.”

Look, I am not bashing Jersey Shore or Snookie or reality shows or anything. I’m just saying, we need to be responsible about broadcasting certain information. The casts of these shows know who their fans are, so they need to be responsible about what message they send through their actions and words. Snookie, the Kardashians, the Hiltons, etc. influence young minds, so they need to be careful.

Like I said, Snookie’s cleavage news is definitely something we should worry about… it’s sending the wrong message to our young girls about what’s important in life, how they should feel about themselves, and the physical standards they should strive for.

On another note: I’d like to offer some perspective on Snookie’s cleavage being a “dilemma” or a “problem”:

30 million people in Eastern Africa are suffering from famine.
Hundreds of thousands of young children in our country are being kidnapped and forced into sex-trafficking.
In parts of Africa, there is an entire generation of parents dying from aids leaving young children to fend for themselves.
Our neighbors down the street are struggling to put food on the table.

These are dilemmas. These are problems we need to worry about. You know, I am not a huge fan of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, two stars who also influence young minds, but I have to give them props for using their platform of “star-power” to bring awareness and relief to national and international crisis’. I’d love to see more of that from some of the MTV and E! stars our teenagers admire so much.