The Association of Contingency Planners.

"Where were you when it happened?" How many time have each of us heard that question over the past five weeks? The January 17 Northridge earthquake has affected us all, and for a group of over 200 dedicated professionals in greater Los Angeles and Orange County, the earthquake and the events that followed are a career. The Northridge earthquake, the New York World Trade Center bombing, and the Midwest floods are the incidents which comprise the vocation of a Contingency Planner, they go by various names and titles, "Disaster Recovery Coordinator", "Business Resumption Planner", "Emergency Manager", yet all are dedicated to the same pursuit: ensuring that our safety, health, and livelihood are protected and maintained in the event of a disaster or civil emergency. Southern California is lucky to house two of the largest chapters of a national organization called the Association of Contingency Planners (ACP). The Association began as an informal group of professionals sharing information and experience in November of 1983 and was formally organized in 1984 as a nonprofit association. Since 1983 ACP has grown into a well known and nationally recognized professional association. The Association is an opportunity to share and obtain information, as well as providing a forum for continuing education. The Southern California area has long been the leader in the field of Disaster Recovery and Contingency Planning. Recently, events such as the World Trade Center bombing, Hurricane Andrew, and the Southern California Wildfires have brought the need for Contingency Planning to the forefront of the nation's attention. The powers that be of both corporate and public institutions are now understanding that a Contingency Plan is not a luxury, it is a necessity.

The job of a Contingency Planner is an eclectic one, and the Association of Contingency Planners is here to assist in the process of making each member's individual undertakings a success. The organization boasts a diversity of membership, from the Data Processing Professional, the Personal Health and Safety Specialist, to the Corporate Business Resumption Planner. As the Current President of the Los Angeles Chapter of ACP, Mary Carrido of MLC and Associates states. "We see each member as being vital to the strength of the organization, each brings a unique perspective and experience that can only forward the development of the membership as a whole. We have members from large corporations and small businesses, both the novice and the expert are represented in our group, it's inspiring to see the effort the members make to assist each other in times of crisis."

Incidents such as the Northridge earthquake seem to be becoming a way of life for Southern Californians. We all hope this trend will come to an end soon, and no longer will we endlessly be answering the question, "Where were you when it happened?." Regardless of what the future holds, the membership of the Association of Contingency Planners will continue to prepare for the unexpected. Relying on the belief that when a critical incident occurs, we will be ready to assist in maintaining the health and safety of our family, peers, and employees. The Southern California chapters of ACP are comprised of the Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego Chapters. They share a tight knit alliance, share information, knowledge and resources. The Southern California chapters sponsor many events, one of the most well known is the July Symposium. The Association of Contingency Planners is dedicated to providing it's membership with leadership and direction in their development as professionals. Membership in ACP is open to all business professionals who are interested in the field of Contingency and Business Resumption Planning. For additional information on membership or the July Symposium, please call the local ACP hotline at [phone] or the National ACP information line at [phone].