The Think Tank came about after CBEC held a business forum on how to stimulate local economic growth. The newly formed committee, under the direction of CBEC, met a number of times with a view to investigate the feasibility of different ideas and engage appropriate stakeholders.
CBEC board member and acting general manager, Geoff McKenzie, sent an email received by committee members while they were meeting, which said CBEC wished to cut ties and "liberate" the group.
"By the time you read this you will probably have attended this evening's meeting and heard that CBEC Management have taken the decision to "cut the umbilical cord" with the recently formed Think Tank," Mr McKenzie said in an email.
"CBEC is and always will be an apolitical organisation. At our monthly meeting on October 31st the Board of Management agreed to express its concern following press statements attributed to a Think Tank spokesperson criticising the Moreton Bay Regional Council," Mr McKenzie continued.
Kimberly James, a Think Tank committee member and candidate for division three in the next Moreton Bay Regional Council elections, responded with an email of her own. She said she was confused and bewildered at the sudden exit of CBEC.
"The wonderful thing about being an A-political organisation is that you are not bound by restrictions of parties or levels of government. This allows one to advocate for issues that concern the community without fear of appearing one sided or showing favourites," Kimberly James said in an email response.
"The think tank sought a response from council for an issue that they believed to be instrumental for the economic development our area, the council did not respond in a timely manner, so six weeks after correspondence was sent on behalf of the think tank (a think tank supported by council to generate ideas for the community) members of the think tank took up the issue," Ms James said.
According to CBEC's website its board is made up of the following:
The CBEC Board for 2009/2010
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Response to CBEC's acting manager's email
Thank you for your correspondence regarding the think tank.
Please understand that my response is not as a representative of the think tank but merely as a participant.
I am somewhat confused and bewildered by your email particularly your rationale for your exit from the think tank.
The role of CBEC was to facilitate the think tank process, it was not as you said to incubate.
CBEC invited community members to a forum to generate ideas. As you know, we were invited to come together to investigate the feasibility of those ideas and engage the appropriate stakeholders to progress them.
During the first few meetings we identified workable projects and identified one key area that would underpin our future projects, that being recognition of the EDU.
The wonderful thing about being an A-political organisation is that you are not bound by restrictions of parties or levels of government. This allows one to advocate for issues that concern the community without fear of appearing one sided or showing favorites.
The think tank sought a response from council for an issue that they believed to be instrumental for the economic development our area, the council did not respond in a timely manner, so six weeks after correspondence was sent on behalf of the think tank (a think tank supported by council to generate ideas for the community) members of the think tank took up the issue.
As members of the think tank we are fortunate to have the four local papers represented in the think tank, the papers sought a response from council and the members of the think tank.
The article praised the economic development unit, but also recognized that with the appropriate resources the work that could be done would be invaluable.
The only criticism of council was that they had not responded to a group they had been a part of the inception by their active participation in the think tank forum.
But for CBEC now to remove support and list one of the reasons as being A-political flies in the face of the values that were underwritten in the process. By making this a precedent, it means that CBEC are now stating that they can no longer advocate to any level of government on behalf of the business community of Caboolture. That CBEC no longer will be, as it has done for the history of CBEC, openly and with tenacity advocate for and with the business community of Caboolture and Morayfield.
Geoff, CBEC is a leader in our community, the work it has been doing for many years has supported and made success of many business in our area. CBEC supported me to build on my business to ensure that at point of sale I had something to walk away with, to have been an employee of CBEC for 18 months, I understand the great work that it does.
I would hate to see this great work being undone by this statement.
I look forward to CBEC perhaps sitting with the think tank to discuss the appropriate closure should their be one, and continue with the strong working relationship CBEC has With the greater working group of this fine area.
So it is with the utmost of respect and willingness to work with CBEC that I send this response.
Thanking you
Kimberly James.
Original email sent by CBEC acting manager
> From: CBEC General Manager [mailto:cbecmgr@bigpond.com]
> Sent: Thursday, 10 November 2011 5:26 PM
> Subject: Think Tank
>
> Good evening or good morning,
> All Think Tank Participants,
>
>
> By the time you read this you will probably have attended this evening's
> meeting and heard that CBEC Management have taken the decision to "cut the
> umbilical cord" with the recently formed Think Tank.
>
> There are a number of reasons for this decision and is made with with all of
> the fairest intentions.
>
> Firstly, CBEC's role was to incubate the committee and we are very
> comfortable that the group is well formed and no longer needs our
> motherhood. Your organisation appears strong and capable of
> self-sustainment.
>
> Secondly, CBEC is and always will be an apolitical organisation. At our
> monthly meeting on October 31st the Board of Management agreed to express
> its concern following press statements attributed to a Think Tank
> spokesperson criticising the Moreton Bay Regional Council.
>
> Accordingly, rather than attempting to apply any censure, we feel it is in
> everybody's best interests to liberate the group and allow it to determine
> its own destiny and place in the community.
>
> Thirdly, the recent departure of General Manager Dennis Chiron signals an
> ideal breakpoint.
>
> The CBEC Board of Management wishes you good luck with your endeavours.
>
> Yours Sincerely,
>
>
> Geoff McKenzie
> Acting General Manager
> Caboolture Business Enterprise Centre Association Inc.
