Hub-bub

A contest for readers.

Please read this Press Release from the Undevelopment Commission and then the description of one of the sessions and tell me which key player in the area is not participating. So far. And then ask why not:

• CREATING JOBS: Growing a key industry in Windsor-Essex
  
  Windsor, Ontario - HUB ’09, an International Multimodal Conference was officially launched today by the WindsorEssex Development Commission and host partners at a media conference held at Windsor International Airport.
  
  This informative 2-day international multi-modal conference is being held at Caesars Windsor beginning with a conference dinner on May 5th and will feature a keynote presentation by Jeremy Rifkin, the bestselling author of 17 books on the impact of scientific and technological changes on the economy, the workforce, society, and the environment. Mr. Rifkin is the President of the Foundation on Economic Trends in Bethesda, Maryland.
  
  This conference will bring together over 300 industry experts, business leaders, and community stakeholders to focus on showcasing the region’s key multi-modal assets and will feature presentations on border infrastructure and transportation security issues, the role of transportation in the new economy, and will link the role that transportation plays in helping organizations gain entrance into new, high-performance manufacturing sectors like alternative energy and aerospace. The conference will also include a synthesizing of these important issues facilitated by Dr. Bill Anderson, Ontario Research Chair in Cross-Border Transportation Policy at the University of Windsor.
  
  “Throughout its long history of industrial development, the Windsor-Essex region has achieved a level of excellence in the rapid, reliable and efficient movement of goods by road, rail, water and air. This is a key asset for the region as we face the challenges of economic transformation in the coming decades,” commented Dr. Anderson.
  
  “Among the many factors which enhance the attractiveness of the Windsor-Essex Region for economic investment is the competitive advantage afforded by our region’s location. In addition to the globally recognized manufacturing and engineering capabilities in Windsor-Essex, our ability to leverage geography, as well as our multi modal assets and infrastructure uniquely positions the Region ahead of many other jurisdictions for future economic investment,” said Patrick Persichilli, Vice President, WindsorEssex Development Commission.
  
  
  Key to the success of continuing to grow this important industry in the Windsor-Essex region is the involvement by regional stakeholders. HUB ’09 is being coordinated by the WEDC in partnership with the City of Windsor, County of Essex, Windsor Port Authority, Windsor International Airport Your Quick Gateway (Windsor) Inc, University of Windsor, Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce, the South East Michigan Council of Governments, and the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce.
  
  
• 10:30am - 11:45am – Session #2:
  Beyond Boundaries – Creating a Better Border
  Being the busiest Canada/US border provides a uniquely informed perspective on the challenges of international logistics. Explore forward-looking solutions with panelists from Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA), U.S. Department of Homeland Security, representatives from local Border Crossing Operators, and representatives from the customs brokerage industry.

I wonder now if the WEDC has become politicized and only "acceptable" parties are allowed to present. If so, then WEDC has no value whatsoever.

If, on the other hand, the WEDC was free to invite anyone it chose, then the Organization has no common sense. If the obvious party was not invited to attend as a speaker, then WEDC has no value whatsoever.

Oh and in case you wonder why I am Blogging this before 10 AM, the answer is easy. I have no respect for any organization that ignores and will not take the trouble to send out Press Releases to local Bloggers. Believe it or not, we are media too.

If the organization will not respect us, then I will not respect them.