“Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” – John F. Kennedy
In almost 30 years of running Leadership Cayuga, we have created a large pool of knowledgeable, committed individuals ready to make a positive difference in their community. We’ve seen our over 600 graduates from the program do amazing things like run for local offices, pioneer economic development projects, start businesses, be promoted to positions of leadership, lend their voice and experience to countless boards of directors, and volunteering their time throughout the community. Our graduates have more than lived up to the accolade of being a leader in our community and in their careers as well.
Leadership Cayuga is an engaging community education program of the Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce that gives a diverse group of aspiring and current leaders an experience like no other. Designed to give students an in-depth look into our community, raise awareness of local issues, develop leadership skills and build strong networks of committed individuals, Leadership Cayuga is a long-standing and valuable resource in our community. Participants in each year’s program come from all geographic areas of Cayuga County and represent business, industry, education, government and non-profit organizations, as well as citizens from the community at large.
Each of the nine monthly sessions goes into detail about a particular portion of our community. Session topics include Economic Development, History, Government, Community Service/Non-Profits, Human Services, Health and Wellness, Emotional Intelligence and so much more! In addition, as a member of the class you have behind-the-scenes access to a number of sites throughout the community and participate on an exciting bus tour.
Annually, class members work on projects that bring bright, new ideas to the forefront to address community issues in Tourism, Business Development, Technology, Community Health and Wellness, Non-Profit Awareness, and Green and Eco-Initiatives, just to name a few.
This year’s project presentations will be held at 9 a.m. on Thursday, May 10, at the Hilton Garden Inn in Auburn. This event is free, and we encourage the public to attend. This year’s projects include:
- Cayuga Elected Officials Resource: Informing individuals who are considering running for an elected office of the expectations of the position, time commitment, and financial costs of campaigning.
- Replay on The Players: Taking a look at the Auburn Players Community Theater
- Solutions to Child Care in Cayuga County: Develop solutions to improve quality and availability of Child Care in Cayuga County
- Exploring Leadership Cayuga: Looking at how Leadership Cayuga can act as a focal point for volunteer and community service.
It’s not just the invaluable lessons and behind the scenes tours that makes each class the #BestClassEver. It is the comradery and lasting friendships that solidify the experience.
I would love for YOU to be able to experience this too. Applications for the 30th Anniversary 2018-2019 Leadership Cayuga Class are now being accepted online and by mail. Leadership Cayuga includes one session day per month from September through May. The cost is $1100 for Chamber Members and $1200 for non-Chamber members. There is also a $100 discount if the application is received by August 15th! A limited number of partial scholarships are available. For more information, please contact Jessica Wrench at (315) 252-7291 or leadership@cayugacountychamber.com. Applications are available for download at: http://www.cayugacountychamber.com/get-involved/leadership-cayuga.
Jessica Wrench is Education Resources Coordinator for the Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce. Contact her at (315) 252-7291 or jwrench@cayugacountychamber.com.
