The 23 people who gathered Wednesday evening at the Chamber of Commerce on South Street were beginning a six-month journey to learn more about themselves and about Cayuga County.

They are part of this year's class of Leadership Cayuga, a program designed to help future leaders learn about each other and their community.

The chamber hosted a reception welcoming the new recruits.

"I really don't know what to expect," said Chris Tarby, a buyer in the purchasing department at Nucor Steel. He views it as a "learning experience, a chance to learn more about the community and (do some) business networking."

The program has graduated more than 350 people since it began in Cayuga County in 1989. Participants, meeting every other week, form close relationships that help them throughout their careers.

"It's a good networking opportunity," said Lynda DeOrio, office systems and training coordinator for the city of Auburn and a graduate of the Leadership Cayuga class of 2003. "It's an opportunity to meet people you otherwise wouldn't meet."

Participants meet with representatives at various sites throughout the county in the areas of economic development, education, human services, criminal justice, agriculture, communications, history and local government, said program director Rosemary Oaks-Lee.

The program includes high school students, who participate in the same exercises as the adults enrolled.

"I've never done anything like this," said Kaitlyn Shaw, a junior at Auburn High School. She already is active in her high school community, serving on the yearbook staff, playing field hockey and is a member of the Spanish Club.

Rachel Offenburg, a senior at Auburn High School, participated last year. She spoke in glowing terms about the program.

"I met tons of interesting people I never would have met," she said. "I'm really kind of shy and unsociable. It really opened me up."