Leadership San Luis Obispo is now accepting applications for participants in this year's 10-month program designed to bring participants out of their "comfort zones."

Diversity is important to Leadership San Luis Obispo, and each class is created to have representatives from different cultures, sexual orientations, backgrounds, economic conditions and ages, as well as a range of businesses.

The only prerequisite is a desire on the part of the applicant to give back to the community through some aspect of civic participation, to attend each session and participate fully in the program. If selected, participants are expected to attend all scheduled sessions, including the retreat (Jan. 7-9, 2010) and each monthly session held on the second Friday of each month from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., February through October.

The deadline for submitting this year's application is Oct. 16, and each applicant is asked to attend a group interview in early November.

Tuition for the program is $1,050, which covers a hotel room at the mandatory retreat, all meals and supplemental reading materials. Partial scholarships are offered to assist those who otherwise couldn't participate.