Represent a cross section of the business community of all ages, including government representatives, professional leaders, and community service volunteers. Because diversity is an important component of the program's purpose, it is not unusual for a participant to apply more than once before they are accepted. The selection committee is comprised of three Kiwanis Club representatives, three Manatee Chamber of Commerce representatives, and a representative from each of the last three Leadership Manatee classes. One requirement of participation in Leadership Manatee is attendance at the Simulated Society sessions. Each class member will serve a facilitator for one day of the next year's Leadership Manatee program and one day of the Junior Leadership Manatee program .
Funds are available, on a limited basis, for qualified scholarship applicants.
So that participants can gain full benefit from the Leadership Manatee program, course completion requires attendance of all class sessions . Attendance will be checked in the morning and afternoon at each session. If a day includes a bus tour, class members are required to ride the bus .