Group helping get word out on Census 2010

Published 9:58 pm Monday, June 22, 2009

The city of Bonney Lake is forming a partnership with the U.S. Census 2010 to inform residents the importance of being counted.

Executive Assistant Brian Hartwell held a meeting with U.S. Census Bureau Partnership Specialist Renee Vasquez-Timothy June 17, along with Bonney Lake Food Bank Director Stew Bowen, Senior Services Manager Sue Hilberg and Chamber of Commerce director Lora Butterfield to help from a group to help promote the census.

Vasquez-Timothy said the Census Bureau is looking for liaisons in the community to form Complete Count Committees which help increase awareness about the census.

The CCC helps develop and implement a plan to target the character of its community.

Vasquez-Timothy said some of the activities which can be used to inform residents about the census is distributing information at senior centers, food banks, health fairs and posting notice on reader boards.

She said groups can submit a request for materials to be purchased by the Census Bureau from local vendors up to $3,000. Vasquez-Timothy noted the bureau will not pay for food items or advertising.

She said in 2000, about 64 percent of Bonney Lake residents responded to the census and 67 percent for all of Pierce County.

The group discussed ways of getting information to residents about the census.

Hartwell will ask businesses in the city to place reminders about the census on their reader boards.

Bowen said the food bank is planning a “hot dog eating contest” fundraiser in August.

“We could put up some banners with Census 2010 on them,” Bowen added.

Butterfield also noted that Beautify Bonney Lake in September would be a great event for promoting the census along with a fall health fair.

Vasquez-Timothy emphasized the importance of the upcoming census to the community. She said the census’ goal is to count everyone residing in the United States.

According to the U.S. Constitution, a census count is required once every 10 years to show state population counts and determine representation in the U.S. House of Representatives. It started in 1790.

“So we know how many people live in each state for their adequate representation in Congress,” Vasquez-Timothy said. “That can go back-and-forth; one state can lose a representative and one state can gain another – depends on population.”

She also said once the census is done, the government can determine the type of needs for each community to distribute $300 billion in federal funding each year.

“A community wants to be adequately counted so they can receive the money allocated,” Vasquez-Timothy said. “A community needs to know whether to build elementary schools or senior centers. That’s the type of information that can come from a census.”

Vasquez-Timothy said local residents, along with other across the country, will receive their census questionnaire by mail in March 2010. Each questionnaire has 10 questions to be answered.

She said residents need to fill out the form and return it as quickly as possible.

Vasquez-Timothy said reminder notices will be mailed out a week later and in April replacement questionnaires will be mailed to homes. In May, if the questionnaires have not been returned, than a census taker will visit homes, she added.

She also said the Census Bureau will recruit 3.8 million people and hire 1.4 million temporary employees. Vasquez-Timothy stated it’s a great temporary part-time job which mostly evening and weekend hours.

Some employees will use GPS-equipped hand-held computers to update maps and ensure accurate addresses.

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