We all need to participate in the Census
The Constitution of the United States mandates that a count of the population of the be conducted every ten years.  This count, or census, is conducted at the beginning of every decade, usually on April 1^st.    Our next Decennial Census is scheduled for April 1^st, 2010. 

How does the Census Bureau accomplish this? 

Census operations are the largest non-war effort put forth by the Federal Government.  It will take approximately 1.5 million temporary workers to complete this enormous task.  All of the workers have to be hired, trained, given tools with which to complete their work (ie. computers, telephones, offices and supplies), and then after the Census process is complete, Decennial Census operations come to a close and the whole structure has to be dismantled. 

It begs the question, why do these workers want to be a part of the process?  “Census workers are passionate about ouir work because we believe what we’re doing is important,” says Sandra Alvarado, Media Specialist with the Census Bureau.  “Not to mention that 1.5 million people get to work and receive a paycheck which helps individual families who are struggling to get through these difficult times, and helps the economy at large.”

Participation in the Census is everyone’s civic duty and responsibility.  Furthermore, it is of vital importance to each individual, their families and their communities.  It is an opportunity, once every decade, to do something that will positively impact our lives for the next ten years.