Why should your county, city and community begin working now to make sure everyone understands how important a high percentage of participation will be for your area in the next decade?

When the money gets handed out, do you want your share?

It may be rude to answer a question with a question, but an accurate census is the biggest tool to ensure an accurate distribution of funds for the next 10 years. 

When cities apply and compete for grants, the numbers used to determine which municipalities are most deserving come directly from U.S. Census Bureau data.

"Those numbers have to be correct," U.S. Census Bureau employee Pat McCoy told Bonham Kiwanis Club members. "It's safe, it's easy and it's important."

Mr. McCoy was the guest speaker at the Bonham Kiwanis Club meeting Tuesday, June 23 at Cappy’s Café.  Mr. McCoy works in the Dallas Regional Census Center as a Participation Specialist overseeing the 2010 census process in 47 counties. 

McCoy explained that the Census Bureau is going to take a digital snapshot of each community and participation---particularly among the "hard-to-contact" groups are essential if appropriate services are to be provided.

Hard-to-contact groups include renters, non-English speaking residents, people living at or below the poverty level, and female heads of household.

"That's exactly the groups of people who benefit most from an accurate count," McCoy stated.

He calls America's growing diversity, our country's greatest blessing, but the greatest challenge to compiling concise data.

"It is very difficult to get a hard count," McCoy told an audience that included one county judge, four mayors and one city manager. 

Another hard to count group are those residents that get their mail at a post office box.  Every county, city and community is encouraged to strategically locate "Be Counted Sites" that help all the hard-to-count groups get the questionnaire, fill it out and get their address counted.

Fannin County Judge Eileen Cox, Ladonia Mayor Jan Cooper, Windom Mayor Don Simmons, Honey Grove Mayor Harold Roberts, Ector Mayor Mary Dean Norris and Bonham City Manager Corby Alexander all attended the meeting to learn how their respective cities could educate their populace about the importance of the 2010 census.

McCoy suggested that every city and community form a Complete County Committee to spread the word that filling out the census will benefit every community.

"I encourage each one of you to get involved," McCoy told the crowd.  "It will help our country and it will help your county."

So, how did Fannin County fare in the 2000 census?  McCoy says the initial response rate was 64%, as compared to 75% in Cooke County.

McCoy also said the U.S. Census Bureau is making two important changes to encourage better participation in 2010.

First of all, that painfully long, far too confusing form that everyone struggled with in 2000 has thankfully been put out to pasture.

"Everyone gets the short form this time," McCoy promised.

On top of that, the Census Bureau will use advertisements in the coming year to explain why an accurate census benefits the entire country.

McCoy says that in early March 2010, everyone can expect to receive a letter that says the questionnaire is coming.  Send it back to let the Census Bureau know information about the address.  On May 1, 2010, Census Bureau employees will begin knocking on doors of addresses that haven't filled out the questionnaire.

"We work as hard as we can to get those who didn't respond to fill out a questionnaire," McCoy stated.