When it comes time for folks to participate in the 2010 Census next April, no one will be able to say that Brookfield wasn’t prepared.
In the past month, Brookfield’s census committee, comprising volunteers from the community, village government, the library, local businesses and schools has been feverishly working to encourage residents to take part in the census, which the federal government has conducted every decade since 1790.
“I can’t believe how much cooperation and help we’re getting from this committee,” said Cathy Colgrass Edwards, a Brookfield village trustee who is chairwoman of the local census committee. “Everybody is going overboard to help.”
At its Nov. 4 meeting the committee finalized plans for a slogan contest for the local census effort, and more than 2,600 fliers in both English and Spanish announcing the contest are being sent to local homes through public and parochial schools in the village. It will also be posted on the Riverside School District 96 Web site. That school district serves the Hollywood section of Brookfield. Fliers can also be picked up at the Brookfield Public Library or the village hall, 8820 Brookfield Ave.
While the census bureau urged each community to come up with its own slogan, it was committee member Tim Heilenbach who had the idea of making that effort a village-wide contest, according to Edwards.
“I agreed immediately that it was a great idea, and it just took off,” Edwards said.
Children in kindergarten through eighth grade are eligible to enter the slogan contest. The slogan is to be five words or less and the entry form must be submitted to the Brookfield Public Library, 3609 Grand Blvd. by 9 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 7.
The first-place winner will receive a $100 savings bond, while the second-place winner will receive a $50 savings bond. The savings bonds are being donated by the Brookfield Chamber of Commerce.
Meanwhile, the census committee has made an effort to have a presence at local events, passing out fact sheets on the census and stressing that the village will benefit from full participation.
The village’s census count determines state and federal funding based on a per-capita measure. For example, municipalities receive motor fuel taxes (tax collected at the gas pump) from the state based on a per-capita measure. Those funds are used for road improvement projects, often as a municipality’s match for grants for large-scale projects it couldn’t normally afford to undertake.
U.S. Census officials also note that the census also determines the state’s representation in the U.S. Congress, and that after the 2000 Census, Illinois lost a seat in the House of Representatives.
Beginning in March, each household in the village will receive a census packet in the mail. Inside, there will be a 10-question form to fill out along with separate questions about each person in that household.
If households ignore the census form, they will receive visits – repeatedly, if necessary – from census workers to get the forms filled out.
The census bureau will present its final census count to the president on Dec. 10, 2010.
Looking for some extra cash to help pay off those Christmas bills? Available for some part-time work in the service of Uncle Sam?
The U.S. Census Bureau has announced that it has started testing for enumerator positions for the 2010 Census. Enumerators are the people who personally visit homes to collect census information if the initial mailing is ignored or doesn’t make it through to the household.
The following testing sites are open:
Village of North Riverside, 2401 Desplaines Ave., North Riverside
Stickney-Forest View Public Library, 6800 W. 43rd St., Stickney
Village of LaGrange, 53 S. LaGrange Road, LaGrange
Cicero Public Safety Building, 5410 W. 34th St., Cicero
Cicero Public Library, 5225 W. Cermak Road, Cicero
Summit Public Library, 6233 S. Archer Ave., Summit
Forest Park Library, 7555 Jackson Blvd., Forest Park
Maywood Public Library, 121 S. 5th Ave., Maywood
Eisenhower Community Center, 700 Speechley Blvd., Hillside
Anyone interested in finding out more can call 866-861-2010 or visit the census Web site at www.2010census.gov/2010censusjobs. Hiring will take place after Jan. 1.