[Greater-baltimore] FW: Census Alert

Tue Apr 13 19:54:20 UTC 2010

Hello everyone,
Please see information about the census.  It is important that everyone is
counted!
Melissa

-----Original Message-----
From: Othman, Ronza [mailto:ROthman at nfb.org] 
Sent: Monday, April 12, 2010 2:46 PM
Subject: Census Alert

Fellow Federationists,

As you know, the 2010 Census is upon us.  You may have received a form in
the mail from the U.S. Census Bureau in late March.  All Americans are
required to provide Census data under Title 13, United States Code, Sections
143 and 191.  Anyone over 18 years old who refuses or willfully neglects to
complete the questionnaire or answer questions posed by Census employees may
be fined up to $5,000.  The Census Bureau is required to safeguard
information it receives and is prohibited from sharing information about
individuals with anyone, including other governmental agencies.  Any Census
worker who shares personal information about any individual will be subject
to a fine of up to $250,000, imprisonment for up to five years, or both.

The information obtained through the Census may only be used for statistical
purposes, including legislative redistricting and the allocation of nearly
$400 billion in governmental funding to public projects such as schools,
road and infrastructure construction, hospital and health care services,
rehabilitation programs, and disaster preparedness projects.  It is crucial
that the nation's blind be counted.

Blind Americans can complete the Census in a number of ways:

-- By Phone: Call the Census toll free help line at 1-866-872-6868 and
request a representative.  A Census worker will complete the Census Short
Form over the phone between April 12 and 21.  You may be asked for your
20-digit Census Identification Number, which is located on the bar code
below your mailing label.  The U.S. Census will likely continue to receive
telephone submissions after April 21, but fewer representatives will be
available to take data in this manner.

-- At Home: You may schedule a home visit by a Census worker by calling
(toll free) 1-866-872-6868.  Census workers will be deployed to conduct home
visits in May and June.  Though the U.S. Census attempts to send
representatives to every home that failed to mail in a form, it is unlikely
they will reach every American.  Thus scheduling a visit by calling the Help
Line guarantees a visit to your home.

-- In Person: Individuals can visit Census Questionnaire Centers in person
for assistance with completing their forms.  To locate your local office,
visit http://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map/bcqac-textview.php and
enter your zip code.

-- As a Group: chapters and affiliates can request that a Census Partnership
Specialist conduct a Census workshop and provide survey completion
assistance for a group.  Individuals will be required to bring the Census
form they received in the mail because it lists their Census Identification
Numbers below the bar code on the address label.  To find your local Census
Partnership Office, visit
http://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map/bcqac-textview.php
<http://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map/bcqac-textview.php> .

I urge every federationist to take advantage of one of the alternate methods
for completing the Census as quickly as possible.  As equal, contributing
members of society, we must be counted.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me using the
information below.

Regards,

Ronza M. Othman, Esq.

Government Programs Specialist

National Federation of the Blind

Phone:  (410) 659-9314, extension 2374

Email: rothman at nfb.org

RMO/wmb

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 9.0.801 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2805 - Release Date: 04/12/10
02:32:00

-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: Census Alert.doc
Type: application/msword
Size: 32256 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/greater-baltimore_nfbnet.org/attachments/20100413/2f8c615d/attachment.doc>