[nabs-l] FW: Census Alert

[AZNOR99 at aol.com]

-----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


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