HACKENSACK, NJ: Bergen County Executive Dennis McNerney accompanied by several community leaders will encourage all Bergen County residents to participate in the 2010 Census. He will be joined by representatives from the U.S. Census Bureau in explaining how easy, safe and important the 2010 Census is for all communities. Presenters will also illustrate how community organizations, churches, schools, businesses and more can help motivate their stakeholders to be counted. Asking just 10 questions and taking only about 10 minutes to complete, the 2010 Census form is one of the shortest in U.S. history. The displays will familiarize the public with the look and feel of the form and its 10 questions, increasing awareness and motivating mail participation. The Census Bureau is encouraging households to return their forms by mail because taxpayers can save about $85 million in operational costs for every percentage point increase in the national mail participation rate. In 2000, the nation reversed a three-decade decline in mail rates, achieving a participation rate of 72 percent. The Census Bureau is challenging the nation to “Take 10” minutes to improve upon that rate in 2010 – you can follow the daily progress of your county or town on the “Take 10” map at www.2010census.gov. WHAT: Bergen County United for the 2010 Census Community and Media Briefing WHEN: Wednesday, March 24, 2010 10:00am – 11:00am WHERE: Bergen County Administrative Building – Lobby Area One Bergen County Plaza, Hackensack, NJ 07601 Featured speakers: Dennis McNerney, Bergen County Executive Invited to attend: African American Advisory Committee Advisory Board to Alternatives to Domestic Violence Asian-American Advisory Committee Advisory Board to the Office for Children Community Transportation Advisory Board Division on Disability Services Advisory Board Human Relations Commission Human Services Advisory Council Latino Advisory Committee Advisory Council of the Division of Senior Services / Area Agency on Aging Veterans Advisory Council Commission on the Status of Women / Junior Commission EID Committee (Islamic committee) Bergen County Council of Churches Korean American Voter Council Indian American Organization of Paramus UJA Federation of Northern New Jersey About the 2010 Census The 2010 Census is a count of everyone living in the United States and is mandated by the U.S. Constitution to be conducted every 10 years. Census data are used to apportion congressional seats to states; to distribute more than $400 billion in federal funds to local, state, and tribal governments each year; and to make decisions about what community services to provide. The 2010 Census form will be one of the shortest in U.S. history and consists of just 10 questions, taking about 10 minutes to complete. Strict confidentiality laws protect the respondents and the information they provide. 2010 CENSUS TIMELINE OF OPERATIONS March 2010 – December 2010 March 8-10: Advance letters are mailed to most homes. March 15-17: Mailing of 2010 Census form to most homes. March 19 – April 19: Opening of Be Counted Sites / Questionnaire Assistance Centers in select neighborhood locations to provide extra forms and help to those who need it, as well as the nationwide Telephone Assistance Center. March 22-24: Mailing of reminder postcards. March 29-31: Service-based enumeration - census workers count homeless people at shelters, soup kitchens/food vans, and selected outdoor locations. April 1-10: Second mailing of 2010 Census form to many homes that have not returned first one. April 1, 2010: Official Census Day. Group quarters enumeration begins. May 1: Launch of Non-Response Follow-up operations - census workers visit households that have not mailed back their census form. July 24: Launch of Vacant Delete Check operations. August 6: Launch of Field Verification operations. Dec. 31, 2010: Reporting of Census data to the President of the United States. 2010 CENSUS LINKS Main Page: http://www.2010census.gov Daily Tracking of 2010 Participation Rates and Find Questionnaire Assistance Centers >> Take ’10 Map’: http://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map/ NY Regional Website: http://www.census.gov/regions/new_york (upcoming events calendar) Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, more): http://2010.census.gov/2010census/involved/index.php NY Regional Facebook ID: New York Regional Census Office 2010 Census Logos: http://2010.census.gov/partners/census-logos/ Multimedia Center: http://2010.census.gov/mediacenter/index.php Images, b-roll and other tools: http://mediadownload.census.gov/