03-08-1989 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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Chapter I1. Complete Count Program The Census Bureau is initiating a number of promotional and operational projects, at the national and local levels, to obtain a complete and accurate count. (See chapter III, section B for some of those projects.) However, local and American Indian tribal governments are in a unique position to add essential reinforcement, at the local community level, of the importance of being counted. Governments have a positive image as service provider to the community at large; they have direct access to residents through various communication channels; and they employ a part of that community (in some cases a significant part). A local, tribal, or village government employee who understands the value of a complete count becomes a natural, valuable census outreach worker. This section suggests promotion activities and a struc- ture to plan and implement those activities that will take advantage of your unique position in the community. Working together we can achieve a complete and accu- rate 1990 census count. A. Complete Count Committee 1. Role of the Complete Count Committee For any census to be successful, it must have the basic support of the population. The Complete Count Committee is a reflection of the impor- tance of the cooperative relationship and joint commitment by the Census Bureau and all com- munities that are needed to make the 1990 cen- sus a success. The basic role of each Complete Count Commit- tee is to plan and implement local publicity and outreach activities which will: • Make everyone in the community aware of the 1990 census. • Motivate everyone to participate in the census by appealing to self - interest and explaining the purpose and importance of the census to the community. The activities of each Complete Count Commit- tee will enhance the Census Bureau's outreach and publicity efforts by spreading the census message directly. to the local community. Of course, in your community other structures for planning and implementing local promotion activ- ities might be more effective. If so, we encourage you to use such structures. 1990 CENSUS GOVERNMENTS PROMOTION HANDBOOK 2. Organizing a Complete Count Committee The Complete Count Committee should be a working committee, not merely a symbolic one. Local political situations should not be reflected in the organization or activities of the Committee since the census is a program that affects and needs the participation of everyone in your com- munity. (a) Appointing a Chairperson and Committee Members The chairperson and members of the com- mittee should be well- respected and influ- ential men and women from all segments of the community; for example, business, labor, government, homeless, religious and edu- cational organizations, neighborhood asso- ciations, and ethnic and minority organiza- tions. All of the people appointed to the committee should be willing to invest time, resources, and energy in this project. (b) Naming Your Committee You may wish to call your committee some- thing other than a Complete Count Commit- tee. We are providing a few suggestions. (1) 1990 TOP Committee — Total Outreach Partnership (2) 1990 ACTION Committee — Awareness and Cooperation Through Involvement of Our Neighborhoods Page 15 (3) 1990 CALL Committee — ness at the Local Level (4) 1990 TAP Committee ness Partnership (5) The 1990 Census Committee of your area's name Census Aware- - Total Aware- add (c) Period of Service The committee chairperson and other mem- bers should be appointed by the highest - elected official to serve from April 1989 through June 1990. You may wish to plan and strategize even earlier than April 1989. This period should allow sufficient time in advance of Census Day to plan and carry out COMPLETE COUNT PROGRAM 5