An OPEN LETTER to the Residents of Mount Rainier Maryland

An OPEN LETTER to the Residents of Mount Rainier Maryland

Are you up for the "Take 10" challenge?

On behalf of the U.S. Census Bureau, and the residents of Mount Rainier, I am challenging each of you to join me in making history by helping me to get every man, woman and child counted in MOUNT RAINIER by completing and mailing back the 2010 Census questionnaire during the 2010 Census.

During each Decennial Census, the Census Bureau undertakes the count of every person residing in the United States, as mandated by Article 1, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution. To encourage everyone to take 10 minutes to answer the 10 simple questions on the 2010 Census form, the Census Bureau has launched the "Take 10" campaign. Through "Take 10," you can visit http://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map/ to get updates on the proportion of households that have mailed back the 2010 Census forms. You also will be able to view differences between your community's participation rates and those of neighboring communities or other areas across the country.

The "Take 10" Challenge - Tools to Inspire the Mail Back Participation Rates for the 2010 Census

During the 2000 Census, 72 percent of occupied households mailed back their forms. In 2010, the Census Bureau is challenging communities to do even better. As the Mayor of Mount Rainier, I am challenging you to help me make sure that every resident in Mount Rainier is counted. The Census Bureau's "Take 10" campaign offers a wide range of tools for our community to meet this challenge. These include:

• An interactive, map-based, "Take 10" Web site that allows local areas to track and compare their 2010 Census mail back participation rates, which will be updated on a daily basis at http://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map/, and to look up their 2000 Census participation rates.
• An electronic toolkit is available which includes talking points, sample speeches, new releases, newsletter copy, event suggestions, flyers, stickers, and doorknob hanger templates, and more.
• Suggestions on how to use friendly competition with other communities to inspire your community to participate in the census.

As a resident of Mount Rainier, you play an important role in making sure we can the dollars we need to continue revitalizing our community. You can also make sure that your neighbors complete mail back their forms. The 2010 Census questionnaires will be delivered from March 15-17, 2010. From the time the forms are delivered until the closing of the mail campaign at the end of April, you have the opportunity to complete and mail this importance document back to the Census Bureau. I believe that you can do this and the you can and will encourage your neighbors to also complete and return their census form.

The stakes are high; an accurate count of our population helps to ensure that our municipality receives its fair share of federal funding that will be allocated based on our population. This funding includes resources for services, such as health care, education, and roads.

You must complete and mail back your census forms between March 15, 2010 and April 15, 2010. The good news is that the 2010 Census questionnaire is one of the shortest in history-just 10 questions that only take about 10 minutes to complete. I hope the CITY OF MOUNT RAINIER can count on you to complete and return your census questionnaire, and to encourage your neighbors to participate in the 2010 Census.

Visit http://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map/ now to see your area's 2000 Census mail participation rate and check the site daily for updates.

The 2010 Census: It's in our Hands.

Sincerely,


Malinda Miles
Mayor
Mount Rainier, Maryland