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o Role of the Local Complete Count Committee 1. Goal of the Complete Count Committee • Make everyone in the community aware of Census 2000 • Motivate the community to participate by filling out the census form and returning it immediately. 2. Objectives of the Complete Count Committee • Develop a local targeted plan of action to support Census 2000 operations, recruiting, and promotion. • Use highly visible and well-respected local figures to increase community support for and response to the census. • Promote the census to community residents through government departments, particularly those agencies with extensive public contacts. • Implement activities that will improve census participation by all residents, especially undercounted segments of the population. • Emphasize the Census Bureau's commitment to confidentiality to further increase participation in the census. • Augment media programs, publicity, and promotions conducted by the Census Bureau. - • Provide local knowledge and intelligence that will assist Census Bureau's operational activities and programs. • Support Census Bureau's programs and activities that promote and improve the census. • Support Census Bureau's recruitment of employees needed to conduct the census. o Appointing a Chairperson and Committee Members The chairperson and members of the committee should be well-respected and influential leaders and "gatekeepers" from all segments of the community. For example, members should represent business: labor, local government; homeless, religious and educational organizations; neighborhood associations; and ethnic and minority organizations. All of the people appointed to the committee should be willing to invest time, resources, and energy in this project. o Period of Service The Complete Count Committee shall serve through June 2000, with the peak impact of the committee targeted toward April 1, 2000. ANALYSIS It is important for the county to ensure that everyone is counted as part of Census 2000. The Bureau of the Census has scheduled many activities to publicize the importance of the census and to encourage participation. These activities include advertisements on TV and radio and in newspapers, as well as awareness programs at schools and others. A local committee can also enhance the Bureau of the Census' promotional and awareness activities. As proposed, the activities of this committee will not require any local funding. The Board, however, could provide funds for local advertisements on TV, radio, or newspapers. In fact, some local governments choose to spend money promoting participation in the census count, viewing this money as an investment with the benefit of receiving additional state and federal funds. The principal purpose of the committee, however, is to encourage local residents to participate in the census 2000 count through grass roots organizations such as local churches, local businesses and other similar local organizations. JUNE 159 1999 -17- BOOK . 10PAGE � A