Census 2010 Road Tour makes two stops in New Philadelphia

  • By Adam Gingrich
  • February 12, 2010
  • 549
                        
“We’ve gotten some very good response,” said John Willse, media specialist with the U.S. Census Bureau. The bureau has been making a nationwide road tour to promote the 2010 census and recruit census workers. Willse’s team was in the area Feb. 5 with stops at Buckeye Career Center and New Towne Mall, both of New Philadelphia. Approximately 30 students were recruited during the bureau stop at Buckeye Career Center. The students that expressed interest “will all be called back,” Willse explained. “Then, they’ll be provided the opportunity to take a test for the job. If they pass the test, then they have to pass a background check, and if they pass that, they’re hired on.” The position the bureau is recruiting for is a canvas person, or in bureau terms, a numerator. These workers go door-to-door, collecting unreturned census forms. All numerators must be at least 18 years old. The numerator positions begin March 1 with approximately one week of paid training. Numerators work part-time, flexible hours for $11.25 per hour, Willse said. These hours often include evenings as that is the best time to reach people. The bureau specifically came to Buckeye looking for high school seniors, who are often 18. Willse noted that his team had just finished recruiting at The Ohio State University and Ohio University. The team plans to visit the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton and later, Kent State University. He added that recruiting young people “exposes them to the fact that there is a census.” The bureau display offered many giveaways for those such as the Buckeye students to take home. Willse pointed out that the giveaways would remind others to fill out their census forms. The territory of Willse and his team includes all of West Virginia, Ohio, and Michigan. As of Feb. 5, they have completed all of their stops in West Virginia and are working their way north through Ohio and then into Michigan. “We’ll probably visit well over 100 places,” he said. Thirty of those stops are here in Ohio. Willse explained the process of canvassing and how territories are divided. “When we hire people,” he explained, “we put them near to where they live, so they’re familiar with the area, and in many cases, know the people they call on.” He added that numerators work by themselves unless there is some safety concern, in which case they work in pairs. Field supervisors are also present to oversee the work of numerators. Willse feels the public should know that “the census is coming and it’s very safe…the only information that goes forward is the [population] numbers.” He added the census form does not ask for Social Security numbers or bank account numbers. The form is one page, with 10 questions, inquiring about the number in ones household, race, gender, etc. If residents have a student in college, they need to be careful when filling out their form. “If a household has a student away at college,” Willse said, “they are counted [at college], because technically, they are residents of that community. So they should not be counted at home.” Census 2010 forms will sent out March 15 and must be returned by April 1. Completion of the census data is important for both government representation and state and local infrastructure. “The census numbers are important because seats in Congress are based on population,” he said. Willse added that population figures also influence “the tax dollars that come back to the states for health care, for roads and highways, [and] for safety forces.” He concluded, “If people do not fill out the form…they’re going to have a state that’s missing dollars.” Harold and Roberta Blind, of New Philadelphia, stopped by the Census 2010 booth at New Towne Mall and realize the impact of the census. “You got to know what the numbers are [for] the United States as a whole,” Harold Blind said. The Blinds plan to spread the word about the census to family and friends. “We’ll probably mention [the census] to some that we are in contact with, if they are going to participate,” he added.


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