Serve your country; become a census taker

Intermountain Catholic

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SALT LAKE CITY – If you’d like to earn money while helping your community, the U.S. Census Bureau might be just what you’re looking for. The campaign to attract people to assist in the 2010 census was kicked off Jan. 13 with the assistance of The Most Reverend John C. Wester, Bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City.

In the spring of 2009 and in early 2010, several thousand temporary census jobs will be available for qualified applicants. Assignments will last from five to 10 weeks. Bilingual applicants are encouraged to apply.

By working on the 2010 census, you will help the federal government: apportion the seats in the House of representatives; draw state legislative districts; distribute more than $300 billion annually in federal, state, local, and tribal funds; evaluate the success of community programs; identify populations that might be open and responsive to new services; and determine the sites for new businesses.

"Participating in the 2010 census in the spirit of community is worth the effort of every individual," Bishop Wester said. "It calls for community cooperation. Too often individuals get caught up in activities that isolate them from others, from listening to the radio and watching television to working on computers, playing computer games. Too often we interact with lPods, GPS systems, and cell phones more than we have face-to-face encounters with others. Driving has become impersonal. Even cases of road rage show that drivers are not present to the other drivers. Comedian, actor, and film producer Woody Allen said 90 percent of life is just showing up.

Christianity has the incarnation as one of its core teachings: interacting with others is of great importance to us. Being present to each other is therefore, important. Every 10 years the United States takes the census, counting every person in every place we can find them. Being present to each other is therefore, very important.

The Census values each person’s presence. It is not a vehicle for judging people. Rather, it affirms the presence and importance of each unrepeatable, unique, and valued human being. It means that every one has importance and counts.

These few remarks have given me the opportunity to affirm you and your "presence," you have the opportunity to perform an important task in our society by becoming involved in the taking of the 2010 Census.

The process will be conducted with integrity, scientific accuracy, and fairness. It does not expect you to judge or manipulate the data, but remain objective. As a Census worker, you will be asked to treat people with respecr, kindness, and courtesy.

Not long ago, I saw a greeting card. There was a penguin on it, singing, "Ive got to be me!" Thank you for being "you," for your service to our society. Thanks for helping all of us to "show up."

Todd Hansen of the Local Census Office Staff, said the Census will be taken in the spirit of community celebration, and is worthy of each individual participant. "We count everyone, with a goal of a proper and full count. In order to accomplish this we will need thousands of Census takers.

"Each job will be temporary, and may of them will roll from one job to another; one area to another. Each phase of the Census offers pretty good employment.

"Each person desiring to help in the Census will be asked to take a simple 30-minute test that will prepare them to work out in the community."

Hansen said the first phase of the Census will be mailed out. Then Census takers will be sent out to verify the information we have received. Those who don’t respond to the mailed document will be asked by the Census takers to answer simple questions like, where do you live? And How many people live at this location? None of the questions go into any great depth,"

The Census Bureau is recruiting Census takers now. People wishing to participate as Census takers will find an excellent way to earn some extra income. Census takers will work approximately 20 to 40 hours per week, and the work can last several weeks, right in your own community. Census takers will earn good pay and will be paid weekly.

Besides all of this, Census taking is interesting work, and you will be performing an important service for your community.

To assure accuracy, computers will be used for address listing operation. Census takers will be trained to use the hand-held computers, and will be paid for their training.

For Census takers and crew leaders, work schedules may vary. In the field, some Census operations require daytime work. For other operations , which require interviewing the public, Census takers must be available to work when people are usually at home. This includes evenings and weekends. For office jobs, hours are less variable, but can involve shift work.

Due to the nature of Census work, a large number of people apply and take the employment test. Not everyone who is qualified will be hired. Applicants who are selected will be called when jobs are available.

The 2010 U.S. Cnsus is in our hands, and your participation matters.

Become a Census taker by contacting your local Census office or by calling toll-free 1-866-861-2010.