On April 20, 2009, U.S. Census employees will begin visiting every community in Vermont to pave the way for the 2010 Census. By verifying each address, the Census Bureau will know where to send questionnaires when it conducts the Census next year. The U.S. Constitution mandates that everyone in the United States be counted every 10 years. The Census—the government's largest peacetime operation—collects data that is used to determine representation in Congress. The data also is used to decide how to disburse about $300 billion annually—including money for seniors—to state and local governments.

AARP Vermont will partner with Vermont Census Bureau officials to help recruit and train workers and in publicizing and supporting related activities. Volunteers and staff members will be using AARP facilities for training and AARP will be working with chapters as well as Vermont Retired Teacher Association units across the state to recruit both volunteers and paid census workers.

Vermont's population totals about 624,000. For the address canvassing operation, about 600 Census workers will fan out across Vermont with hand-held computers to identify the location of every housing unit. Don't be concerned if you see someone doing this by your home. These workers will be wearing something that identifies them as Census staff.

This is how it will work: Employees will visit each housing unit and knock on the door. If someone answers, they will identify themselves and state what they are doing. The Census employees will stand in front of the housing unit for several minutes while they capture the address and GPS coordinates in the hand-held computer.

If the unit's house number is not posted, they will attempt to interview someone about the address and the number of living units in the building. If that is not possible, they will enter the available information in the computer and move on.

Address canvassing in Vermont will take place between April 20 and July 2.
 
2010 Census Timeline: Key Dates

• Spring 2009: Census employees go door-to-door to update address lists nationwide.
• Fall 2009: Recruitment begins for census takers to support peak workload.
• February-March 2010: Census questionnaires are mailed or delivered to households.
• April 1, 2010: Census Day.
• May-July 2010: Census takers will visit households that did not return a questionnaire by mail.
• December 2010: The Census Bureau delivers population counts to the President.

 
For more information on the Census in general and the 2010 Census in particular, please visit www.census.gov.