**“Take 10” Turnkey Kit**

**Sample Speech**

*Below is a sample “Take 10” speech for you to use at events and gatherings in your community to raise awareness about the 2010 Census and encourage people to participate. Please customize it for your audience and include information about your specific challenge and your community’s mail participation rate data.*

Do you have 10 minutes?

Do you have 10 minutes to help our children learn in new and improved schools?

Do you have 10 minutes to help ill or aging family members gain access to new hospitals, new senior centers or enhanced health care services?

Do you have 10 minutes to ease your daily commute or improve public transportation options?

All of these things and more depend on data collected during the 2010 Census. 

I need you to join me in taking 10 minutes to complete and return your census form.

In March every residence in our community will receive a census form. Complete the form on behalf of every person living in the residence, both relatives and nonrelatives.

Everyone in the United States must be counted. This includes every man, woman and child. It is vital every household completes and returns the form as soon as it arrives. 

Here’s why.

Census data help determine how more than $400 billion per year in federal funding is distributed to tribal, state and local governments for services that affect local communities like ours. Census data can help fund services for people in poverty, and establish facilities for people with disabilities, children and the elderly. 

Census data help forecast future transportation needs and determine how we are represented in all levels of government. Basically, the 2010 Census is about the future and well being of our community and country.

Completing and mailing back your form is the easiest and most efficient method of participating. This is one of the shortest census forms in U.S. Census history. It asks 10 questions and only takes about 10 minutes to complete.

All of your answers are safe and confidential. By law, the U.S. Census Bureau cannot share your answers with anyone, including other federal agencies and law enforcement entities. All Census Bureau employees take an oath of nondisclosure and are sworn for life to protect the confidentiality of the data. The penalty for unlawful disclosure is a fine of up to $250,000 or imprisonment of up to five years, or both. 

**“Take 10” Turnkey Kit**

**Sample Speech (continued)**

Census workers have to visit households that do not return forms to take the count in person. Not only does mailing back a form ensure an accurate count, it also lowers the cost of the 2010 Census by reducing the number of census workers who must go door-to-door to collect census data. 

To put it in perspective, about $85 million is saved for every one percent increase in the number of forms returned by mail. Also, the Census Bureau saves $60-$70 per census form mailed back.

During Census 2000, about 72 percent of households across the country mailed back their forms by the April 2000 cut-off. I challenge you to beat that number this year.

Our community’s future relies on the 2010 Census. Do what’s right, take 10 minutes to complete and mail back your census form.

Thank you.