The 2010 census will rely on a lot of volunteers next year to make sure everybody gets counted.

Some preliminary census work is already underway. Verification of addresses has been going on for several weeks. A special state commtitee has been set up to help mobilize local efforts in communities—and those local efforts will rely on volunteers to track down everybody, even some who might prefer not be be found.

The local effort is being coordinated by the Missouri Complete Count Committee led by the director of the state office of adminsitration, Kelvin Simmons. Poeple interested in becoming involved should go to the Missouri Complete Count website. The webpage is http://oa.mo.gov/mocensus.

A lot is riding on the 2010 census for Missouri as well as for other states. Millions, or billions, of dollars of federal aid for hundreds of programs, services, and institutions will be distributed on the basis of population.

Upload BPs interview with Kelvin Simmons (9:17 mp3)