Counting everyone living in Florida is not only a big job but it is also an important task. In April of next year that is exactly what we have to do for the constitutionally mandated Census 2010; count all people living in Florida irrespective of their age, race, language, ethnicity, and citizenship status. The federal government uses the Census data to allocate funds (~$300 billion) for education, public transportation, and programs for the elderly. An accurate count of Florida's residents will guarantee that our state will receive its correct share of the funds.

As a member of the Statewide Complete Count Committee of the 2010 Sunshine Census, I need your help in reaching out to all the members of the our community. Please spread the word about the importance of 2010 Census. I also urge you to participate in it by promptly filling out the form when it arrives in mail in mid-March 2010. The more people are aware of the 2010 Census the more likely we will have an accurate count - and the more likely our comparative response rate will be higher than the last census, (Florida's response rate was 63 percent, below the national average during Census 2000).

Thayumanasamy Somasundaram
Member, Complete Count Committee

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