“Last year millions of dollars were spent on emergency equipment. Unfortunately, some communities missed out on this money. Fill out your census form. This is your future. Don’t leave it blank.”

That’s the voice-over message which accompanies a TV commercial that has been airing nationwide lately. It depicts firefighters attempting to battle an inferno--but suddenly their fire hoses begin to crack and buckle, and the flow of water through the hoses reduces to a trickle--while the fire continues unchecked.

The paid advertisement is sponsored by “Census 2000.” That and similar ads also airing nationwide all convey the same message: it’s in your own interest, as well as in the interest of your local community, to fill out your 'Year 2000 U.S. Census Form’ to help ensure that your local community receives its fair share of federal resources.

“It’s especially important since that 'fair share’ is determined, in large part, by the population of that very community,” emphasized Marge Brining, a personnel management specialist in the Office of Human Resources Management. “So you should want that number to be as accurate as possible.”

Brining is coordinator of USDA’s Family-Friendly Work/Life Program, the purpose of which is to improve the work environment for USDA employees across the country. The January-February 2000 issue of the USDA News carried a story on that program.

She and several of the Department’s family-friendly work/life coordinators at the agency level have recently been 'spreading the word’ about the importance of filling out that Year 2000 U.S. Census form.

“I saw this as a family-friendly work/life activity,” she explained, “because filling out the census forms helps get a community its fair share of federal dollars.”

“That’s important because, of course, our 93,000-plus USDA employees live in those communities around the country-- especially in rural America.”

“So,” she affirmed, “if we can help our employees help their neighborhoods, especially rural neighborhoods, then we’re all better off--and that’s good for employee morale.”

Accordingly, Brining and the coordinators helped to distribute various posters to USDA field offices around the country. A typical poster, titled “Census 2000: Don’t Be Missed!” was one of many created by the U.S. Census Bureau, which is responsible for administering the census. “The census posters provide guidance on how to fill out the census forms and where to send them,” explained Wendy Veney, the work/life coordinator for the Forest Service.

Denise Coleman, the work/life coordinator for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, said she faced a unique challenge trying to reach APHIS employees at various international airports and seaports in this country. “So I mailed out the various posters to APHIS’s 25 work/life field representatives around the country,” she said. “I asked them to post the posters in highly-trafficked spots at airports and seaports--so that not only our employees but also travelers would get the message.”

OHRM personnel assistant Constance Smith noted that the Year 2000 U.S. Census forms began being distributed to households around the country in mid-March, and are to be completed and returned by April 1, which the Census Bureau refers to as “Census Day.”

But this is not the first time that USDA employees have been involved in Census 2000 activities. Brining served as USDA’s contact to the Census Bureau in 1998 when it began its effort to recruit federal employees to help out in the 2000 census.

“Back then, the Census Bureau saw a potential hiring problem for Census 2000,” she recounted.

“So it devised a plan to hire federal employees for paid assignments--as census takers, or 'enumerators,’ as well as crew leaders, office clerks, recruiting assistants, and office operations supervisors--which would be short-term and temporary, and in which most work would be conducted in the evenings and on weekends, during 1998, 1999, and 2000.”

The October 1998 issue of the USDA News carried a story about USDA’s involvement in that effort.

Brining reported that she subsequently received a number of inquiries from employees, especially from those at field locations, who expressed an interest in participating.

“And, in fact,” she affirmed, “Census Bureau officials recently advised me that over 1,800 USDA employees ultimately applied to be involved in various aspects of Census 2000.” She noted that this included 323 USDA employees working with the Census Bureau’s region out of Dallas, 317 out of Seattle, 278 out of Denver, 245 out of Atlanta, 183 out of Kansas City, 134 out of Chicago, 123 out of Philadelphia, 70 out of Charlotte, 57 out of Detroit, 45 out of Boston, 44 out of Los Angeles, and 25 out of New York City.

“Here’s how I see the bottom line,” Brining concluded. “If you don’t fill out that Census 2000 form, then don’t complain if your local community isn’t allocated its accurate share of federal bucks!”

“Wow,” she then quipped. “Did that come across as too harsh?” 

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