I was out of town Thursday morning till late Sunday night. In my mail I find an envelope which appears to have been hand delivered as it has no postage on it. It’s from the US Department of Commerce, Economics and Statistics Administration, US Census Bureau. Inside we find a US Census 2010 brochure, a Form 11-38 from the previously mentioned government bureaucracy and a letter from its director Steve H. Murdock.

Dear Resident:

The U.S. Census Bureau is conducting the American Community Survey (ACS). A Census Bureau representative will contact you to help you complete the survey. The survey will ask you questions about our household’s characteristics, including topics such as education, employment, and housing. We would appreciate your help because the success of this survey depends on you.

The ACS produces critical, up-to-date information that used to meet the needs of communities across the United States. For example, results from tis survey may be used to decide where new schools, hospitals, and fire stations are needed. Survey data are used by federal, state, local, and tribal governments to make decisions and to develop programs that will provide health care, education and transportation services that affect you and your community. This survey information also helps communities plan for emergency situations that might affet you and your neighbors.

The Census Bureau chose your address, not you personally, as part of a randomly selected sample. You are required by U.S. law to respond to this survey (Title 13, United States Code, sections 141, 193, and 221). We estimate this survey will take about 30 minutes of your time.

We want to emphasize that any information you give our representative will be kept confidential. By law, the Census Bureau cannot publish or release to anyone any information that would identify you or your household (Title 13, Section 9). The information you provide an be used only for statistical purposes.

If you have access to the Internet and want to learn more about the American Community Survey, please visit your Web site at <www.censuus.gove/acs/www/>.

Thank you for your help.

Sincerely,

Steve H. Murdock

Director

The form has our pal Ed Marcus’ contact info (201-927-4763) and a remark: “I am following up on the survey you have received in the mail. You failed to return it. Because it was not mailed back we must interview you either in person or on the phone. It is a very brief interview. Please call me to set up a time: Ed Marcus 201-927-4763.” The bold is on the form. The brochure contains much the same info as the letter but with some photos thrown in.

I find it interesting they tell you that completing the survey is required yet make no mention of the consequences for not doing so.