Members of the complete count committee are hoping a billboard on Brackett Avenue, along with a letter that came in the mail yesterday, is enough to get you to fill out a census questionnaire.

They want an even better response rate than the 86% Eau Claire County ended up with in 2000.

"Sending out a preliminary letter to get people's attention improves the response rate when the actual questionnaire comes," Moore said.

UW-Eau Claire is following suit. Students have notices up on tables in the Davies Center, and a big display in the library.

The effort also extends off-campus. Student volunteers will put door hangers on homes in the Randall Park neighborhood in hopes that their classmates fill out their forms.

"I think a lot of the students are under the impression that their parents will claim them," said Katelyn Kufahl. She's helping to lead the effort at the university.

She says she wants more people involved in local government, and aware of the issues that affect them.

"Sadly, I think a lot of people are apathetic and this is one time that it's really important that they are not."

"I'd probably take a look at it and see what it has to do. If it doesn't take very long to fill out I'll fill it out," said UW-Eau Claire Freshman Andrew Morgan.

Moore says a good response could lead to government funding and better representation for the area.

He just hopes that incentive is enough to get answers to ten simple questions out of every household in the area.

Kufahl says resident assistants will be telling students in UW-Eau Claire's dorms about the questionnaires.

Moore says government workers will knock on the doors of people who don't return their questionnaires up to six times in an effort to get the information.