TALLADEGA — With less than a week to go, the Complete Count Committee is making final preparations for the “Rally at the Ritz” April 6.

The rally is the result of the committee’s hard work, and involves a stop of the Census Tour Bus at Talladega’s historic Courthouse Square.

The event will be especially important, according to Probate Judge Billy Atkinson and fellow committee members, because Alabama has so far had a low rate of participation in the 2010 census. County administrator Wayne Hall said he had heard a report that day indicating the national participation average was about 45 percent, with Alabama’s participation average around 5 percent.

But as the committee began analyzing what it could do to improve these numbers, the group also realized what part of the problem might be.

“One person not being counted in this census could cost the state $13,000,” Atkinson said. “Just to knock on someone’s door could cost from $65 up to $70. However, places like Sycamore where the residents have post office boxes have not yet received their census forms. Those will have to be hand delivered or picked up by the residents themselves.”

Several of the committee members attending the meeting indicated they had not yet received their forms, and brainstorming began about how more forms could be made available throughout the county. While there may be locations where people can pick up forms, some residents are not willing to drive to the other end of the county “just to pick up a census form to mail in.” People are also claiming they don’t want to fill out their census forms because of various rumors including that the census includes questions about income and the information obtained is turned over to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. No questions about income are included and the form states all information provided is private and protected.

Atkinson opened the meeting by saying he was worried that participation does not seem to be as high as it was in the 2000 census. He said it was important to improve district lines and redistribute congressmen to have every household in Alabama complete a census form.

To help with that, the committee has planned a rally that will last all day, beginning at 9:30 a.m. and lasting until 2:30 p.m. April 6.

Proclamations and presentations at the Ritz Theatre will start things off, with photo opportunities, musical acts and tours to follow. Sylacauga trumpet legend Bob Phillips will treat everyone to a free show from 11 a.m. to noon at the Ritz, and all the music will be from the 1930s and 1940s to highlight some of the historic census information recently released to be viewed at the courthouse.

Children from various schools and senior citizens from across the county will also be bused into the area throughout the day, and police and security will help make sure they make it safely to their destinations. The side of the square featuring the Ritz Theatre will be blocked for the day to keep everyone safe during the celebration.

Those who entered for door prizes throughout the day are also welcome to stay until 2 p.m. to find out if they were one of the lucky winners, and Atkinson said the door prizes so far are looking impressive.

Those working on the committee to make the Census Rally at the Ritz a success include Robert Weaver, Dan Payant, Jason Hurst, Brenda Brooks, Judith Lavender, Josephine McKinney, Kelvin Cunningham, Marie Player, Janice Keith, Judy McSween, Barbara Dunn, Teresa Curlee, Michael Boldin, Ronald Wallace, Hayes Grooms, Alfreda Hendricks, Chris Stone, Bill Kennedy, Mary Williford, Lynn Hanner, Sally Mitchell, Joe Duck, Steve Dover, Jerry Jones and Cookie Adair.

Atkinson ended the meeting by saying he wasn’t as much concerned about the number of people who showed up to the rally as he was making sure the committee provided quality in raising awareness in the importance of the 2010 census.