Project Proposal

Full Name: Jessica Burnett

Major & Minor: Computer Science, Forensic Emphasis

Title of Project: Family History Fair

Expected Project Start Date (Semester/Year): Spring 2014

Expected Project End Date (Semester/Year): Fall 2014

Abstract

The purpose of an EDGE Project is to give students an opportunity to apply coursework, gain more applicable experience, and broaden their horizon.  As a computer science major, I could have chosen to gain that experience in a variety of areas, but I decided to choose one that has become close to my heart.  I had the idea to do my edge project around family history work because of an assignment I was given by my church leaders, but my decision solidified when I was able to discover a previously unknown family member back in my family tree. I realized that I want others to find the excitement in learning about their family that I have found in discovering mine.  For this reason, I plan to hold a Family History Fair here in Cedar City.  Sponsored and assisted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I plan on holding the fair on a Saturday this fall (such as September 20^th) in one of their local buildings.  We will have a keynote speaker in the morning followed by 2-3 time blocks in which attendees will be able to choose from between 4-6 classes on various aspects of family history.  In the afternoon – following a provided lunch – there will be several more classes the attendees can choose to attend.  Participants will be able to register for half-day or full-day participation.  The website for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints provides videos of classes recorded from their RootsTech 2014 Conference, as well as other training materials and services such as registration capabilities.

Project Details

1.      Personal Motivations and Career Aspirations

As a Family History Consultant for my church, I have recently discovered my interest in family history.  Family History helps us understand where we came from and how we have come to be in our current situation.  We can learn from our ancestors to plan for the future.  I believe discovering family history can be an exciting experience for anyone; I know it has been for me.  I want to hold this Family History Fair so that I can help others feel the joy I have felt doing family history work.

                Communication is a valuable skill in any career.  As a computer scientist, I will work with others who may have differing skill levels from myself.  Holding this Family History Fair will help me develop my ability to communicate technical concepts to those with less experience, and possibly to some with more experience, than myself. 

2.      Community Engagement

                                Before I discuss how a Family History Fair fits into the Community Engagement category, I want to discuss my definition of Community Engagement.  To me, Community means the people with whom I either interact with frequently, the people near whom I live, or the people with whom I share resources or some other ties.  In our global society this can include a many different groups of people, which create many different communities.  Engagement means having a desire to get involved and acting on that desire because I feel I have something to contribute and something to gain from doing so.

                I believe planning and executing a Family History Fair will help me be more engaged in several communities, from which I hope to gain an increased ability to teach and learn.  First, I will engage in the Cedar City community by acting on my desire to contribute my knowledge of technology and FamilySearch.org, specifically.  I will also engage with the community of people who use FamilySearch.org to find their family history, to which I will contribute my time.  Finally, I will engage in a more intimate, personal community: my own family.  To them, I can contribute an interest in family members long past, from whom all of my living family can learn.  At least as exciting, I will help other people become engaged in their family community, which will strengthen my community ties to those I help. 

3.      Timeline

Deadlines	What	Where	Who
April 11	Submit Proposal to SUU Community Engagement Center	N/A	Community Engagement Center
April 13	Obtain approval from LDS Married Student Stake for their sponsorship	N/A	David Giles
August 18	Obtain Class Content online	N/A	N/A
August 24	Plan Schedule	N/A	David Giles, other volunteers
August 30	Create and Print Flyers	Print Shop	David Giles, other volunteers
August 31	Advertise and Start Registration	Stake Church Services, SUU Campus	David Giles, other volunteers
September 13	Plan Food based on Registration	N/A	David Giles, other volunteers, caterer
September 20	Family History Fair	Cedar City Married Student Stake Building 500 S 1100 W, Cedar City, UT	David Giles, other volunteers, Attendees

4.      Budget

Expense	Amount
Printing	$300
Food	$500
Total	$800

These amounts are estimated and will be covered by the sponsoring organization, the Cedar City Married Student Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. They will provide the needed $800. There may be other small expenses, such as gas to get to the church building for setup and to the printer, etc, ($15, estimated), but these will be covered by money I’ve already saved, and/or money from my summer job.  

5.      Strengths

A Family History Fair is a project that will allow me to use the strengths I already have, while also giving me a chance to overcome weaknesses and learn from the experience.  I have been the family history consultant at my church for approximately a year, and through this I have learned a great deal about doing family history work than I knew before.  Many of the tools for doing family history work now involve the internet and other technology, and as a computer science major, I am very comfortable learning and using technology.  I have been tutoring most of my college career, so I’m also prepared to teach people about family history work and the technology involved.  Personal strengths I have that will most help me as I complete this project are my organizational skills, my ability to build my own skills and talents while helping others do the same, and my ability to connect training to others’ needs and interests.  My organizational skills will be most helpful as I organize my project, and the other two strengths will be helpful at the Fair as I help attendees learn how to discover their own family history. 

6.      Weaknesses and Outside Threats

My personal weaknesses that will oppose me as I complete this project are my tendency to procrastinate, my indecisiveness, and getting too caught up in unimportant details.  I can prevent myself from procrastinating by setting and sticking to a schedule.  To overcome my indecisiveness, I can seek advice from others and then choose to make a decision, even if it’s wrong.  To prevent myself from getting caught up in unimportant details, I can delegate to others and, once again, get advice from others with more experience who will know whether the details I’m working out are critical or not.  The main outside threats to the project include possible lack of interest in family history and not gaining approval from church leaders.  I can overcome these threats by writing a well thought-out proposal for the activity and advertising in such a way that it will make people more interested in their family history.