Contacting Me


While I don't want to discourage you from contacting me, I would like to tell you where I can help you and where I can't. Please read the guidelines below. If you feel I can be of assistance or if you just want to say hello, use the mail link at the bottom of this page. I hope these guidelines don't seem harsh but keep in mind I've been getting these type of emails for about four years now. This is just an attempt to save us both a bit of time.
  • A quick note on this document.
    I've had this page out here for a while now and have gotten quite a mixed bag of feedback from hate mail to people who find it humorous. It is not my intent to scare you away - I really enjoy hearing from you. If you're researching something and think I can help, please write! Just don't try to con me into doing your school-work. That's my only true hot button.
  • email etiquette.
    We don't know each other so please don't send me emails like 'will u pls help me - reply ASAP!'. These get deleted at the speed of light. If you're too lazy to write a proper email (spelling out words, using caps and running a spell checker) then I reserve the right to be too lazy to answer. Also, I don't do anything ASAP for strangers - except hit the delete button. I dislike that rude term. Also be warned that another hot button is "Thanks in advance"! 
  • I will not do your homework for you - don't waste bandwidth even asking!
    Please do not write asking me for homework assistance. There aren't enough hours in the day to be the WWI homework assistance center to the world (shudder). Besides I didn't like homework when I was in school and it was mine. I certainly do not want to do yours. These requests will not be answered.
  •  Everything I have in format is at the web site.
    I do not have additional digital materials to send to you. Time prohibits researching the many requests I get each day. If you don't see it here, I don't have it. Try the search facility. If it comes up empty, odds are I don't have it.
  • I cannot help you research relatives who served in the Great War.
    US records are scarce if not non-existent. For the UK and dominions, see the War Graves Commission link on my links page. You can search their database (Roll of Honor) for information. I wish the US had such a facility. For now I hear the genealogy route (church records, etc) is the best method. You also might try contacting The Great War Society (see link on main page). 
  • Please, no submissions at this point.
    Thank you all for the many offers of new material. Other projects have limited my time on this web site for now. I will post solicitations when I am ready to start accepting them again. Please check back from time to time.
  • Link requests.
    I am very backlogged on link requests (there are probably about 200 in the queue right now). I would like to discontinue links as such and have everyone join the WWI web ring. This is a much better and centralized way of maintaining links. If you are not familiar with the web ring concept, check it out and I'm sure you'll agree with me. There's a link to this resource on my links page.
  • Advertising.
    Aside from a couple of pages where exceptional deals on books and posters are made available too you, this is a an advertisement free site. I fully intend on keeping it that way. If you've got something to sell, post it to eBay. 
  • Permission to use materials.
    I am guilty of using many images without permission therefore I cannot grant permission for you to use them. If you'd like to use an article, please contact the author. The author and contact information is listed on each contributed page. If there is none, it's mine. Please contact me using the email link at the bottom of this page.
  • Posting of non-profit Notices.
    If you have a notice for your non-profit organization, please feel free to post it on the WWI discussion forum. There's a link to it on the main page. Due to volume, I will not post items to the notice board page from here on out.
  • Origins of the term "Doughboy".
    I think you'd be surprised at the number of emails I get asking this question. I don't know! I've heard many explanations but none that I'd feel comfortable telling you is the definitive one. The Great War Society has an article at: http://www.worldwar1.com/dbc/origindb.htm. Have a look.
  • WWI antiques and poster appraisals .
    Take them to The Antiques Roadshow - don't ask me. I am not a collector so I cannot tell you the value of WWI items that you have stumbled across. Check with the militaria dealers listed on the Notice Board Page or take them to a dealer in your area.
  • Sending email attachments.
    Please don't send any email attachments that exceed 100K. Store these attachments on a server and just email me the URL. It's easier on both of us and the internet too.
 

After reading the above, you can contact me at mikei01@ameritech.net

Be sure to leave the subject line as it is.


Mike Iavarone