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.
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After reading the above, you can contact me at
mikei01@ameritech.net
Be sure to leave the subject line as it is.
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