The trustees have made the following announcement (below), which has prompted a debate. Please read the Changes to Remembering Today thread here.

The Remembering Today function has proved to be an especially popular feature with a wide range of names, ranks, regiments and cemeteries being represented. We receive many requests from people asking to have a loved one commemorated on the main banner at the top of the page. The names at present are selected in a entirely random fashion, to ensure a wide cross section of the dead are represented.

The proposal is to meet requests for Remembering Today in return for a donation to the Forum; however, we wish to stress at the outset that we mean no disrespect to the Great War generation in suggesting this proposal. The bare facts are that we currently require around £220 per month the keep the GWF online, and here perhaps is an opportunity to combine the needs of members and creditors to mutual satisfaction.

Some are able to donate much more than others, and we do not wish to see a loved one omitted on financial grounds, therefore there will be no minimum donation amount, however a donation must be received in order to have a name added to the database.

Please be assured that names will continue to appear every day, whether requested or drawn at random by Admin, and there will be no distinction between the two on display.

The GWF Team feels this service should be made available to anyone who has been a registered member for three months, irrespective of the number of posts they have made. This might encourage our silent majority to participate, and prevent a stream of new registrations for the sole purpose of requesting a casualty.

If implemented, requests would be taken on a first-come first-served basis. To prevent any arguments or an inundation of requests and any lengthy delays, the 1st July and 11th November will continue to be selected at random by the Admin team.

Advance notice of 2 weeks would be required to ensure members of the team can insert the name into the monthly database on time. To ensure that everyone has the chance to have a name included should they wish one, Pals will be limited to a maximum of two names during any calendar year, however only one donation is required for two names to be added.

It is not intended to include servicemen from non-Commonwealth countries at this time, however this may be reviewed in future should there be a demand.

The Remembering Section will remain in place for those who wish to remember loved ones.

Please PM requests for dates to Matt Dixon, and once a donation has been confirmed the name will be added and a confirmation will be sent to you.

Thanks

The GWF Team


A poll has been requested on the other thread, and here are the four suggested options. Please choose one, but please be assured that donations to the GWF are entirely voluntary, that the GWF will remain free to its users, and that choosing options 3 and 4 does NOT commit you to pledging donations, or any further action.

Just bringing this up so it does not disappear completely.

Could it be pinned at the top, it is important after all

Nigel

It is important, as you say Nigel, and has been pinned for easy access.

I shall be closing this thread after the 6 o'clock pips are broadcast on Radio 4.

In response to the numerous questions and divided opinions that the Remembering Today question rose, the Trustees agreed that the fairest and most open manner in which to accurately guage members opinions, and ensure that all interested parties are allowed the same chance to voice their opinions was to hold a poll, and all the Trustees agreed to be bound by the results of that Poll.

The relatively low response to the poll has been disappointing for all parties concerned. It is also disappointing that a not insignificant number of Forum members chose either not to voice an opinion on any threads pertaining to this matter, or vote, owing to some of the unpleasant comments made by certain members.

However the 117 votes cast is what we have to respect, and with the vote at 64 to 53, the change will be implemented.

We have to produce £200 per month to keep the Forum alive. Without that there is no Remembering Today and no Forum. We do not have membership subscriptions, and this is not a commercial site. Members have already said they do not want adverts, so we need to come up with revenue-raising ideas to enable us to remain free for all. This was one idea. It has not met with universal favour, but only a very few have expressed outrage. The rest seem quietly supportive or unconcerned.

The Trustees would especially like to thank Ian Murphy for his efforts in creating the poll, and for his efforts in encouraging people to vote. We appreciate that the issue has provoked much comment, and whilst some parties will doubtless remain unhappy, a poll was the fairest and most open way of resolving this issue.

The Trustees also thank all the members of the Forum for participating and sharing knowledge, and making this the site that it is.


The original discussion can be found here

"The Trustees of the Great War Forum are grateful to all Pals for the contribution that has been made into the issue of the option to make a donation in return for a name to be included at the top of the main page.

This has provoked much debate, comment and disagreement, and all of these coupled with the results of the Poll have been discussed by the Trustees. The Trustees run the Forum for the members, and the issues raised have been debated at length, and after much consideration and debate amongst ourselves, we wish to make the following announcement:

A number of members have expressed their wish to sponsor the Remembering Today name, and we are now able to include these in addition to the random choice, in a return for a donation. This will be trialled for a period of 3 months starting on the 1st November. If there is no significant take up of this option, it will be removed on the 1st February 2010. Any names for which donations have been received will be honoured.

The requested name will appear below the random name. The Remembering Today name will continue to be selected at random regardless of whether any member has chosen to sponsor a name for that day. The Remembering Them forum will continue where of course everyone can commemorate anyone.

We hope that continuing Remembering Today in its traditional form as well as offering the option for a name to appear at the top in addition to a randomly chosen name, will be an acceptable compromise for all parties."