The Board of Directors of SPME would very much like to thank Profs. Daniela Rotin, Eldad Zachsenhaus, Sean Egan and Sergio Grinstein for their leadership efforts these past several years to establish an active and vital SPME Chapter at the University of Toronto which has been the site of a great deal of anti-Israelism and controversy.

As a result of their stepping down this summer as a result of other priorities, there is a need and vacancy for at least three of the 300 faculty members at the University involved with SPME to step forward to assume leadership for SPME Chapter activities. Criteria for leadership are that three contributing members of SPME form a steering committee to share the leadership with one person being designated a chapter contact person for colleagues at the campus and the same or another person be delegated to be a liaison with the SPME Board of Directors and the last assuming the role of chapter coordinator or co-coordinate with one or two of the others. The idea is to share the responsibility.

We are hoping that chapter leaders will foster relations with other Canadian groups such as Canadian Academic Friends of Israel and the Canadian Institute for Jewish Research as well as develop programming at University of Toronto.

Faculty members at the University or Toronto should send an email of interest in stepping forward to assume these leadership positions to SPME Vice President for Internal Relations ( which included chapter development), Judith Jacobson at Columbia University at jsj4@columbia.edu with copies to SPME Executive Director Sam Edelman, Cal State-Chico at sedelman@csuchico.edu and SPME President Ed Beck, Walden University, ScholarsforPeace@aol.com or call him at 717.576.5038.