SPME is now at a significant juncture. With Ed Beck, our founding president, stepping down, and with the beginning of my administration, we need to ensure that SPME continues the momentum it has built up over the last seven years. Many changes are already under way. I just recently put out a call for a book review editor, we are looking at ways to strengthen and better utilize our web presence, and we continue to see the needs for new chapters on campuses.

My intent as we move forward is to keep SPME firmly in faculty control and to keep the organization timely and responsive as we face whatever new challenges come our way in the semesters and years ahead. While funding is always an issue, we also need new volunteers to lead chapters, to help with our web sites, and to take leadership responsibilities for new initiatives.

If you are interesting in volunteering some time and energy to your fellow faculty in SPME, please let me know. I am more than happy to hear your ideas and work with you to help SPME continue to be a vibrant and responsive organization.

Peter J. Haas
Abba Hillel Silver Professor of Jewish Studies
Chair, Department of Religious Studies
Case Western Reserve University
peter.haas@case.edu