Welcome From Phillip Gairden

Seldom in our lives are we fortunate enough to receive great compliments from those whom we respect the most. This past summer brought forth such an occasion for me when I was trusted with the position of Editor of this fine journal. As many of us are aware, the study of paranormal phenomena is often met with skepticism and ridicule. It is my hope that during my tenure, the Paranormal Research Journal (PRJ) will help legitimize the field and enlighten others as to the truth and seriousness of the subject at hand. The editorial board and I have been most encouraged by the strength of the recent submissions in that regard and know that will only continue. The scholarly debate that they provide is healthy and, combined with the profound knowledge and strength in research, their legitimacy cannot be denied. Together, we will succeed in creating a greater understanding of the normal as well as the paranormal.

The past few months have brought about many changes to the face and exposure of PRJ. We have renewed our focus, we have moved online, and, most importantly, we have strengthened our scholarship. We have also faced great changes to our editorial staff and administrative system. The transition has not been as easy as we had anticipated and that forced us to face a very difficult decision. In order to ease the administrative transition, no new subscriptions will be accepted for the remainder of this year. The potential loss of new subscribers was a painful pill to swallow and we hope that interested parties will return to us in January and subscribe in time to receive the Winter edition.

In closing, I would like to acknowledge my gratitude to David Crane: your tenure over the position has been both inspiring and encouraging, it is safe to say that without your support I would not be where I am today. I would also like to thank the editorial board and staff for tireless enthusiasm and dedication. Finally, I would like to thank each author and reader, as without you, this journal would be filled with empty pages. There are many avenues to choose when reading and publishing scholarly work. I am honored that you have chosen PRJ and hope that you will continue to do so well into the future.

Phillip Gairden, Ph.D.
Editor
(August, 2003)