The Home for Humor & Laughter Professionals January 2018

Save The Date!

AATH Annual Humor

Conference & Humor Academy

April 12­15, 2018 San Diego, California

Sponsors:

Nurse Funshine Cheryl Fell

Client­Focused Counseling

­ Fr. Paul Moore

Jill and Charley Knox

This complimentary Humor Connection newsletter is one of the many ways that

AATH fulfills our mission to study, practice and promote healthy humor. You

can join our efforts by joining AATH at www.aath.org

From the AATH President ­ Nila Nielsen, CHP

It's time to CELEBRATE as we welcome 2018 ­ a brand, New Year!

In 2017, we celebrated the organization of the Midwest Regional Chapter ofAATH in the Chicago area; welcomed fabulous new members; smiled andlearned together in Orlando while attending our annual AATH Conference andHumor Academy AND we shared humor resources with others, all year long.

So, what's so exciting about the New Year?

Everything! AATH is one of the most unique organizations that exist! Ourmembers come from all walks of life with one thing in common... HUMOR! Weuse it in our homes and places of work. We share it freely with others andenjoy it in return. Those who have attended our Conference fully understandthe research behind the benefits humor brings and that's something toCelebrate!

Each year the AATH Board sets comprehensive goals that are based on ourMission. 2018 is no different. Just watch this year as we recognize, engageand expand our humor community, increase outreach opportunities to promotehumor information and secure additional resources to continue the positivework of this Association.

AATH is something to CELEBRATE! Join us ­ together, we'll make it ahumorous New Year!

Make it your New Year's resolution to join!

Nila Nielsen, CHP, AATH President ninielsen@me.com

Surf's Up San Diego:

2018 Conference Update ­January

Speakers have been selected andscheduled. Scholarships have beenawarded. Research posterpresenters identified. Time to get intogear and plan your trip to the 2018

Book Review

Magic Nurse, Bedside Artist

Annual Conference "Resilience:Harnessing the Power of Humor" onApril 12­15, 2018 in San Diego, CA.Check out the complete schedulehere:

And don't forget to check out theschedule to the Humor Academysessions that kick the whole weekoff. If you are interested in pursuingan academic three­year course inHumor studies that can culminate inobtaining the Certified HumorProfessional designation, this is theplace!

EARLY­BIRD RATE DEADLINE isexpiring soon! January 31st is thelast day that you can register for theconference and get the early­birddeadline that is $50 off the regularregistration fee rate. Register here:

and while you're at it, you might wantto reserve hotel room at our hostHoliday Inn Bayside San Diego andcapture our group discount whichincludes a voucher for breakfast inthe hotel restaurant for each day youare registered!

Want to hear more? Check out thisvideo interview with keynoter SteveSultanoff

Save the Date!

Our sister organization, theInternational Society for HumorStudies (ISHS), is having their 30th

annual conference this year inTallinn, Estonia from June 25­29.Check it out here:

by Rob Divers, R.N. (Reviewed by Florence Ditlow, RN)

Rob Divers is living a therapeuticdream, a registered nurse who foundmagic in performing for children intheir hospital beds. He came intonursing through a history of losing hisfather to cancer and has since madean impact at home and abroad in theinitiative of Patch Adams' Troup,taking clowning with care to CostaRica.

An auspicious memory of Rob'smother occurred as they togetherwatched the movie, "Patch Adams"and noticed the impact of patients'emotions as part of surviving illness.A woman in the film, acting as adying patient in the care of Dr.Adams, flops into a swimming pool ofnoodles; an angry male cancerpatient does battle with Patch Adams,but regains his soul through love.

Rob writes about becoming a ClinicalPerforming Artist, then lifting hospitalpersonnel out of their seriousprofessions, about the joy of treatingpeople­ not disease. He complains,"Therapeutic touch is all but gonefrom our nursing practice as we havebecome data entry clerks for theinformation system."

He encouraged nurses to usepowerfully creative props to "touch"patients and he taught doctors magictricks. Rob took risks in silliness earlyon with patient benefit in mind, so hiswork was later accepted by hospitalmanagement, convinced by humor'shealth benefits. Humor filters into alldepartments, leaving an impactsomewhat vague to measure, butRob felt the therapy profoundly when

Member News

Send us YOUR news for our next

issue by using this online form:

Member News Form

Congratulations to Barb Best whohas been recognized as one of theTop 100 Humor Blogs! Barb is ourvery own AATH Humor Academytweeter @TheHumorAcademy

Barb was the 2010 Erma BombeckGlobal Humor Winner and hermaterial has been performed byseveral comedians including JoanRivers. You can learn more aboutBarb and sign up for her free (veryfunny) newsletter.

Pat Shea helped organize a pet fooddrive at Holiday Hilarity atSamantha's Lil Bit of Heaven. Pat isa new member from New York.

Lenny Ravich has published a newedition of his book, "EverlastingOptimism." Check out his book here.

Julie Ann Sullivan has published anew book Blueprint for EmployeeEngagement. Check out her bookhere.

Julie Ann and AATH member, Drew Tarvin.

Piotr Pluta presented at the 24thNordic Intercultural Communication

he took on new "patients" in CentralAmerica, as a disciple of PatchAdams.

Costa Rica clowning, in 2012

Roly poly nurse Divers was one ofseven medically trained professionalsamong the twenty­ two personGesundheit entourage. They showedup in various fun lab coats in LaCarpio village near San Jose andtargeted people with mental andphysical infirmities, finally extendingto prisoners in a jail.

The magic tricks were similar in thishuger, intimidating arena and calledfor instantaneous action whenpatients became immersed in positivefeeling from the doctors of play; butRob was rewarded with thejoyousness: lying on the ground inwordless communion with apsychiatric patient.

His thirst for fun from this lively­ trickytrek drove him to dive into moreeffective clowning­ reaching the kidaudience and benefiting clients andcaregivers. Middle Eastern travelunfolded as he meets iconic clownpractitioners; there are efforts to trainmore clowns as therapeuticparaprofessionals. There is a world ofdata here for humor experts whomight veer into the creativity ofclowning. Rob's photos reflecthealing beyond the hysterics as dothe fabulous video links! A delightedchild reported, "I'm not happy, I'mVERY, VERY happy."

He concludes with magicalresources, schooling for clowns andplaces to find props to suit any humormagnet member of AATH. Hey!Magic Nurse has a book blurb onyoutube, here.

I see clowns as more than piethrowers ­ they're Joy Catalysts.

I'm Florence Ditlow RN, your book

reviewer. I'm a long time AATH

member, a midwife of humor in

hospitals, author of two books and

student of two dogs who are

revealing to me that the secret of

nonverbal humor is inner joy.

Members who would like their book to

be considered for an upcoming

Humor Connection book review,

should contact info@aath.org. Please

use Book Review Submission in the

subject line.

conference at the University ofJyvaskyla.

Shirley Trout is one of five womenprofiled in this December onlinearticle in the Omaha World Heraldabout the first women's Nebraskavolleyball team. The seeds sheplanted were celebrated at the 2017NCAA Division 1 championship ofthe Nebraska Cornhuskers. Checkout her story here.

Shirley Trout ­ far left

Members in Print:

Colleen Cooke was featured in theButler, PA, Eagle in the article titled"Slippery Rock Professor teachesmirth." Click here for the article.

Ann Zuccardy is profiled online in aNovember 2017 Inc feature abouther personal journey and her tips onhow to rewire your brain and get thesmart juices flowing. Click here forher article.

Following on our July 2017 issue ofthe Humor Voice on Humor andDeath, comes this article on humorin the face of death in which AllenKlein is quoted. Click here for Kleinarticle.

Allen also appears in acreditcard.com article titled "You putWHAT on your credit card? 8strange but true charges." (Look forthe clown noses!) Click here forKlein article number 2.

Seeking Volunteers!

Would you like to volunteer for theconference or become an editor forour member publications? If so,contact Kathy Velasco at the AATHoffice, 815­708­6587.

Welcome New AATH

Members

AATH welcomed the following NEWMEMBER in November:

­ Dorothy Pincus Los Angeles, CA

Are you a new member of AATH?Please fill out a New MemberRecognition form and tell us moreabout yourself! Simply log into youraccount on the AATH website for alink to the form.

Regional Chapter

Updates

Midwest Regional Chapter

Don Baird, will be the keynotespeaker at the February 3, 2018,AATH Midwest Regional Chaptermeeting. You will not want to missDon's presentation titled "The Humorof Muhammed Ali." Don Baird'spresentation will include the true storyof his own brief meeting withMuhammed Ali and how he directlysaw the ways Ali used humor despitehealth concerns. If you or a loved oneis challenged with disease, comediscover how humor can be used tomake everyday life easier ­ withfriends and family, caregivers, andstrangers.

The program will begin at 10 a.m. atthe Rockford, Illinois YMCA, in

LaughBox with facilitator Chip Lutz

Episode 16: Interview withAnn Zuccardy

Who knows how to hula hoop andalso has survived a Traumatic BrainInjury (TBI)? Ann Zuccardy THAT'SWHO! Ann shares her story on thisweek's episode on how she becamean "accidental neuroscientist" as shelooked for answers on how to dealwith the issues that arose after sheslipped in the tub, busted hernoggin', and started having someissues. She's fun, funny and hasnever taken a bad picture in her life ­you won't want to miss this episode!Listen in and put some new tools inyour toolbox!

Episode 17: Interview withPam Wener

Did you hear about the stand­upcomedian from Canada? It's nojoke...she's on this episode ofLaughbox! Sit back, plug in andlisten as we talk to Pam Wener. ALaughter Leader and longtimemember of AATH, Pam decided afew years ago to try her hand atstand­up comedy. In this interview,she shares what she does, how shedoes it and how she's working tomake a difference for those aroundher.

collaboration with the YMCALIVESTRONG program. A luncheonmeeting of AATH members will beheld following the presentation in thehome of Kelly Epperson.Complimentary accommodationsavailable to those from out of town.Contact Kelly Epperson or Mary KayMorrison, CHP, for more information!

If you want to start an AATH Chapter,please contact Mary Kay Morrison:marykay@questforhumor.com

DONATIONS TO AATH ARE TAXDEDUCTIBLE: Thank you for yourcontinued support of AATH!

You can write a check to AATH andsend to the office or you can:

1. AATH 2018 CONFERENCESPONSORSHIP: There are manyways that you can be a sponsor forour AATH conference for as little as$50.

2. SCHOLARSHIP DONATION: Youcan designate your gift to the WilliamFry, Patty Wooten or Ed Dunkelblauscholarship fund.

To make a tax­deductible gift toAATH, you may send checkdonations to the AATH office at:

220 East State St., Floor G

Rockford, IL 61104

MEMBER ASSISTANCE: If you needhelp with renewing your membership,or if you have questions, reach out toMichele St. Clair and her team at815­708­6587.

REMINDER: AATH is officially recognized as a 501c3 and has been vetted by UNITED WAY. If you or anyone you know

makes donations through United Way, please consider designating a portion of your generous gift to AATH and please

let others know of this opportunity.