Humor Connection - AATH Membership Publication

"Laugh Goes On!"

August, 2008 (Lenny is the one on the right)

The past few months have been the busiest and most productive in my tenure as your AATH President. Perhaps the single most important development was a Strategic Planning Retreat that the full board attended in June, along with four AATH member-guests. The weekend session was facilitated by the dynamic duo of Fred Droz and Jerry Packer, our remarkable management team leaders. The meeting was held in Las Vegas at The Riviera Hotel, allowing us to also check out the site of our upcoming 2009 annual conference (April 2-5). It promises to be another grand, educational networking event! Stay tuned for more conference details.

The learning from that retreat and the subsequent actions taken by the board will, in my opinion, undeniably help to strengthen our association and better prepare it for a promising future.

One of the first and most obvious changes you will notice is this electronic Humor Connection, a new and improved member benefit which combines the monthly E-zine, the monthly Member Memo, and our feature publication, the Humor Connection. This new ‘product’ will be coming your way 10 times per year.

Why the change? Not merely for change sake! Sure, “Going Green” is today’s hot buzz phrase. But, AATH is intent on growing, not maintaining the status quo. If we are to thrive as a relevant, international organization, then we quite simply need to become more efficient and effective in reaching out to our members and connecting with more of the world in communicating our mission and our message.

Ahh yes, our mission! Over the years, numerous AATH boards have carefully word-smithed and labored intensely in an attempt to birth the phrase that would both appeal to the masses and appease our diverse constituents. In short, root canal (sans Novocain) is often a more pleasurable experience. However, at this strategic planning retreat, the board decided unanimously that now was time to be even more transparent in defining what AATH is all about – both literally and figuratively. Thus, we arrived at a new mission statement to express the purpose of our association: “To serve as the community of professionals who study, practice and promote healthy humor and laughter.”

Our recent AATH membership survey elicited a high volume of response and revealed a great deal of insight into our current composition. In the primary fields of health care and education, many of our members practice and provide healthy humor and laughter. Numerous speakers and authors research it, write about it and teach it. But, all AATH members are genuinely interested in learning more about the positive power of humor and laughter. Many share it professionally with patients, clients and colleagues. Many apply it in their personal lives – both in their homes and in their communities.

In conjunction with our new mission statement, the board also agreed upon a new, marketing ‘tag line’ to use in communicating the essence of AATH: “The Home for Humor & Laughter Professionals!”

Here again, many of our members consider AATH to be their professional ‘home’ because, quite simply, AATH understands and supports what they do. Unfortunately for many of our members, their more traditional, primary professional associations don't quite ‘get’ the humor and laughter ‘thing.’ AATH strives to be the place where diverse practitioners in the field of humor and laughter can feel a sense of ‘belonging.’ We welcome and encourage them to network amongst their fellow humor and laughter enthusiasts. That’s why attending our annual conference has become such an important part of realizing the full benefit of your AATH membership.

But, AATH is more than a conference. Year-round, we’re also about communicating information to our members, sharing news, research and ‘best practices.’ This brings us right back to further developing our website and utilizing e-mail more efficiently.

Since 1987, AATH has actively been changing the perception and understanding of the importance of humor and laughter... spreading the message that humor and laughter do have a place in creating healthier, more effective, more productive and more fun environments in which to live, work and play!

The work of AATH is not done and never will be. In the months to come, watch for more news about the exciting changes and developments in your association. Until then…

Laugh Goes On!

Lenny Dave
AATH President

HOW TO BE FUNNY WITHOUT TELLING JOKES:

by Allen Klein, MA, CSP

For over twenty years, I have been showing audiences how to find humor in not-so-funny stuff. Thousands of people have laughed a lot in my presentations yet I don't tell jokes. Below are some ways I get people to laugh. And you can too.

1- Set the Scene for Laughter

If you want to lighten up your program, you might want to let the audience know this, even before you say one word. Project some lighthearted visuals as the audience is entering the room. Play some copyright-free uplifting music as they enter. Or, add some humor to your presentation title or program description. My bio, for example, has my list of accomplishments, playfully followed by "His mother is very proud of him."

2- Poke Fun at Yourself

Again, even before you open your mouth, you can show the audience that you don't take yourself too seriously by adding some playful things about you in your introduction. I, for example, have the introducer tell the audience that I am the author of seven books which have sold well over 50 copies. Then the person corrects their mistake and says, "Oops, that's 500,000 copies."

3- Get a Laugh with a Prop

It has been said that 80% of what people learn is visual. If this is true, then speakers need to enhance their talks with something to visually illustrate what they are saying. A prop is a great way to do this because it not only makes your message memorable but it can also get a laugh. Among other things, I use balloons to illustrate how people can let go of their stress; an inflatable globe to illustrate how we often carry the world around on our shoulders; and a plastic hammer, which I use to hit myself on the head when I goof up. All make a point and all get a laugh.

4- Your Humor Stories

Open your humor eyes and ears and look and listen for the funny things that happen all around you. Families are an especially good resource for finding humor stories. When my Mom was ninety-three, she told me an incident which I have now use in the opening of my presentations. Every time she goes to the doctor, she hires a van service to take her their and back. One late afternoon it didn't show up to take her home. Since the doctor had to close the office for the day, he suggested that she wait for the van in the pizza parlor next door. After waiting a long time without the van arriving, my Mom went up to the counter and asked, "Do you deliver?" When the man behind the counter replied, "Of course, we do. We're a pizza place." My Mom said, "Great. Then I'd like a pepperoni pizza and I'd like to go with it."

5- Borrow Some Witty Words

While waiting for your own humor-related stories to appear, you might want to borrow some funny short quotes for famous folk to lighten up your talks. Quotation books, the TV, newspapers, and magazines such as Reader's Digest are great resources for locating great quotes. Since I frequently speak to hospice groups, Woody Allen's comments about death and dying are appropriate. My favorite, "There are worse things in life than death. Have you ever spent an evening with an insurance salesman?"

6- Collect Audience Anecdotes

Sometimes audiences say the funniest things. When they do write it down. It could be a big laugh in your next presentation. For years, I've been asking audiences, "How do you spell relief?" My answer is "L-A-U-G-H". Then one day a woman in the back row called out, "D-I-V-O-R-C-E." It got a huge laugh for her that day and continues to get a laugh for me when I retell it.

7- Make it Relevant

One final bit of advice about using humor in your presentations—make sure it is relevant. Amusing an audience for the sake of getting a laugh might be ideal for a stand-up comedian or an after-dinner humorist but it's probably not OK for most speakers. If your humor doesn't make a point or have a purpose then don’t use it!

8- The Bottom Line

For non-humorists, some of the ideas presented here may seem too frivolous for your subject matter. Nevertheless, I would still encourage you to seek some way of upping the entertainment value of your talks because it might also increase what you charge. As Steve Allen once noted, "People will pay more to be entertained than educated."

Humor Connection:

AATH thanks the following advertisers for their support of the current issue:

EDITORIAL GUIDELINES

The official member publication of the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor (AATH), The Humor Connection is published four times annually. Its purpose is to educate AATH members about the industry, to represent AATH before an international audience, to communicate Member News, and to have fun in the process.

While our members are diverse in their backgrounds, they are united in their passion for the values, application, and therapeutic uses of humor, laughter, and play. Targeted audiences hail from educational, business, faith community, health care, psychology, social service, and family science backgrounds.

Manuscript Submissions
Articles that specifically address the needs and concerns of our members are favored over generic articles that could appear in a multitude of publications.

Content should target the professional, personal, or ethical development of readers and should represent a standard of excellence and expertise consistent with the purpose of AATH.

The Editorial Advisory Board accepts material written by AATH members in good standing. In the future, the editor (or someone assigned by the editor) may invite submissions from authors outside the membership.

Bylines and Author Credit
Bylines will accompany each contribution. In addition, author contact information will follow each article, op-ed piece, and review.

Manuscript Content
Submissions to The Humor Connection may be in the form of articles, book and website reviews, editorial opinion (op-ed), letters to the editor, and Member News.

Articles
Subject matter may include (but is not limited to) the following:

Humor and Health
Humor and Relationships
Humor and Business
Humor and Aging
Humor and Religion/Spirituality
Humor and Education
Humor and Diversity/Culture/International Issues
Humor and Ethics
Clowning
Humor Applications
Humor Research
Member Interviews
Book Reviews

Book and Web Site Reviews

Written by knowledgeable persons selected by the editor, book and Web site reviews inform readers in areas relevant to the discipline. Reviews deemed hurtful to authors will not be printed.

Reviews are limited to 350 words and submitted as an attachment in Microsoft Word format.

Opinion/Editorial (Op-Ed)

Op-Ed pieces reflect the view of the author. We welcome opinions about the association, its communication devices and educational activities, and the humor field. Opinions considered potentially damaging to an identifiable individual will not be considered.

Op-Ed pieces are limited to 500 words.

Letters to the Editor

We encourage communication from readers. Anonymous submissions will not be considered. Letter selection remains at the editor's discretion .

Member News

Member News recognizes individual achievements. Member News has limited space in The Humor Connection , and we will print as many as space permits. Submissions must be 50 words or less, in press release format, and should describe an event/achievement that has already occurred. Member News items may be of the following type:

National (in the United States or abroad) award/recognition. The award must be bestowed by a national association, organization, corporation, etc. Local chapters of national organizations do not fit in this category.
National TV/radio coverage, including syndicated and cable networks with national coverage.
Association-related activities, including chapter highlights, regional events, special projects, and the like.
Books and tapes published and distributed nationally or internationally. This does not include books, tapes, or manuals given or sold to audience members, or materials produced for a particular company. It also does not include printed, audio, or video anthologies, even those published by national publishers. We will not accept notices of upcoming events; we will only run notices after a book/article has been published.
Speeches, tapes, books, manuals, videos, and the like created for clients are considered work contracts and will not be mentioned in Member News.
Speaking engagements will not be listed in Member News.

Manuscript Preparation

Length

Articles: 750 words or less, not including references
Reviews: 350 words or less, not including references
Op Ed: 350 words or less, not including references
Letters: 100 words or less, not including references
Member News: 50 words or less, not including references

Format
All submissions must be sent electronically as an attachment in Microsoft Word format (or ASCII format). Submissions should be directed to the editor at hc@aath.org

References
The Humor Connection is edited according to American Psychological Association (APA) style. References are encouraged and must be included when words have been quoted exactly from a source. Full text citations will be placed at the end of the submission.

Writing Style
Our membership has a wide range of specialties. Please avoid jargon and technical terms specific to a particular industry. Acronyms should be spelled out on first use.

Ethical, ethnic, and prejudicial statements and implications should be carefully scrutinized prior to submission. All self-promoting references must be omitted (e.g. "for more information, contact." "I'm offering a special discount on my services...").

Gender-inclusive language is essential (e.g., "he or she" rather than "he"). Use plural pronouns to avoid the awkwardness of he or she whenever possible.

Write succinctly and clearly. Be positive and conversational in your approach. Favor the active voice over the passive.

Review Process

Upon electronic submission, you will receive confirmation of receipt of your manuscript. The editor and his/her appointees will review the manuscript. Submission of an article or news item does not guarantee publication. Submissions will not be returned. We urge authors to keep a file copy when submitting an article or news item to AATH.

Contact The Humor Connection Editor with any questions: hc@aath.org, or the AATH office at 888-747-AATH (2284) Toll Free or 949-715-4681 International.

Conditions of Acceptance

AATH has a one-time use and author retains the copyright and has the right to publish articles on our website.

Because of time constraints, we do not send galley copies or edited forms of manuscripts to authors. Manuscript submission implies author agreement with this policy.

The Humor Connection does not pay for manuscripts. Published articles from members are considered contributions to the discipline.

Humor Resources

"Laugh Goes On!"

EDITORIAL GUIDELINES

Letters to the Editor