2007 AATH Conference Schedule

(as of Sept. 1, 2006 - subject to change)

Friday - Sunday

RESEARCH POSTER SESSION: Get informed about completed or emerging research specifically exploring or examining humor or laughter during our first-ever Research Poster Session. Handouts will be provided identifying author contact information. Authors are encouraged to be present to discuss their study. This is an exciting opportunity to learn what's happening to expand our scientific knowledge about humor and laughter. Call for Proposals: Deadline October 15

CONFERENCE BOOKSTORE: Explore one of the largest collection of humor related books, tapes and videos available. Expand your personal library with classic selections and new titles to the market!

CONFERENCE EXHIBITOR SHOWCASE: Shop a wide variety of humor & laughter merchandise showcased by the conference exhibitors.

Thursday, February 15

6:00-9:00 pm Welcome Reception

It's time to get your feet wet! One of the best parts of an AATH
conference is the people you meet - new friends, old friends, and hundreds
of kindred humor spirits. Dive right in and say "Hello!" It's all about
laughing, learning... and networking!

"As a nurse that needs CEU's, I've been to many conferences. But, I'm
always in awe when I come to AATH!" Patti O' Rourke

"I was very impressed with how friendly everyone was, sharing what they
have been doing to bring humor and laughter to the people with whom
they work." Art Rabitz

"Thank you for the opportunity to connect and broaden my network."
Peter Flierl

"I joined AATH because I know first hand the importance and power of
humor and laughter and creativity and friendship in coping with heavy
duty illness. You are all special people with a purpose I really believe in."
Carla Ulbrich

"I had the most amazing time at your conference - outstanding and
inspiring, funny, and deeply touching!" Heather Wandell

Friday, February 16

7:00 am Registration Begins

7:15-7:45am Morning Laughter Exercises
Start your Friday off with these energizing eye-openers (led by Certified Laughter Leaders).

8:15 am Welcome & Announcements

8:30-9:30 am Keynote: The Dating Doctor, David Coleman, "America's Real-Life Hitch"- Finding Humor in Every Relationship
David is known nationwide as America's real life "Hitch." With humorand wit, David teaches you how to form, mend and sustain meaningful relationships. You will learn how to be more courageous, valuable, respectful, thankful, passionate, committed, spiritual, trustworthy and HEALTHY !

9:30-9:45 am Break

9:45-10:45 am Keynote: Rev. Susan Sparks: "Laughing Your Way To Grace"
Voltaire said, "God is a comedian playing to an audience who is afraid to laugh." Humor is one of the most powerful tools we have in the spiritual search. Get ready to experience Susan as an "explosive combination of Matlock, Billy Graham and Ellen DeGeneres all rolled into one."

10:45-11:00 am Break

11:00 am - Noon Concurrent Sessions

AATH Presidents - past and present: AATH 101
This associationand conference orientation sessionis a "must" for all newAATH members andconference first-timers. Learn more about your association, how it operates, and how you fit in. Enhance the rest of your conference experience by first seeing and hearing the big picture.

Nurturing the Nurturers: Wisdom for Resilient Caregiving
Teena L. Cahill, PsyD
Laugh as you learn to strengthen your platform of resilience, practice self care and use your passion to find your authentic leadership style. Combining textbook learning with stories from real-life learning for fun, skills and inspiration.

Optimizing Laughter's Flashpoint
Judy L. Young
Hear and experience "new" research on the effects of laughter in the workplace. Learn how to optimize productivity while minimizing stress. Learn about building cohesion and trust among co-workers.

Hand on Heckler’s and Interactive Games to Unify Any Crowd
Gail Hand, CLL
Gail has a special gift with crowds on winning them over with her humorous stories and interactive audience antics.

12:15-1:15PM Munch with the Masters & Networking Luncheon

1:30-2:30 pm Concurrent Sessions

Wouldn't It be Easier to Just Get Mad??!!@#@!??
Candy Waters, RN, MSN
Getting even is always a temptation when co-workers or family members get on your last nerve. How do they know when (and how) to grind that nerve into dust? Here is your opportunity to learn and share ideas for dealing with that "special person" in your life... and maintaining your sanity in the process.

Greetings & Salad Dressing
Debbie 'Spunky' Wade
"Mix it up" with a fun approach to getting and keeping participants' attention. "Ingredients" include hints, tips, tricks, props, costumes, games, activities, doodads and fun stuff guaranteed to add "zest" to your presentation.

Let the Humor Begin
Forest Wheeler, BS, MS
Forest challenges our thinking about the definition of humor, the relationship between comedy, laughter and humor, dealing with "Humorphobia" and the application of humor - both personal and to our environment.

2:30-2:45 pm Break

2:45-3:45 pm Concurrent Sessions

Take the Wheels of the Worry Bus; Attack Anxiety with Humor
Sharron Orovan-Johnston RN and Adrienne Sloan RN, BSCN
A fun and interactive workshop presenting the techniques used in Sharron and Adrienne's client panic education group. Explore ways to change "self talk" and learn breathing techniques, improve assertiveness and decrease perfectionism.

Compassionate Laughter is What Were After!
Cheryl B. Fell R. N. C. "Nurse FUNshine"
Most people can tell a joke or two, however, it takes a genuine smile, warm heart and kind words to really make waves and change the world. Come and learn why compassionate laughter is what we are after.

Humor is a Funny Thing
Mary Kay Morrison, Humor Quest
The purpose of this session is to affirm, sustain and encourage individuals in the practice of humor, not only as a personal tool to optimize a healthy life style, but to maximize the benefits of humor in everyday life.  These benefits include current research-based data on the use of humor to nurture creativity, to increase memory and to build trusted relationships.

 

3:45-4:10 pm Break

4:10-4:15 pm Revitalize , Re-energize, Humorize with CLL's

4:15-5:15 pm Humor in the Media: If the News Media Struggles to be Funny - How Can We Help?
Media panel: Dave Lieber and [Special Guest Celebrity]
Newspapers, magazines, TV and radio are generally set in their traditional, serious ways. So when a humorist tries to break through with a funny message, more often than not, the message gets slapped down at the assignment editor's desk. This panel of media-savvy veterans will share practical tips about how to get your message out to a world in dire need of laughter and humor therapy.

6:30-9:30 pm Makin' a Splash - and SplashDance"
(Dinner and Friday Night Beach Party)
Makin' a Splash! Join us on the beach as your host, Danny Donuts, and a talented cast of AATH guest performers provide an unforgettable night of music and comedy - Live, from Panama City Beach Studios! After the show, it's SplashDance - music and dancing on the beach.

Saturday, February 17

7:00 am Registration Begins

7:15-7:45 am Morning Laughter Exercises
Late night? Wake up with these energizing eye-openers (led by Certified Laughter Leaders).

8:00-8:15 am Announcements & Raffle Prizes

8:15-9:15 am Humor as a Serious Business Strategy
Karen Buxman-Godek RN, MSN, CSP, CPAE
Find out behind the scenes logic and rationale for incorporating humor as a serious (or organizational) strategy. Karyn shows how she presents "insights cleverly disguised as humor" to those left-brained, skeptical, practical corporate types.

9:15-9:30 am Break

9:30-10:30 am Keynote: Joseph Richman, Ph.D. " Principles of Therapeutic Humor: A Personal Approach"
As a clinical psychiatrist and author, Dr. Richman has worked with many health care workers, individuals and families placing an emphasis on enhancing life by working humor into therapies. He often says, "Adversity can be painful, but overcoming adversity can be fun."

10:30-11:00 am Break

11:00 am - Noon Concurrent Sessions

Shocked Scared and Survived; Breast Cancer Survivors' Stories of Humor's Coping Power
Enid Schwartz RN, MS, MC, Ph.D.
The diagnosis of cancer causes feelings of fear and anxiety. This presentation shares a qualitative study of 12 women coping with breast cancer during the first 6 months after diagnosis. Come hear how these women used humor to cope with feelings of fear and anxiety, and learn how health care providers can facilitate humor as a coping mechanism in their patients.

Politics is Comedy
Don Baird, PSY.D.
We can learn a lot about applying humor from the unlikeliest of sources! WARNING: Politicians of all stripes (and some with no stripes) will be mentioned in this program, but ONLY for educational purposes.

Teaching is Too Important to Take Seriously
Scott Endres, MEd
Hitting your head against the wall? Learn how to bring laughter into your school and life. Be prepared to think a little, cry a little, and laugh a lot.

12:15-1:45 pm Luncheon & AATH Annual Business Meeting sponsored by Cancer Treatment Centers of America
Our association has had an amazing, exciting and very busy year. The new President's "State of AATH" address is your opportunity to get caught up on all the news. We'll also be recognizing Book Award winners, Essay Contest winners and AATH Scholarship recipients. The Memorial Service honors and remembers our humor and laughter friends lost in the past year.

1:45-2:00 pm Break

2:00-3:00 pm Concurrent Sessions

Clown on Down, Panama! The Feel Good Field Trip (2:00-5:00 pm)
Danny Donuts CPA (Comic Performing Artist)
It's time to take the love, laughter, energy and enthusiasm of the conference out to the public. The laughing Limo and ensuing caravan will transport all interested participants into Panama City Beach on our mission to spread laughter and good cheer to both locals and tourists. Participants will learn basic guidelines in safely approaching and connecting others with clowning, humor and play. (Early sign-up and a $5 fee for supplies and transportation is required.)

The Therapeutic Value of Humor: Exploring Beyond Laughter
Steven M. Sultanoff, Ph.D.
Often, we attribute the benefits of humor only to laughter. Join us and learn theory, research and practical application designed to both tickle your funny bone and educate your mind. This presentation will give you a clear rationale and understanding of the therapeutic value of humor and you will learn the universal triggers that activate your senses.

Applied and Therapeutic Humor Involving Gestalt Intervention
Lenny Ravich
This is a 99% participation group activity session. Through play, social interaction and laughter exercises, Lenny "meets" the participants via gestalt therapeutic interventions leading to awareness and the possibilities for new life choices: empowerment, optimism and self esteem.

Learn To BE (Applied and Therapeutically) Humorous
Billy Strean, PhD, P.H.D., CCPCC, CSC, CLL
This session uses music and moving in addition to ideas and emotions to enable participants to BE more humorous in work and life. We will explore how lyrics, rhythms and movements can shift the way we feel and experience life so that we can have more fun, be light-hearted and are more able to help others find humor in life. Be prepared to jiggle and giggle!

3:00-3:15 pm Break

3:15-4:15 pm Concurrent Sessions

"Dave Lieber's Self- Publishing For Fun and Profit"
Dave Lieber
Dave Lieber, "The Yankee Cowboy," will show you how to ride into the world of publishing with only $100. He has sold over $100,000 of his books himself without using the normal channels. WHY? BECAUSE HE NEVER BOTHERED TO ASK ANYONE for permission to do anything. His methods will work for you.

Come To Your Senses
Janie Jasin, CSP
Outstanding and humorous, Janie teaches us the affirmation process and its effects on relationships as well as our self esteem. Humor reaches areas of life that no other sense can compete with. Learn to live on purpose while delivering your assets.

4:15-5:00 pm Research Poster Session
Here's your chance to get informed about completed or emerging research specifically exploring or examining humor or laughter. Handouts will be provided identifying author contact information. Authors are encouraged to be present to discuss their study. This is an exciting opportunity to learn what's happening to expand our scientific knowledge about humor and laughter.

6:00 pm 20th Anniversary Reception

7:00 pm 20th Anniversary Banquet & Program honoring AATH Founder, Alison Crane and featuring Buzz Sutherland
Please join us as we celebrate, recognize and honor our association's first 20 years. Dress is "Florida Casual – no ties!"

Sunday, February 18

7:30-8:00 am Morning Laughter Exercises
Start our last morning together with these energizing eye-openers (led by Certified Laughter Leaders).

8:00-8:15 am Announcements & Grand Prize Drawings

8:15-9:15 am Keynote: Greg Risberg, MSW, CSP " Humor, Hugs and Hope"
Greg is a fitting example of showing us the physiological and psychological benefits of laughter. Greg uses personal stories to illustrate what families have taught us about caring and touch, humor and laughter. Join us as Greg takes us on a journey of hope and healing.

9:15-9:30 am Break

9:30-10:30 am Keynote: Carla Ulbrich "How Can You Not Laugh at a Time Like This?"
Carla blends her experiences as a kidney stroke patient, songwriter and standup comic. She leads us to find humor in the unlikeliest of places, when you need it the most, and helps us discover the greatest source of comedy—in ourselves. Come celebrate those who show compassion and find misplaced funny bones.

10:30-10:45 am Break

10:45-11:45 am Keynote: Paul Huschilt "The Ultimate Ending (TM)"
Paul sat through the entire AATH conference, took tons of notes, and has converted it all into an on-the-spot comic summary. His respectfully irreverent presentation features humor at our own expense and for our own enjoyment. Sit back, relax, laugh and remember!

11:45 am-Noon Until We Meet Again

1:00 pm Bookstore Closes