Willing Workers of White Hall Extension Homemakers Club met in May at the White Hall Library.
Community Service Chairman Kay Cromwell collected cereal and other food items for the White Hall Food Pantry from members as they arrived. President Karen Needler welcomed everyone. Cromwell blessed the food and members had a meal provided by Tonia Dalby, Dee Kindrick and Penny Scholes, according to a news release.
Sarah Payton read The Thought of the Month: If we’re not meant to have a midnight snack, why is there a light in the fridge? Kindrick led members in the Homemaker’s Creed. Scholes read the Handy Hint: To become truly happy, you must have a sense of humor. For some, it’s natural and with others it takes more effort.
Jim Wilson read the Inspiration from Job 8:21. Secretary Jo Ann Carr called the roll with members answering the question: How many laughs have you had today? Ten members were present.
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Payton presented the program on “Positive Effects of Laughter.” She passed out a handout which included a quiz on humor, laughter and aging and asked everyone to fill it out. She asked the question: “Why should senior adults be concerned about humor?” Then she said “You have probably heard it said, Laughter is the best medicine, and He who laughs, lasts.”
“It turns out, those sayings are true,” Payton said. “Humor and the subsequent laughter have many therapeutic effects on the body. Most of us don’t take humor seriously enough. We need to learn to use it effectively and make it part of our life.”
She went over several physical benefits of laughter: Improved cardiovascular health; improved respiration; lowered blood pressure: reduced pain; enhanced immune system; decreased “stress” hormones; and muscle relaxation.
She also gave several examples of mental benefits of laughter and social benefits of laughter. Payton said laughter makes people feel better. She said for humor to be effective, it must not be hurtful or offensive to others. Generally speaking, healthful humor stimulates wit, mirth or laughter. It creates closeness and intimacy between people. Hurtful humor creates pain and distance often poking fun at other individuals or groups. Humor should be used to spread goodwill, unify a group or strengthen bonds between family members and friends.
Community Service
Cromwell reported 29 food items and $20 cash was delivered to White Hall Food Pantry in April and asked that members bring salad dressing or mayonnaise to the June meeting. Members voted to make cookies for the White Hall Library for a children’s class in December.
Continuing Education
Chairman Kathy Wilson suggested several educational trips to the club and a trip to Scott Museum on June 28 was scheduled.
During the business meeting, members scheduled a birthday dinner for Kindrick and Cromwell at El Parian Restaurant in White Hall for June 13 at 5:30 p.m.
The next club meeting will be on June 24 at the White Hall Library. If you are interested in visiting, or learning more about the Jefferson County Extension Homemakers, contact any member or Mary Ann Kizer at the Jefferson County Cooperative Extension Service, (870) 534-1033. Kizer also can supply copies of the handout on laughter, according to the news release.