Women’s Day speaker stresses laughter’s importance
Whether describing her trip from the Pittsburgh airport to Uniontown or talking about the differences between men and women, keynote speaker Diana Jordan tickled the funny bone of those attending the 21st Annual Women’s Day on Thursday at Penn State University, Fayette Campus. The comedienne, who has twice been selected Oprah Winfrey’s “Star of Tomorrow,’ also reminded people that laughter is a precious gift that’s meant to be shared.
“All my life, laughter has been so important,’ said Jordan, an Oklahoma native now living on the West Coast. “…Laughter keeps you young. People say, ‘Diana, I can’t believe you’re 50.’ That’s because when you laugh, your face moves. You keep your face moving and then they can’t focus in on you.’
Jordan, who has been the opening act for Englebert Humperdink, Kenny Loggins, Pointer Sisters, Paul Anka, Roy Clarke and George Burns, kidded the Penn State staff who picked her up at the Pittsburgh airport for such things as their eagerness to get expense receipts to their estimation of the time it would take for the journey to Uniontown.
“It’s only an hour – maybe 45 minutes,’ Jordan quoted her hosts.
When it proved a much longer ride through the countryside, they told Jordan they were giving her the scenic route.
“It’s dark,’ she pointed out.
And here’s Jordan on men and women:
“Men always say why can’t a woman be more like a man? That’s because there’s not enough remote controls to go around.’
“Men shop like they’re in the army: get in and get out before anybody sees you.’
“If God was a woman, Moses would not have been lost in the desert for 40 years. She would have made him stop and ask for directions.’
Jordan also spoke about her first appearance on Oprah Winfrey’s show and how nervous she was until she stepped out in front of the audience and Winfrey greeted her with a big smile. It melted away her anxiety.
“You just never know how laughter and smiles will affect your life,’ she said.
Dr. Gregory Gray, chief executive officer at Fayette Campus, called women’s day a spring tradition in his welcoming remarks Thursday morning.
The day-long program gives women a chance to learn from workshops such as this year’s “Putting Anger to Bed,’ “Women in Politics: Both Sides of the Story,’ “Women-Headed Household Initiative’ and “Wholeness of Being: Mind, Body and Spirit.’
Harriet Galida, co-director, reported that 223 people registered for this year’s Women’s Day.
“It’s pretty consistent. It ranges anywhere from 190 to 250 people,’ she said. “The format stays basically the same. It’s very workable.’
In addition to workshops, Women’s Day includes an information fair with agencies such as Albert Gallatin Human Services Agency, American Heart Association, American Red Cross, Family Abuse Council, Crime Victims Center, Communities in Schools of Southwest Pennsylvania Inc. and the Coal and Coke Heritage Center.
Galida said the Women’s Day committee decides on the keynote speaker as well as workshops.
“A lot (of the workshops) are new. A lot are people who call us and it’s happening more and more,’ she said.
Women’s Day attracts new participants every year but there are many who return again and again.
Asked why Women’s Day is so popular, Galida said, “I think it gives women an opportunity to have a day with their friends. They get together and have a day for themselves. Many live out of town and make it a point to be together at Women’s Day. And it’s extremely reasonable rate for a full day’s activity, including our featured speaker. It’s a nice day for ladies. We’ll take men, too.’