Judi Lutz Woods
Fourteen members attended the 12th virtual meeting of the Club’s 2020-21 year. President Mary Croxton introduced Judi Lutz Woods, presenting her paper on Benjamin Franklin:
Although most of us are fairly well acquainted with Benjamin Franklin’s many contributions as a scientist, inventor, politician, statesman, ambassador, philanthropist, and businessman, few of us are aware he wrote some of the most memorable, hilarious, satire of the 18th century. He loved to “skewer the comfortable by making sport of their foibles.” He took satire and put a uniquely American twist on it, inspiring future American humorists, such as Garrison Keller and Mark Twain. Franklin’s form of humor was witty, folksy wisdom that included a generous portion of irreverence. Ben valued humor not as an end in itself, but as a means to gain a competitive edge, disseminate information, or promote a program. He made them laugh … but also made them think.