Mississauga Toastmaster Wins District Humorous Speech Contest

KING CITY, Ontario - Dec. 4, 2017 - PRLog -- Jonathan Siegel  represented Great Minds Advanced Toastmasters in the 2017 Toastmasters Fall, District 86 Humorous Speech Contest and came in first place against nine other finalists. Over 1,000 Toastmasters competed in the Fall contest, which was held across various municipalities including local, area and division levels.

Each speech contestant was tasked to entertain an audience with a 5-7-minute speech. Siegel's winning speech titled, "It's In You to Give", was inspired through his experience donating blood. "Understandably, Canadian Blood Services wants to do a proper screening," says Siegel. "However, I never anticipated the amount of questions the nurses would ask." Siegel says he saw this life-giving experience as an opportunity to translate it into a humorous speech.

Siegel's two sons, Adam (24) and Noah (30) grew up thinking their dad was not funny and his wife, Melanie, did not disagree! "They were right," says Siegel. After several years practising as a Toastmaster and learning how to uncover humour in speeches, Siegel attempted to do what he previously thought was impossible – compete in a Toastmasters Humorous Speech Contest. "Competing in the contest was both a challenge and a wonderful opportunity to learn how to be creative."

Siegel joined Toastmasters in 1992 after listening to a motivational speaker. He says he realized that he wanted to experience what the speaker had which was the ability to speak from the platform to touch, move, inspire and entertain. "I knew I did not have the skills, but I was told that as long as I put in the work, Toastmasters would help me." Siegel attends two Toastmaster Clubs, Great Minds Advanced Toastmasters club in Mississauga and Advanced Speakers on the Hill in Richmond Hill, Ontario.

To Siegel, Toastmasters has been another home away from home. He initially wanted to learn how to be a confident speaker, but he received much more than that. "I have learned that if you set a goal that is important and meaningful to you, the reward is the inner feeling of fulfillment. Once experienced, it is there forever. Everyone has something special and unique to offer.

"Please come to Toastmasters and share your voice, your talents and your message" he concludes, "Remember, it's in you to give"!

About Toastmasters District 86

District 86 is one of 102 districts in the world. It was formed in 2008, representing the heartland of Ontario. Comprising of over 245 community and corporate clubs, District 86 has over 5,300 members ranging from Timmins in the North to Welland in the South, Sarnia in the West to Markham in the East, and all of the communities in between, except Toronto. To learn more about District 86 please visit, District 86 Toastmasters at http://www.toastmasters86.org/.

About Toastmasters International

Toastmasters International is a worldwide nonprofit educational organization that empowers individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders. Headquartered in Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., the organization's membership exceeds 352,000 in more than 16,400 clubs in 141 countries. Since 1924, Toastmasters International has helped people from diverse backgrounds become more confident speakers, communicators and leaders. For information about local Toastmasters clubs, please visit www.toastmasters.org.