John Zimmer, winner of the European Toastmaster award, with coach and daughter Kristen. Photo ©2008 Alexandra Zimmer

Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – “My Terminator speech was not an icebreaker, it was a bone breaker,” says John Zimmer of his first place International Toastmasters presentation in Bamberg, Germany 15 November. Zimmer, a Canadian who works at the International Organization for Migration, battled his way, mentally and physically, through three knockout rounds with eight finalists from 18 Toastmasters clubs in Europe, but the physical effort had to do with the fact that his speech featured Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Terminator.

Zimmer told GenevaLunch that “comedy is hard work,” and no, he’s not yet too worried that people will  expect Jerry Seinfeld when they meet him.

“I consider myself a funny person but I’m not sure I’m the funniest person in Europe,” he says of the title the Toastmasters gave him. Speeches had to be under 7.5 minutes and were judged on several criteria including speech development and value, physical movements, vocal variety and audience response.

The winner and his 13-year-old daughter Kristen, who accompanied him as his coach, spent two months researching and rehearsing before the big night. When the awards were handed out, the winner was invited to step up to the stage with his hard-working coach. “On the train back to Geneva afterwards, I asked Kristen if she could remember what I had said. It did not surprise me one bit that she could repeat the whole speech verbatim. When we got home, she delivered it again to her mother over supper,” says Zimmer.

Zimmer is a member of the Geneva Toastmasters Club and he is also an active member of the Geneva Writers Group.

Ed. note: International Geneva Toastmasters is one of more than 8,600 Toastmasters clubs worldwide affiliated with Toastmasters International, which promotes excellence in all areas of public speaking. Meetings are held at the International School of Geneva (Nations Campus in Geneva) every first and third Wednesday of the month.

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