I once made the mistake of attending a city council meeting followed by public commentary. It was horrible. People rambling on personal pet peeves, talking too fast or insulting the council as if it would make a difference. Most of the comments were forgettable because of poor delivery.
The fear of speaking in public is right up there with death and taxes. It can be done well with a little preparation.
Write a script, keep it relevant. Know your subject and do research. Practice your speech out loud, in front of friends or family to get comfortable with your material and how to present yourself. Keep it under the time limit.
Practice is important to develop good body language. Stand up straight, speak clearly, slowly and with confidence. Make eye contact so you aren't looking down at your script the whole time- you have it memorized, right?
Know the guidelines and subjects on the agenda you wish to address. Have several points ready if someone else already touches on your issue. Reference their point before adding your POV.
Know your audience. Avoid personal attacks, snide opinions or be disrespectful. Oddly enough, people don't like to be lectured, scolded or told they are stupid (even if they are-resist the temptation).
You are not a trained performer so mistakes and goofs are natural, don't dwell on them or offer lengthy apologies. Have confidence in what you say but stay humble.
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