Speakers are given two minutes each, and you may want to do
a test run before the meeting to make sure what you want to
say fits comfortably within that time.
Hint: Say just one thing that will stand out for the
commission members instead of trying to fit as many ideas
as possible into your two minutes. What you say will be
more memorable and more persuasive if it's brief, personal,
heartfelt, and not clouded by less unique points that may
also be brought up by others.
If the end-of-two-minutes beeper rings while you're still
speaking, interrupt your planned remarks by saying something
like "thank you for your time" and yielding to the next
speaker. Commission members will be grateful to you if you
don't go beyond your time, and they're the people we're
trying to convince.
If you're planning to speak, sit as close as possible to an
aisle. If your name is called as an upcoming speakers, or
when you suspect you're about to be called to speak, move to
one of the seats just behind the speakers' desks. Then when
it's your time, sit at one of these desks, press the button
on the microphone to turn it on (green light), and state
your name before you start your remarks.
Enjoy this opportunity to be heard!