odaat I have a feeling that the type of chair you are talking about is not what we call chairing a meeting in my area. Basically in my area the chair of a meeting simply leads the meeting, a chair coodinates all the readings, AA related announcements, passes the basket and if a discussion meeting ask for a topic and dose the first share on the topic, or if a speakers meeting introduces the speaker and if a literature meeting starts the reading.
My first time was a small discussion meeting and I did not know I was leading until I showed up and they told me I was leading the meeting!!! No time to be nervous!!! LOL The good thing was they had a script for me to follow. Mine went well, but the meeting was a small one with a lot of sobriety, 4 members have over 30 years each, I was probably the one with the least amount of time sober.... if I recall correctly I had about 3-4 months sober.
odaat I just read your second post, ananda gave the best advice I know of when it comes to speaking.... let it come from the heart, say a prayer just before the meeting starts and you will be amazed.
In regards to what you can give........... well the best format is from the BB:
Quote:
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Our stories disclose in a general way what we used to be like, what happened, and what we are like now. If you have decided you want what we have and are willing to go to any length to get it -- then you are ready to take certain steps.
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Spend a little time on what you used to be like, a little more time on what happened, then the remainder of the time on what it is like now. If there is one single person in that meeting that is struggling or has less time then you, if you just turn what you are going to say over to your HP, you will say exactly what at least one person in that room needs to hear that night! Trust me when I say you will help at least one person, it may be someone with 20 years for whom the "What it was like" they may be starting to forget, you could be the one that brings back that recollection to them of "What it was like" for them, they may have started to rest on thier laurels and you may say just the thing that gets them back into the thick of thier program.