This advice and more can be found in Finding Your Voice: This is the time for the speaker's ego to be on a leash, a time for appropriate 'humility', defined by the Macquarie Dictionary as a quality of being humble, a modest sense of one's own significance'. No Uriah Heep posturing, just a clean simple appreciation that completely spotlights the recipient.
The speech should be short and totally relevant to the recipient's contribution. It is desirable to touch on highlights of the speech or work they have given but it should in no way be a critique or evaluation of the endeavour. Those being thanked should always go away with the firm knowledge that their contribution was valued.
Mrs Mary Atkins, Speaker and Author.
