I picked this up at a conference I attended recently.  It spoke to me.
                        RISK IT
To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out to another is to risk involvement.
To express feelings is to risk exposing your true self.
To place you ideas, your dreams before the crowd is to risk their loss.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To hope is to risk despair.
To try is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken:
because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing, does nothing and will have nothing.
He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he simply cannot learn, feel,
change, grow, love, live.
Only a person who risks is free.

Put this in your pocket and remember it when you speak to a group you feel
may be hostile to your message.