table topic

Today I was the Table Topics Master at my Toastmaster's club. The topic I selected was collecting. Here's how I introduced the topic:

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Today’s table topic is collecting. Everybody collects something, and I don’t mean collecting debt or collecting dust. I’m talking about your collection of teapots, southwestern art, ceramic pigs, coins, antique books, and so on.

Please tell us something about what you collect. Or you can talk about something you used to collect. Or you may even discuss what you would like to collect, if space and money was not an object. 

What about you, ____________________? [each person had a chance to answer, then I shared my own collecting story]

I collect penguin figurines, or at least I used to quite avidly. And not just as a child (although that’s when I started), but as an adult as well. In fact, my most recent acquisition is this glass penguin bead I purchased at an art festival this summer. (below) Believe it or not, I actually have smaller glass penguin figurines in my collection.

But, if I had the means to buy it and the space to display it, I would collect contemporary art. Especially art created by artists I know. I would collect art that affects me, makes me feel good, or has a positive or intriguing message.

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Update: The Table Topic round went quite well, I think. Each person had an interesting collecting story to share. I learned that my fellow Toastmasters collect quilting fabric, old coins and foreign currency, rocks, and salt-and-pepper shakers. It was a good teaser for my speech on collecting that I will give in two weeks, and it provided me with some good ideas I hadn't considered.