Unsung Heroes #3

 

Unsung Heroes #3

Karen Klemp

By Gwen Blakley Kinsler

 Karen is a long-time member of CGOA since 1994; as with many things in her life, she marched to her own drummer and became a Chain Link Newsletter subscriber when she lived in Germany with the Foreign Service. At the time, she was able to buy crochet magazines in the PX. The magazine she chose had an ad for the newsletter and she immediately subscribed!

 After dropping out of college, Karen Eastman decided she did not want to live in Ottawa, Illinois, her hometown. At the suggestion of a friend in the late sixties, she achieved the Foreign Service qualifications and joined “to see the world!” Her first overseas posting brought her to Liberia; it was there that she met a young Foreign Service Officer on his initial assignment, as well. Steve Klemp became Karen’s husband in 1975, and they launched an exciting life of work and travel.

Karen Klemp. Past President

By the time she officially became a CGOA Member in 1996, Karen had been an avid crocheter for some time. Her grandmother had taught her as a child, but when she picked it up again in her twenties, she saw a beautiful skirt and top in McCall’s Needlework magazine that she really wanted to make!  When asking Granny, reportedly a little “crabby,” for help the reply was “Make it yourself!” Karen did just that and recalls that she wore the outfit with pride for years!

That same year Karen and Steve were posted in Washington, DC and they both attended their first conference in 1997. She also attended the Post-Conference CYC Teacher Certification program. Many long-time members will remember Steve as he attended 25 consecutive conferences with Karen, attended the banquets; learned to crochet in Karen’s “Spouse Class;” learned to carve a crochet hook in Nancy Nehring’s class; and at times, stepped out to visit cities’ highlights!

After retiring in Washington, D.C. in1999, Karen was selected three months later as the President of CGOA! You may wonder how someone fairly new to the organization would be undaunted by this challenging volunteer position! Karen was promoted to the position of Foreign Service Officer in 1983, and as such she headed up Sections that handled budget, personnel management and security at Embassies and Consulates around the world.  She also believes that in Foreign Service she became an experienced manager and gained the ability to help people deal with their problems.

Rolled together, these experiences led to leadership skills valuable to CGOA while she served from 2000-2002 as President. She says, “My two-year term exposed me to a new concept that I didn’t know existed: the magnitude of interest, the love and passion for crochet that others have is truly amazing! I thought I was the only one that felt that way.” Inspiration from crochet clearly mingled with Karen’s career in the six countries in which Karen was posted. She believes that her last assignment in Zagreb was especially rewarding. “As a Refugee Coordinator, I funded and oversaw a program that paid Bosnian and Croatian refugees to knit and crochet clothes for children in Bosnia. We bought yarn for the women; and patterns were provided by staff members from the International Rescue Committee.”

In addition to her role President, Karen also served on the Education Committee for four years and helped to select conference teachers and answered inquiries about crochet techniques. She started a CGOA chapter in Fairfax County, Virginia: “Innovative Crocheters Chapter” and was the first Liaison to CGOA.

Today, Karen is employed as a Master Teacher for candidates seeking Teacher Certification from the Craft Yarn Council. From attending many conferences, she has made life-long friends through CGOA and keeps in touch with past students and“crochet-aholic” friends. Now living in Wilmington Delaware since 2023, her life has been enriched by a Fiber Group that welcomes all fiber crafts. Karen is often  asked by knitters to teach crochet and is willing to share her knowledge with anyone. A fan of fingering weight yarn especially when it is hand-dyed, she sells her original design patterns at Ravelry.com/designers/Karen-Klemp, and her username is almostamy.

Today Karen is happy she has time to share her passion for traveling with Steve as well as staying in touch with friends around the world!

Many thanks to this Unsung Hero who contributed so generously to CGOA! During many years as a Member Volunteer, Karen carried out the core ideals of the Mission:

To provide education

Embrace innovation

Create connections

While setting a national standard for crochet

 To all members: I am looking for future “Unsung Heroes” to interview. If your chapter has a member who you think deserves this honor,please contact me at crochetkween@gmail.com

 Portions of this article were taken from an article I wrote for the Chain Link Newsletter, issue June/July 2000.