Karen Walpole’s journey to UUFE began when she talked with a UU then moved to Easton.

Or maybe it was decades earlier, when the TV broke.

Read Karen’s answers to the Five Big Questions.  Then you decide.

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UU liFE:  Where were you raised, and how?

Karen:  I was brought up on Long Island in a pretty typical middle class home with three brothers and a sister. My mother was Irish Catholic and we were brought up in that tradition and with that family culture. My father’s family was of English, protestant decent, but my father converted to marry my mother. Although my father worked for IBM as a systems analyst, there wasn’t much extra money, and second hand was the norm most of the time. Books and ideas were important, as was education. Our television was often “broken” and when it wasn’t, watching was discouraged.

How have you made your living?

After getting a Journalism Degree at the University of Maryland, I worked for a couple of years writing advertising copy and doing some paste-up work. Then I “temporarily” went into promotional products and printing sales in order to put my husband through college. I have continued to do that, part of the time owning my own company, for the past 37 years. Over the last few years, I have combined that with freelance writing, selling advertising for the Star Democrat and for a yellow page directory. During the past year, I have combined promotional product sales with a part-time marketing/editing job and some freelance writing.

What’s the most remarkable thing you’ve done?

I would say that the best thing I have done was to raise two amazing daughters. They are both compassionate, accomplished and completely comfortable with who they are. I guess a second thing would be starting and running my own company for 13 years.

 

What’s the Next Big Thing for you?

I’m not sure about the next big thing. I have thought about getting a full time writing or marketing management position but haven’t decided for sure. I recently had my first Gallery Show for my Collages and I would love to do that again.

You did a gallery show in Annapolis in September as one of the The Renaissance Four collage group at the Academy Art Museum here in Easton.  Can you say more about that?

The group meets once a month for a day of work on individual projects. We give each other feedback, share techniques and trade materials. We are waiting to hear about a couple of other gallery possibilities for later this year.

How did UUFE and you find each other?

About ten years ago, I found I was just going through the motions at church and started to look around at other spiritual paths. I knew someone who was Unitarian Universalist and after speaking to him about it, I visited UU Easton. The first few times, I wasn’t sure it was a match for me but I eventually realized that it was the right place for me.

How do you serve UUFE and why?

At UUFE, I sing in the choir and keep the music library in order. I worked on the music committee for a while and help out with a variety of music events. Before I took my most recent, second job, I helped make and deliver lunches once a month. I was involved in preparing and participating in a service last spring.