THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, March 27, 1996 TAG: 9603270530
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PERRY PARKS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CAMDEN LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines
Some ``philosophical differences'' with board members and a belief that they had created stable organizations led Carolyn and George McKecuen to leave the Watermark Association of Artisans and its sister organization last week, George McKecuen said Tuesday.
The couple, whose work put the crafts cooperative and its nonprofit training arm into national and international spotlights, resigned after a quarter-century of combined service.
``At any time with an organization, there are always philosophical differences,'' said George McKecuen, who since 1988 has directed the Northeastern Community Development Corp., formerly NEED. ``And that's to be understood. At some point, you have to make a decision.''
Watermark, run by Carolyn McKecuen since 1981, finds markets around the world for crafts made by local, often poor, artisans. The Northeastern Community Development Corp. is a nonprofit group that trains Watermark members in their crafts.
Both organizations have been recognized internationally as a model for helping disadvantaged people provide for themselves.
Hard work and frequent travel over the years have taken their toll on Carolyn McKecuen, her husband said. And the couple had planned to step down once they felt the organizations could outlast their leadership, he said.
``Carolyn really created a wonderful thing, and we burned her out,'' said Winnie Wood, a longtime Watermark supporter and chairwoman of the Northeastern CDC board. ``She has had to carry a big burden of making this work, and she's done a beautiful time of it.''
When McKecuen assumed control of Watermark, it was tens of thousands of dollars in debt and on the verge of collapse. By 1994, the organization had topped $700,000 in annual sales and was a leader in its field.
The Chicago-based MacArthur Foundation recognized Carolyn McKecuen for her work in 1994 with one of its 20 annual fellowships. The $300,000 grant came with no strings attached.
George McKecuen said Tuesday that the staffs of Watermark and its training group were ready to to stand on their own. A $900,000 grant received last year to add warehouse and training space to the Watermark headquarters in Camden will provide financial stability, he said.
``With a competent staff . . . and with the funding in place, the organizations should be secure without having any difficulties,'' McKecuen said. ``They should be able to take off and do really well.''
McKecuen said he and his wife were proud of helping people take control of their lives by teaching them skills and marketing their work. ``It's not a handout,'' he said, ``but it's enabling people to help themselves.''
The couple have already had a chance to relax since announcing their resignations.
``Over the weekend we rode to Portsmouth and just looked around,'' McKecuen said. ``It's just nice to get back and have a real life.''
The Watermark and Northeastern CDC boards are not yet ready to select replacements for the McKecuens, Wood said.
``We need time to assess the skills and the type of person we need,'' she said. by CNB