Base director to leave helm

The Newport Sea Base’s program director plans to resign his post

today, citing a poor working relationship with one of his superiors

and what he called “a lack of support to operate programs.”

Knowlton Shore, a Newport Beach resident who had been in his

position since February 2004, on Wednesday notified Sea Base

volunteers and colleagues of his decision in a letter.

In the note, he said he was resigning “in protest over

mismanagement by the Scout Executive, Les Baron.”

Shore, 27, said he received an “expected performance” mark --

similar to a rating of “adequate” -- in his most recent quarterly

review, given early last month. About a week and half ago, Shore said

he received a letter noting “unsatisfactory work performance” and a

lack of managerial skills.

Among Shore’s complaints were that Baron, who oversees scouting in

Orange County and who was previously Shore’s direct supervisor,

failed to articulate his dissatisfaction with Shore’s job performance

in person before the letter was sent.

“I was very discouraged,” Shore said. “There is a problem when my

efforts are not acknowledged.”

In his letter, Shore added: “I cannot succeed in a hostile

negative environment.”

Lara Fisher, director of marketing and educational services at the

Orange County Council, Boy Scouts of America, which owns and operates

the Sea Base, said she could not comment on specifics of Shore’s job

performance.

Shore said that in a phone call on Wednesday, Baron told him the

Sea Base would be better off if he wasn’t program director. Fisher

said council management did not pressure Shore to resign.

“I’m sure he had frustrations with his job,” Fisher said. “Like

everyone, there were certain aspects of his job that he could have

improved upon.... But if I had lacked confidence in him, I would have

had spoken to him about it.”

Employees at the Sea Base report directly to Fisher, a

cabinet-level member with the Boy Scouts Council. She and Baron

typically work on quarterly reviews together.

This spring and summer, while Sea Base Executive Director

Catherine Malm was on a four-month leave of absence, Shore said he

picked up many of her duties.

Ian Vickers, sailing chair of the executive board that advises the

Newport Sea Base, said Shore did a “tremendous job of jumping in when

the director was gone during the busiest part of the year.”

Vickers said he was taken by surprise with the resignation

announcement.

Shore said there was little effort made by council executives to

meet with him while he had extra responsibilities. Fisher, who became

Shore’s supervisor this summer, said she met with him for three hours

every week to discuss job-related topics.

The Sea Base offers educational programs year-round for youth

interested in learning nautical skills and boat-operating techniques.

Shore was charged with running the popular Newport Sea Base summer

program and a program held aboard the 100-year-old Argus vessel.

Though Shore acknowledged he had room to grow in his position, he

did not shoulder the blame for recent attendance marks. He said more

than 1,600 people participated in the Sea Base programs this summer

-- a figure that he said should have been more than 2,000.

“In an ideal situation, if I had enough support, I could have

explored other avenues of marketing the programs,” he said.

Fisher said Shore never approached her about obtaining additional

resources. Ralph Whitford, a longtime Sea Base volunteer, said Shore

was a dedicated employee.

“He’s an outstanding person, who has done a good job, but you

could see the handwriting on the wall,” Whitford said.

Shore, who had previously been a sailing instructor at the Sea

Base, said he still believes in the Boy Scout ideals and would like

to stay involved in a teaching capacity.

“It was a difficult decision,” Shore said. “I’ve made a lot of

friends in the community that I’m going to miss.”

Added Fisher: “We wish him great success in his future endeavors.”

QUESTION

Do you think the Newport Sea Base is being managed properly? Call

our Readers Hotline at (714) 966-4664 or send e-mail to

o7dailypilot@latimes.com. f7Please spell your name and tell us your

hometown and phone numbers for verification purposes only.

* ELIA POWERS is the enterprise and general assignment reporter.

He may be reached at (714) 966-4623 or by e-mail at

o7elia.powers@latimes.comf7.