More changes at Newport Sea Base

Executive director Catherine Malm leaves her post just a week after the special events director departs.More personnel changes have occurred at the Newport Sea Base in the wake of former program director Knowlton Shore’s resignation last month. Sea base executive director Catherine Malm left her post effective Wednesday.

Her departure comes about one week after the facility’s special events director’s last day.

Malm said Wednesday that it was time for her to try a new line of work and that she left her position with the Sea Base in order to author a children’s book. Malm recently gave birth to her second son, and she noted that her foray into writing would give her an opportunity to work from home.

Malm spent five years working at the Sea Base, starting out as its program director, she said. She expressed confidence for the Sea Base’s future after her departure.

“There are opportunities here that children won’t find elsewhere,” Malm said.

The Sea Base is operated by the Boy Scouts of America’s Orange County Council. The harborside facility is home to the tall ship Argus and functions as a place for youngsters to learn boating and sailing skills.

Shore resigned from the program director’s post Sept. 30. At the time, Shore said he had a poor working relationship with county Scout Executive Les Baron and that in his view, the Sea Base’s efforts did not receive enough support.

Between Shore’s and Malm’s resignations, former Sea Base special events director Brenna Cleeland spent her last day with the Sea Base on Oct. 18, Orange County Council marketing director Lara Fisher said.

Sea Base employees report to Fisher. She said the nonprofit Boy Scouts could not compete with a job offer that Cleeland received from a computer company.

Fisher also expressed her hope that the public would not perceive the departures of three Sea Base employees in one month as anything more than a coincidence.

“It’s actually just kind of strange timing,” Fisher said.

The Boy Scouts have already appointed a current employee to Cleeland’s former job, Fisher said. Shore’s and Malm’s former positions remain vacant, and the scouts hope to find replacements by 2006.

Shore said the Sea Base’s operations will not change substantially despite the forthcoming turnover in its management.

“The mission of the Sea Base is very static,” she said.