Thanks again to Barbara Wood for her excellent reporting. There is just one sentence that could be more accurately phrased. The report says: "Filoli has not had good luck retaining executive directors in the recent past." The problem is not one of "retention" as the recent Executive Directors have been "let go." The problem is one of an inappropriate selection in the first place followed by an ill advised support of an Executive Director who is performing poorly. The job of selecting and supporting falls on the shoulders of the Governing Board.

It is sincerely hoped that the Governing Board who has not selected wisely the last three rounds does a better job next time.

Now let's get back the experienced staff who left because of this debacle!

Thank you Barbara Wood for being on top of things and reporting on this matter. For those who care about the future of Filoli, it is certainly a positive change to no longer have Ms. D’Agusta at the helm. She was clearly not capable of continuing the harmony among volunteers, staff, and leadership that had been in place for so many years before her term.

Rumors of impending dismissal and the Governing Board beginning a search for a new director have been around for several weeks. Ms. D’Agusta’s sudden departure just two weeks before the beginning of Filoli’s largest fund raising event of the year and during Filoli’s first year of centennial celebration suggests substantial discord between she and the Board.

If she was fired as the available information seems to suggest, the question that must be asked is, “What took so long?” Filoli’s current leadership, the Executive Committee of the Governing Board lead by Toni Barrack and Heidi Brown, is just as culpable for the process and outcome of the Volunteer Agreement rollout as Ms. D’Agusta. Yes, Ms. D”Agusta conducted the rollout in a highly disrespectful, self-serving, and unprofessional manner. However, even after being notified by so many of the problems, leadership did nothing, but allow the scratching out of one of the most egregious clauses in the Volunteer Agreement.

It would seem that with Ms. D’AGusta’s departure there is a real opportunity for Filoli leadership to come clean, admit they made some major mistakes, and openly meaningfully apologize to those they hurt. Such actions would go a long way toward moving Filoli out of this mess and would constitute, “walking the talk.” The code of ethics developed and approved by this leadership for Filoli calls for just such actions.

Editor's note: Please don't use the same name -- "Volunteer" -- that an earlier poster on this thread used.

This is not a surprise to anyone; it was an expensive 'mistake' to hire (again) someone who was not a good 'fit', who systematically reduced a superior level of performance and service through sheer ignorance and incompetence. And she was vetted by the same people who brought in the previous 'poor-fit' Directors. All of those people who 'vetted' and supported Cynthia -- and WERE AWARE of her deficiencies -- and how she alienated pretty much everyone (staff and volunteers) should remove themselves posthaste. The dedicated and talented staff deserve better, Filoli volunteers (past and present) deserve better, the legacy of Filoli, the Roth family and the Bourn family -- all deserve better!

Perhaps the Governing Board needs a cleansing and restructuring. Five executive directors in ten years implies the board is not fulfilling it duties effectively or properly. Is being on the governing board considered to be more of a social and status position? If that is the case then a new board is needed.

As a long standing volunteer at Filoli I was very saddened by the events of 2014 and hopeful that this action is just the first step in trying to reunite the "family" that Filoli was.
One matter that has not been mentioned is the role of the National Trust (the owners of the property) in the recent events. I often wonder if the missteps were not all local, but were indeed instigated by The Trust?

How tragic that such an historic and remarkable property, with a dedicated volunteer base, cannot secure the caliber of executive leadership it deserves.
Filoli is magnificent and I hope its next director will be one who will honor and inspire the staff.

I am delighted to see that Ms. D'Agosta has left Filoli. Her tenure was painful for volunteers and staff. Excellent staff left and many long-time volunteers could not stay on when confronted by her poor communication and inappropriate goals.

As a 23 year volunteer who resigned from my Filoli positions,I am relieved to find that I can once again enjoy the special beauties of Filoli and the many extraordinary people who make it the delightful place it is. Now I can renew my membership and financial support. It's time to celebrate the collaboration of staff and volunteers once again.

I love Filoli. To clarify, I love the gardens, mansion, wildlife, and the acres of property that serve as a blissful oasis for many of us in the hectic, overpopulated Bay Area. What I don’t love – and what is so contrary to the positive physical environment – is the nasty dysfunction among many of the humans who directly infect Filoli with negativity. My relationship with Filoli has changed over the years. I’ve always been a member and donor, but have also served my time as an employee and volunteer. Excited to report for duty in paradise each day, my heart would sink pretty quickly due to petty gossip and discontent spewed loudly and indiscriminately among my colleagues. How, I’ve repeatedly asked myself, can a diseased organism develop and grow within such a beautiful sacred space? The discord has been a long-term issue; Ms. D’Agosta is not to blame. Conflict and disrespect have become commonplace – staff, volunteers, board members. When board members engage in dissension with staff and volunteers, they’re sending the message that it’s acceptable. They’re modeling the behavior and inviting others to follow. Five executive directors within ten years = open season on five targets. Someone previously commented that “rumors of impending dismissal and the Governing Board beginning a search for a new director have been around for several weeks.” Shame on any board members who shared that information and any dissatisfaction with Ms. D’Agosta’s performance. Who leaked the organization’s email to Barbara Wood within an hour of distribution? Who have I overheard, over many years, whispering at events or in Visitor Services, the café, gift shop, or mansion? Employees, volunteers, and board members. Long before Ms. D’Agosta set foot on the precious property, many of those invested in Filoli have gossiped aggressively about executive directors. Why? I’ve thought about that for a long time. Like no other company for which I’ve ever worked, Filoli relies on people who are resistant to change. Yet another new director arrives and wants to improve operations, but the roadblocks come up, the bickering resumes, and clashes erupt. Filoli was built in 1915, and it appears very few want to adopt policies or practices from the current century. Filoli isn’t a business, so much as a social club of, primarily, seniors from wealthy area neighborhoods – most who believe Filoli is theirs. They resent efforts of directors and a handful of employees who see the advantages of changes to modernize, streamline, organize, and hold people accountable. Instead of supporting and embracing the new, so many at Filoli cling to the old, and the director becomes the bad guy, instead of the motivated leader with good intentions. With the current board and volunteer corps, I don’t think any director has a shot at success, unless he/she refrains from voicing any goals or suggesting any changes. Filoli will remain stagnant, nothing new will be expected of employees or volunteers, and visitor counts will drop – as the aging membership isn’t being replenished by the next generation at a rate capable of sustaining Filoli through volunteerism and donations. Filoli needs a transfusion of new blood, new life, new ideas. It needs restructuring. Not only does it have one ineffective board, it has two. Thirty-one on the Governing Board (excessive!) and I don’t know how many on the Friends Board. The boards each have their own priorities, and when you throw the employees and volunteers into the mix, a director has way too many resistant people to convince and please. Everything takes forever to be approved or implemented. No one seems to be entirely clear on the division of power. Board members involve themselves in human resource issues without the knowledge or inclusion of the director. Add in the crippling effect of the direct disrespect and indirect grumbling, and you’ve got an impossible job. Five candidates were deemed acceptable to hire and then blamed for what resulted from circumstances often beyond their control. It’s a no-win situation. The obsolete boards need to be replaced, or at least refreshed with new members who have current business experience, a 2015 perspective, a penchant for collaboration, and utter respect for confidentiality. The organizational structure needs to be re-defined. All board members and department managers and the director need to set an example of a professional, respectful, supportive, forward-thinking team, and gossip and negativity can no longer be modeled or tolerated. Hold everyone accountable for their words and actions. Embrace innovation and reward initiative. Attract new members and volunteers of all ages, ethnicities, and socio-economic status. Lower admission prices so more guests can appreciate nature and marvel at the magic of Holiday Traditions. Step into the 21st century. Otherwise, Filoli is going to fade away. The Bourns and Roths created a very special place that is generously shared with us. Halt the pettiness, the blaming, the bad behavior, and instead “FIght for a just cause, LOve your fellow man/woman, and LIve a good life.” Filoli was intended to be a welcoming sanctuary, not a battlefield. Quit whining, and be the kind do-gooders you think you are. Be the good stewards we’re expected to be.

I would like to urge anyone who has all ready made comments about Cynthia D'Agosta to read the above comments from 'My Sanctuary' and then realize that Cynthia is hardly to blame for all that has happened in her short tenure. This is a well written and thoughtful piece describing the vast dysfunctions going on. Cynthia did not have a chance to succeed as she was often met with resistence at every corner. While a beautiful spot to view and enjoy, there is much discord underneath the surface and it affects all who are involved. A sorry state. Best wishes to whoever takes on this position and whatever they do, don't try to change a thing cause look what has happened to the last ED's. Good luck.