Southern Sierran
Chapter says goodbye to Sierran editor

By Nate Springer

Dominique Dibbell, who served editor of the Southern Sierran for three years, departed from the Chapter in February. Dibbell accepted a position as a web editor on the team that runs Kaiser Permanente’s website in Pasadena.

Reaching more than 55,000 members in the Los Angeles and Orange County areas, the Southern Sierran has seen numerous improvements under Dibbell’s leadership. “She’s brought a better balance of subject material to the paper that covered conservation, outings and other facets of the Chapter,” said Sherry Ross, volunteer Chairperson of the Chapter’s Editorial Board.

Dibbell oversaw a redesign of the newsletter, added a staff of volunteer writers and illustrators, and introduced monthly feature issues such as water, food, and gear. The results were notable, as in the case of a 2004 issue on water that was so high in demand outside the chapter, the issue had to be re-run for higher distribution.

“It was a great experience working for the Club. I was daily inspired by the dedication and creativity and good humor of the volunteers,” said Dibbell of her position supervising an all-volunteer staff. Despite the challenges posed by the absence of full-time staff, Dibbell said her experience has been rewarding. “I really like working with people who are volunteers, because they’re in a place where they’re giving as a passion, not just a job,” she said.

Dibbell will be honored with the Angeles Chapter Staff Award at the May 7 awards banquet. The award is given for extraordinary contributions to the Sierra Club from an employee of the Angeles Chapter. It is a rare distinction that is not handed out frequently.

“I am honored, almost to the point of embarrassment, to receive the award. I was just doing my job, whereas these other honorees are giving of their time to preserve the environment,” Dibbell said in upon hearing news of the award.

Dibbell is an accomplished playwright and actor, winning numerous awards and critical accolades with her theater company, the Five Lesbian Brothers. The company premiered their play, Oedipus at Palm Springs, off-Broadway last summer. The editor-playwright took a leave of absence for three months to perform in the play.

In her absence this summer, USC journalism student Jessica Parks served as interim editor. Parks has returned as interim editor again until a permanent editor is hired.

Dibbell’s new position shortens her commute to work, creating more opportunities for her to put her environmental values in practice. “I was thinking of trying to bicycle to work,” she said about the next leg of her life. The chapter wishes her the best and thanks her for her contributions to making Southern California’s environment a better place.

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