Lisle residents honored with Pillar Awards for good character
Almost all Lisle Character Counts Pillar Award honorees are surprised when told their actions merit such recognition. The four who will receive Pillar Awards today are no exception.
Each reflects one of the six pillars of good character: trustworthiness, caring, citizenship, respect, responsibility and fairness.
Meg Sima
Being a consummate volunteer brought Lisle resident Meg Sima to work with Daybreak of Lisle, the religious program at St. Joan of Arc Church and the schools her two sons attend.
Her dedication to Cub Scout Pack 108 as the den mother of two dens at Faith United Methodist Church in Lisle earned her a Pillar Award in the adult category for trustworthiness.
"I love my Cub Scouts," Sima said. "They are just the greatest group of kids. Seeing them grow is a big reward."
Sima is the driving force to bring a variety of programs to the troop. As the den leader for four years, Sima makes sure her Cub Scouts enjoy the scouting experience.
As camp coordinator, she headed up the group's first outdoor camp out in 2006 and added a second one in the fall the following year. In addition to overseeing the summer day camp, Sima began a Webelos camp and a hiking club.
"You will never regret it," Sima tells those who might volunteer as a Scout leader. "You want the kids to grow up to be productive citizens, so we need to be role models for them now."
Mike Most
A chewed leash hanging from a wandering dog's neck gave Lisle Public Works employee Mike Most the clue that things were amiss.
"When I read his address on the tag, I realized he was quite a distance from his home," Most said.
The Good Samaritan drove Kramer the dog home to prevent him from serious injury when crossing a number of major intersections.
When no one was home, Most brought the friendly pet to the Lisle police station for safekeeping. Upon his return to working forestry duty and digging out a drainage ditch, Most encountered a distraught dog sitter with half a leash. He was able to tell her the situation and all was resolved.
Most has a number of pets. Once when he nursed a squirrel back to health, he provided the animal with hollowed-out logs and found the little critter had a fondness for chocolate.
Kramer's owners, who were dealing with a family emergency, are so grateful they nominated Most for a Pillar Award. The committee agreed and will honor Most in the adult category for caring.
Gladys Roman
Lisle resident Gladys Roman will receive a Pillar Award for responsibility in the adult category. Roman decided to become involved when her disposal service began raising prices along with adding an administration and fuel charge to its bill. Roman wanted her 110-home subdivision to have control of what was happening.
"To have a say in any price increases, we knew we would need a contract," Roman said. "We also wanted a sticker program because at the time we could only get a big tote and that was not necessary for our seniors or widows."
For more than a year, Roman and her committee researched the issues, talked to key people in other municipalities, attended numerous meetings and distributed pertinent information.
"I took a couple of surveys of our community and got quotes from other community contracts," Roman said.
Roman has a considerable stack of correspondence showing how her involvement made a difference. She readily admits she never knew it would be as much work as it was, but she is pleased with the results and new low price.
"Now Lisle Township is one of the early townships to have contracts with a trash hauler," Roman said. "It is an example to other townships."
Rob Bollendorf
If Lisle resident Rob Bollendorf is successful, one day the village will have a network of safe bike and pedestrian trails. He created the Lisle Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force in 2007 to promote the idea.
The committee's plan is for 34.5 miles of new on-street and off-street bikeway and pedestrian paths.
As a longtime bike enthusiast, Bollendorf knows the benefits of riding, the cost-saving advantages to alternative modes of transportation and the need to provide residents of all ages with a safe way to travel throughout the community.
After interviewing school administrators, Bollendorf helped secure a Safe Route to School Grant to have sidewalks and paths placed near Lisle schools.
"We have no shovel-ready projects yet," Bollendorf said. "But we do have a plan and know what we are going to do as soon as finances become available."
Because June is National Bike Month, the task force's Bike to Metra program will include free coffee for anyone who bikes to the Lisle train station on June 17.
Bollendorf's next step is to secure proper signage of existing paths within Lisle. He hopes this year to see progress on the DuPage County-Benedictine Connector plan that will connect the university to the Lisle train station.
Bollendorf will receive a Pillar for citizenship in the adult category.
Bollendorf, Most, Roman and Sima will receive their awards in a ceremony at the Lisle village board meeting at 7:30 p.m. today at village hall, 925 Burlington Ave.
Saying thank-you for a good deed is what the Lisle Character Counts Alliance Pillar Awards are all about. Anyone may nominate a student, adult, business or organization for consideration. The only requirement is that the nominee lives, works or attends school within Lisle. The nominations process is ongoing. Details and forms are at villageoflisle.org, at village hall and at the Lisle Library.
The Pillars recognize that good character comes in a wide variety of forms and, at its best, enriches our community.
• Joan Broz writes about Lisle. E-mail her at jgbroz@yahoo.com.
<p class="factboxheadblack">If you go</p> <p class="News"><b>What:</b> Pillar Awards ceremony</p> <p class="News"><b>When:</b> During the Lisle village board meeting at 7:30 p.m. today </p> <p class="News"><b>Where:</b> Lisle Village Hall, 925 Burlington Ave.</p> <p class="breakhead">Character alliance </p> <p class="News">The Lisle Community Character Alliance is in need of enthusiastic members. You could be part of the next Pillar Award process. </p> <p class="News">The organization is a partnership of schools, government agencies, village leaders and community volunteers working to teach, encourage, advocate and model good character in the Lisle community by promoting the Six Pillars of Character: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship. </p> <p class="News">The Character Counts organization created the Pillar Awards, sponsors Lisle Teens With Character and shares in the Scarecrow Scramble 5K run and walk. The group also collects gently used shoes for Save Your Soles and new pairs of socks for Sock Smiles. </p> <p class="News">The next meeting is at 9:30 a.m. June 23 in the community room at the Lisle Police Station, 5040 Lincoln Ave. Contact Patty Cavalier at (630) 271-4144 for details. </p>