A well-earned honor for one of Wheeling Township's administrators

The holidays are a busy time for Wheeling Township officials, but last month they carved out some time to celebrate one of their own.

At the annual convention of township officials of Illinois, held in Springfield, one of Wheeling Township's administrators earned state honors.

Sue Ellen Burlini, Wheeling Township's senior and disabilities coordinator, was named "Senior Director of the Year" for her work in coordinating special programs and monthly forums.

She attended the convention with Wheeling Township Supervisor Michael Schroeder, as well as Josephine Stellato, finance and administration director for the township, who submitted her nomination.

"(Burlini) is a tireless advocate for senior citizens, and she continuously strives to make services available to meet the needs of this growing population," Stellato wrote.

"Her personnel file is filled with notes of gratitude praising her accomplishments," Stellato continued, "and complimenting her for the compassion and respect she affords the people she serves."

The numbers alone tell part of the tale. Under Burlini's leadership, Wheeling Township provided 23,184 bus and medical van rides last year, as well as 16,771 Meals on Wheels and 1,514 individual health screenings.

But it is the special events and informational programming she has developed that have made her a standout, her colleagues say.

Some of the annual programs Burlini coordinates include: a flu shot clinic and Senior Celebration Day, both for seniors, a Halloween fun fair for children with disabilities and a luncheon for Meals on Wheels volunteers.

Every month, Burlini presents educational forms for seniors, ranging from "Connecting with your grandchildren" to "Medicare, Part D."

Burlini started the Visually Impaired Support Group, which provides a network for seniors and other residents dealing with lowered vision, while also developing the A-OK Partnership, connecting teens with low-income seniors in need of home maintenance.

Another one of Burlini's ideas was to publish a Handyman Directory of contractors willing to provide services to seniors at a fair price.

Burlini started as a part-time employee with the township in 1994, but now, as a department director, she manages 14 employees and carries out some of the township's most vital programs.