Sue Bienias and John Cronin of Joliet were honored with the Rotary Club of Joliet’s Silver Eagle Award for exceptional volunteer service last week.  The notable award is designed to recognize individuals 65-years-old and over, who without fanfare, go “beyond the call of duty” in volunteering their time and talent for the good of the community and its citizens.  
 
“The Rotary Club of Joliet is very proud to honor these special senior volunteers with the Silver Eagle Award,” said Bret Mitchell, Joliet Rotary president. “They are not only dedicated to making the community a better place, but they do so quietly - under the radar.  Their values reflect our values as Rotarians – and they do so to the highest degree.”
 
A volunteer at the Rialto Square Theatre, Bienias serves as president of the theatre’s Volunteer Board of Directors. In her volunteer role, the 66-year-old presides over monthly meetings and is the ex-officio member of all committees. She also volunteers as an usher, a hostess for receptions, STAR program concierge and assists cashiers and bartenders behind the bar. Bienias was nominated by Leann Hoffrogge, Rialto’s volunteer and concessions coordinator and sponsored by Joliet Rotarians James Smith, Dave Thornton, and the late Bob Rogina.
 
The second Silver Eagle recipient is 77-year John Cronin. Nominated and sponsored by Joliet Rotarian Kristin Mulvey, Cronin has served over 25 years as a volunteer tour guide for the 150-year-old Cronin School located Joliet Junior College’s main campus. Attending the schoolhouse as a student, Cronin was instrumental to its donation to the Joliet Junior College (JJC) Foundation and has worked diligently on restoration. 
 
Sixty-eight year old Carolyn Dystrup is the final recipient and is being honored for her service to the community, including 13 years of volunteer work at Silver Cross Hospital, and over 8 years of service at the Joliet Area Community Hospice.  Nominated and sponsored by Joliet Rotarian Larry Johnson, Dystrup provides various patient and family support services and is an in-service volunteer. She also serves on the hospital’s Foundation Board, as a Silver Cross Community Trustee. At Hospice, Dystrup serves as a volunteer and board member.
 
The Silver Eagle Award committee includes Joliet Rotarians: Christopher Balaban;  Roxane Geraci-Militello, chair; Mark Griglione, board liaison; Dan Kuska; Ann O'Neill, and Sr. Mary Frances Seeley.