Nominations are open for the 2018 Jane Bierdeman-Fike Humanitarian Award.
The luncheon this year will be noon Dec. 14 in Fulton City Council Chambers, with free admission.
City and county officials are seeking nominations for women in Fulton and Callaway County who make major contributions of their time for social justice, environmental justice, economic equality, community building, education, or embracing diversity.
Nomination forms can be picked up at Fulton City Hall, Callaway County Courthouse or the Callaway Chamber of Commerce.
Online forms can also be filled out at fultonmo.org/jbf-award. The nomination deadline is Nov. 16.
Bierdeman-Fike's lifelong commitment was to stand against the persistence of racism, sexism and domestic violence. She stood for justice, and this award pays tribute to her life's mission.
In 1997, the National Association of Social Workers Foundation honored Bierdeman-Fike as a social work pioneer - a recognition presented by National President Gary Bailey.
In 1955, Bierdeman-Fike went to work as a psychiatric social worker at St. Louis State Hospital. She later agreed to take a job to reorganize the Fulton State Hospital on a temporary basis. As it turned out, she spent 38 years there. When she arrived at Fulton State Hospital, there were 130 patients per worker.
She was honored for a 60-year social work career that included 45 years as a psychiatric social worker with the Missouri Department of Mental Health from 1955 until her retirement in 2000 from Fulton State Hospital. At age 89, she died in March 2012.
Last year, the Bierdeman-Fike Award went to Nancy Hanson, known for her work with the iCan Bike Camp. Ten women were nominated in 2017 for their contributions to their communities in Callaway County: Connie Cashion, Carolyn Gaines, Barb Huddleston, Danielle Kilmer, Susan Krumm, Debbie LaRue, Crystal Morris, Jamie Oestreich and Keli Tate.
The first award in 2013 went to Nancy McCue. In 2015, it was awarded to Jerrie Bell, and in 2016, it was awarded to Suzanne Guerrant.