Social Impacts
Most people enjoy being in and around water. Many of us have been fortunate to have had access to clean drinking water and to wild rivers and lakes.
But not everyone does. The dramatic stories of water pollution in the early 1970s woke me up to this. This blog post describes the day I decided to do something about water quality.
That decision led me to become a hydrogeologist and public servant at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR), where I worked to prevent impacts to groundwater from landfills. Later, as Wisconsin's medical waste coordinator, I focused on healthcare wastes, such as highly pathogenic waste, mercury and pharmaceuticals that end up in water.
During my WDNR career, I came to realize that how we worked together was a significant factor in how well we were able to prevent water contamination. This is why I now help scientists, healthcare professionals and other data-driven people to contribute to better water quality and health by improving their working relationships and their meetings.
At Bickford Collaboration, we value:
-- providing and protecting clean water (now and for the future),
-- improving science communication and education, and
-- involving young people in protecting water and wilderness.
Taking care of ourselves and our relationships enhances our ability to contribute to the well-being of others, therefore, we also offer courses and events related to self-facilitation, listening, and life transitions. Those are offered through our other website, Improve Your Meetings.
Who we support
Each year, we donate services or money to organizations who are improving water quality, involving young people in protecting water and/or providing clean water to those who do not have access to it.
The organizations we are currently supporting are described below, in order of increasing distance from us, from local to international.
We invite you to support them too!
Friends of Lily Lake
Lily Lake is a small urban lake in Stillwater, Minnesota. The Friends of Lily Lake exist to improve and protect the lake’s water quality, to enhance the wildlife habitat near the lake and to help people enjoy nature. Thanks to the efforts of this group and others, Lily Lake was removed from the Minnesota list of impaired waters in 2023.
Barb serves as the secretary of the Friends' Board of Directors. In 2021-22, she helped the Friends develop a new mission statement and run a community engagement process to identify next steps, as described in her blog and on the FLL website.
Green Business Directory
This organization evaluates and promotes businesses in are near Stillwater Minnesota that have met rigorous standards for being green businesses.. Learn more about the Stillwater area Green Business Directory.
Bickford Collaboration joined the Green Business Directory in 2021 and has helped organize its networking events. Read our Green Business scorecard.
Wild Rivers Conservancy
Wild Rivers Conservancy is the official nonprofit partner of the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. It exists to inspire stewardship to forever ensure the rare ecological integrity of the St.Croix and Namekagon Riverway.
Barb co-led a pro-bono workshop in March 2025 to help the Conservancy staff improve their staff meetings. If you would like, you may support WRC's summer internship program.
Freshwater
Freshwater is a Minnesota nonprofit on a mission to inspire and empower people to value and preserve water. It uses science to engage communities from small towns to the Capitol on how to equitably improve water today and for future generations.
As one of Freshwater's Minnesota Water Stewards, Barb volunteers on water-related projects. For example, in 2023, she nurtured over 50 tree seedlings in a gravel bed and gave them away to be planted in the Lily Lake watershed.
American Institute of Professional Geologists
The American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG) is the largest association dedicated to promoting geology as a profession. In addition to serving practicing geologists, it provides scholarships and learning opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. AIPG members also present "Rock Talks" for K-12 students. Donate to AIPG's scholarship funds.
In 2024, Barb led webinars for AIPG members wanting to improve engagement in their meetings. She is a member of the AIPG Early Career Professionals committee.
Matt Gear BWCA fund
The Matt Gear Boundary Waters Canoe Area fund enables youth living in or near Madison, Wisconsin, to experience wilderness by making canoe trips affordable to them.
Barb co-founded this fund after her son, Matt Gear (the tall boy in the center of the photo), died in a car accident in 2003. Boundary Waters canoe trips had helped Matt appreciate clean water and teamwork.
The fund is now administered by the the Madison Christian Community, a progressive church that sponsors youth canoe trips, so that donations can be tax-deductible. Please contact Barb if you'd like to donate to this fund or know of a young person who would benefit from going on such a trip.
Haiti Allies
Haiti Allies helps empower Haitians through education, meal programs, adult literacy, and job creation. Among other things, this group operates a school in City Soliel, a shanty town on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince that is one of the poorest places in the world. A gift of $50 can provide clean water for the students of the school for a week. Donate here. and please put a note in the comment field that your gift is for the water fund and mention Bickford Collaboration. Let's see how many weeks we collectively can sponsor this year!
Water for Good
Water for Good and Lifewater International merged in 2024. The new organization serves vulnerable people living in extreme poverty by providing access to reliable water, sanitation, and hygiene. When combined, these practices can nearly eliminate waterborne diseases and water-related deaths. Find out how you can get involved.