Sue Maus, Joanne Gellerman, Jane Reeve.

Jacques Chipault, Elden Huemann, Meridee Robinson.

Bill Orcutt and Dr. Dick Nordin.

When it comes to the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center, they are BFFs or “best friends forever.”

The Maus-through-Nordin list contains the founding members of the Friends of the J.C. Hormel Nature Center.

They were there when the organization was started.

Some, like Nordin, were there when the Nature Center was created. Nordin was chairman of the original lay advisory committee formed by the Austin Parks Board in 1971 to oversee the planning and development of surely what is today Austin’s favorite attraction.

They and others who followed were honored last Saturday at the 20th anniversary celebration of the Friends organization.

“You’ve brought us a long way,” Larry Dolphin told the Friends members present in Ruby Rupner Auditorium at the Nature Center. “All of you have played a part.”

A birthday cake complete with 20 candles was shared by all and a new version of “Happy Birthday” sung.

Karen Shragg, director/naturalist at the Riverbend Nature Center, Faribault, was also there.

When introduced by Dolphin, the Hormel Nature Center’s director/naturalist, he described her as a person with a “real passion for making the world a better place.”

Fittingly enough, Shragg’s program was about the importance nature centers hold.

“I want every community to have a nature center,” she began and then added, “The multiple benefits of nature centers go unnoticed.”

She predicted Minnesota’s community nature centers face fierce competition for funding this year because of the state’s budget deficit and the expected reductions in Local Government Aid to cities and County Program Aid to counties.

She encouraged the Friends organization to re-emphasize to all the benefits offered by the Hormel Nature Center, beginning with how they provide a “sense of place and pride, a positive atmosphere and an economic impact.”

Also, nature centers offer their benefits to an audience of “multiple ages and cultures, babies in strollers to the elderly in wheelchairs.”

Shragg researched the state’s community nature centers to bolster her claim they offer 72 distinct benefits and 56 services to 38 user groups.

Oddly enough, Shragg touted more benefits and services more often in her address than the primary reason for the existence of nature centers: Appreciation of the environment.

Shragg urged the Friends member to continue their strong support of the Hormel Nature Center and to urge others to join them.

“I just believe people will always want to support something that has value to them,” she said.

Judging by what he heard Shragg say, Al Layman said, “I think we pass with flying colors and that we’re on the right track with what we’re doing for the Nature Center.”

Annual meeting

Dick Waldman, out-going president of the Friends organization, convened the annual meeting.

Annette Mueller gave the secretary’s report and Greg Larson gave the treasurer’s report.

New board members, Betsy Mentel and Colleen Weimer, were welcomed. Retiring board members Dale Vandenover and Bob Roberts were thanked for their services.

Roberts created the Thanksgiving Feaste fundraiser for the Friends organization. It quickly became a successful fundraiser for the Nature Center and raised more than $25,000 each year for the Hormel Nature Center.

Gary Zimmerman was elected to replace Waldman as the board’s president.

Waldman said the Friends will pursue a new welcome sign project this year thanks to a generous donation from the Gordon Kuehne family.

Meanwhile, plans for a major upgrading of the interpretive center remain “on hold,” according to Waldman, while fundraising opportunities are reviewed.

The Friends helped the Nature Center hold 146 educational programs that served more than 4,000 students in 2008. Another 57 Ruby Rupner Auditorium program also attracted more than 4,000 people, according to Waldman, who also expressed his appreciation to the organization for their support, during his tenure as president.

Terry Taylor will take over as vice president.

Mueller and Larson remain as secretary and treasurer, respectively.

Anyone interested in joining the Friends organization may contact the Nature Center for more information 437-7519.