The Thermal Belt Friendship Council invites all citizens concerned about race relations to attend a special discussion meeting on Tuesday, May 13, at Roseland Community Center in Tryon. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m., and will focus on Senator Barack Obama&squo;s speech, &dquo;A More Perfect Union.&dquo;

The friendship council is a nonpolitical organization whose mission is to bring local citizens together in order to foster better understanding between various races. The purpose of the discussion meeting is not to debate politics, but to start an honest dialogue about the state of race relations in local communities, as well as across the nation.

The friendship council is a loosely organized group of local residents who have formed to narrow the racial divide. There is no membership fee, and membership is open to all residents. The organization meets every second Tuesday at Roseland Community Center, Tryon, at 7 p.m.