Approximately 150 people attended the Thermal Belt Friendship Councils annual picnic on Saturday, June 5. The picnic was held at the Harmon Field Cabin, and it was well attended by black and white residents living in both North and South Carolina.

The Friendship Council is a loosely based organization designed to promote social, racial, equality, and diversity issues in the surrounding communities of the Thermal Belt. The mission is simply to bridge the racial gap between diverse communities.

The picnic commenced with a welcome address and introduction of officers by Dr. Joseph L. Fox, president. Dr. Fox reminded the attendees of the councils accomplishments for the past year, including the annual Christmas caroling and covered dish outreach dinner, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, and the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship for a graduating high school senior.

Picnic attendees were entertained by Austin Freer as they entered and fellowshipped with each other at the start of the picnic. Other highlights of the picnic included a piata for the children, James Abercrombie and the African Drummers, and a raffle of gifts donated by local vendors.

The Friendship Council meets September through May, every second Tuesday of each month, at 7 p.m. at Roseland Community Center in Tryon.

Meetings are announced in the Tryon Daily Bulletin and on the Friendship Council website http://friendshipcouncil.homestead.com. There is no membership fee to join, only a desire to bring about social and racial equality.