Those who are new to the community may be interested in learning that the Friendship Council is a loosely-organized group of friends whose goal is to promote racial and ethnic diversity and harmony in the Thermal Belt. There is no formal membership and there are no dues. Friends meet on the second Tuesday of each month at Roseland Center, Tryon, at 6 p.m. to plan community outreach and various events.

Friendship Council sponsors three major events each year. The first is the commemoration for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. held in January at the Fine Arts Center in Tryon. Second is the annual picnic, and third is Christmas caroling at a local nursing home with a potluck Christmas dinner following at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Tryon. Throughout the year, friends meet at a local restaurant to see and be seen enjoying lunch with one another.

Friendship Council Events are listed in the Bulletin’s Curb Reporter and all are welcome to attend. There is never a charge for any event.

Friendship Council maintains a telephone committee to call friends for special events. If you wish to be on the telephone list or to get further information, please call 457-2426, or visit us on the web at friendshipcouncil.homestead.com or at www.meetup.com/friendshipcouncil.

– article submitted by Lynnea Stadelmann