WHEREAS, the Optimist Club of Colonial Heights will proudly celebrate its 60th anniversary of contributions to the residents of Colonial Heights in 2013; and

WHEREAS, since 1958, the Optimist Club of Colonial Heights has hosted the annual Boy's Invitational Baseball (BIB) tournament, bringing recognition to Colonial Heights and healthy competition to the many players who have participated; and

WHEREAS, the BIB is a statewide tournament widely recognized as one of the best in Virginia; and

WHEREAS, in the 2000 BIB tournament, the host team from Colonial Heights—for the first time since 1969—won the tournament; and

WHEREAS, in addition to the BIB, the Optimist Club of Colonial Heights sponsors many year-round programs benefiting the youth of Colonial Heights; and

WHEREAS, the Optimist Club of Colonial Heights sponsors community projects, such as Adopt-A-Highway, Drug-Free School Zones, DARE, Virginia Beeper Baseball, Just Say No, and Junior Optimist Octagon International Club; it also hosts community activities such as a fishing tournament and Brunswick stew and chicken barbecue functions; and

WHEREAS, the Optimist Club of Colonial Heights, as part of the Capital Virginia District, sponsors Optimist international programs such as essay contests, oratorical contests, contests for the deaf and hard-of-hearing, Junior world golf, and those that combat childhood cancer and promote Internet safety; and

WHEREAS, the Optimist Club of Colonial Heights sponsors three youth baseball teams and two softball teams, and holds soccer and basketball clinics for boys and girls ages 8 to 15; and

WHEREAS, in addition to organizing essay and oratorical contests, the Optimist Club of Colonial Heights awards two $2,000 scholarships to high school seniors and four $500 scholarships for Youth Appreciation Week; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly commend the Optimist Club of Colonial Heights on the occasion of its 60th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Optimist Club of Colonial Heights as an expression of the General Assembly's appreciation for the club's exemplary community-service activities.