WHEREAS, British Columbia and Washington State governments share a border, many natural resources, and geological and geographic similarities; and
     WHEREAS, British Columbia and Washington State often work together to achieve our mutual goals, including British Columbia working together with Whatcom County officials to secure and streamline the border crossings and transportation throughout the region for the 2010 Winter Olympics in British Columbia; and
     WHEREAS, The primary purpose of the Washington State Constitution is to educate our youth and prepare them to lead us into the future; and
     WHEREAS, British Columbia also recognizes the importance and value of quality civic education; and
     WHEREAS, Washington State and British Columbia sponsor nationally renowned legislative internship programs; and
     WHEREAS, Washington State undergraduate interns spend their winter quarter or spring semester working in Olympia with staff and members of the Washington State House of Representatives or Senate; and
     WHEREAS, In addition to their office work, interns participate in weekly academic seminars and workshops learning about the process of a representative democracy with a bicameral legislature; and
     WHEREAS, British Columbia parliamentary internship offers an opportunity to university graduates to supplement their academic training by observing the daily workings of the Legislature firsthand; and
     WHEREAS, Interns acquire skills and knowledge they can apply in their chosen careers and future life experiences that will further contribute to a greater public understanding and appreciation of parliamentary government; and
     WHEREAS, For the third year the British Columbia and Washington State Legislative interns have participated in an exchange program to explore and learn about each other's history and government process; and
     WHEREAS, We welcome the British Columbia Parliamentary interns to the Washington State Legislature and commend their numerous academic achievements;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate honor the hard work and dedication it takes to put each of these programs together by also honoring Karen Aitken, the British Columbia Legislative Intern Program Director, and extending our deepest gratitude to our own Legislative intern coordinators, Judi Best and Joan Elgee, for putting together such excellent programs; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to Karen Aitken, Judi Best, and Joan Elgee.