Mrs. Slneegeleddling?

I got one of those calls the other day; the kind where I can't understand anything but the phone number.

"This is Latt Snagrada Debrulagassay from Schlelingfurfosa. Please call me at..."

I could judge by the area code that the call didn't come from Botswana. If it did, that might explain it. So, I had to forge ahead anyway, call the number and foolishly return the garble with more garble...

"Hello? Yes. I'm calling for someone named Latt or Snagrada or something similar to that? I'm with Parks & Rec Business magazine? Yes, I'll hold."

Somehow, someway, I was able to reach the person who left me the garbled message. I'm tenacious like that, I suppose. If someone wants me to call them back, I try my best to oblige, though sometimes it takes some investigative journalism.

Every time it happens it reminds me of the old Saturday Night Live Land Shark skit. The Land Shark, played by Chevy Chase, would knock on someone's door and mumble something like, "Mrs. Slneegeleddling?" The victim would reply, "What?" To which the Land Shark would say, "Plumber!"

"I didn't call a plumber."

"Candygram!"

Then the unwitting victim would answer the door and the "Land Shark" would attack.

Anyway, as you may have gathered by now, I'm a stickler for clear communication. It makes things a lot easier all the way around, plus you're far less likely to end up as a Land Shark meal.

One message we want to be clear about here, beyond the practical information we're publishing each month, is Parks & Rec Business LIVE!, the interactive, hands-on event we're holding at Salt Fork Resort & Conference Center near Cambridge, Ohio, Sept. 13-14.

So, as you peruse the information found on page 33 of this issue, our Web site at www.parksandrecbusiness.com or by any other means the information may reach you, please let us know if there's anything we can do to answer any questions and make registration and everything that follows as smooth as possible.

Regan D. Dickinson

Editor