From the editor: stop by and visit.

Last year at NRPA's Congress and Exposition in Reno, Nev., I was a rookie staff member. Never having been to a convention of that size, I was immediately impressed with the grandness of the show. But even more impressive, were the people I met.

One afternoon, while trying to make a meeting at the hotel, I took the shuttle bus from the exhibit hall. Most days I was one of the last to leave, and didn't get a chance to just sit and converse with attendees--but this day was different. I found an open seat, and was soon joined by a member. We started chatting about the day's events, and eventually the conversation came around to what I did. I told the member that I was the editor of the magazine.

Before I could even finish, the member pulled out her copy of the publication and began pointing out things that she liked, and some things she didn't. It was my first in-person conversation with a member, which rang so much truer to me than an e-mail or a phone call. I could see her excitement when she talked about articles that had helped her agency, and I could see how much she cared about her association's publication.

I hope that at this year's Congress in San Antonio, Texas, members will again take the time to talk to the editorial magazine staff about their publication, and what we can do to serve them better. The magazine will have an area in the NRPA Experience where we hope you'll stop by, and let us know what we can do for you. We'll also be asking for your feedback on our new design.

So don't be shy--let us see how much you care, and we'll sharre with you some exciting new things we have planned for next year.

Look forward to meeting you.

Rachel Roberts 

Editor, Parks & Recreation magazine