Dim conMyData As SqlConnection
        Dim cmdInsert As SqlCommand
        Dim parmReturnValue As SqlParameter
        Dim intResult As Long

        Try
            conMyData = New SqlConnection(ConfigurationSettings.AppSettings("strConn"))
            cmdInsert = New SqlCommand("insert_blah", conMyData)

            With cmdInsert
                .CommandType = CommandType.StoredProcedure
                parmReturnValue = .Parameters.Add("RETURN_VALUE", SqlDbType.BigInt)
                parmReturnValue.Direction = ParameterDirection.ReturnValue
                'add the parameters
                .Parameters.Add("@ClientID", SqlDbType.Int).Value = Me.ddlClient.SelectedItem.Value
 conMyData.Open()
                .ExecuteNonQuery()
                intResult = CType(.Parameters("RETURN_VALUE").Value, Long)
            End With
  Catch e As Exception
            Response.Write("An Error Occurred: " & e.ToString())
            InsertTicket = 0
            'clean up and close resources
        Finally
            cmdInsert = Nothing
            conMyData.Close()
            conMyData = Nothing
        End Try