SOCAN’s annual Nashville Members’ Reception – held this year at The Acorn restaurant on Oct. 20 – drew more than 100 local SOCAN members and industry representatives, who connected with each other, cemented their relationships with SOCAN staff, and enjoyed the food and beverages on hand.

Among the SOCAN member songwriters in attendance were Grammy Award winner Gordie Sampson, Beverley Mahood, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Kelly Archer, Victoria Banks, Gilles Godard, Jason Blaine and Fred Mollin. Publishing company representatives who attended the event included those from ole and Big Loud Bucks.

Attending on behalf of SOCAN were executives André LeBel, France Lafleur, Kent Sturgeon and David Wood; President Earl Rosen; Nashville Representative Eddie Schwartz; Member Services Manager Jason Belo; and Account Executive Peter Fera.

The reception was held as part of Country Music Week in Nashville, during which SOCAN also presented a two-hour educational info session at the Sambuca restaurant, also on Oct. 20. At this seminar, David Wood, SOCAN's CFO, reviewed SOCAN's foreign exchange policy; France Lafleur discussed SOCAN's new Board of Directors and upcoming member survey; Kent Sturgeon took a look back at SOCAN's accomplishments in 2009, and forward to our plans for 2010; and Jason Belo examined SOCAN's role in Nashville.

During Country Music Week, SOCAN representatives also attended both the ASCAP Country Music Awards and the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) Hall of Fame Awards.