BECKLEY — Just sing the song, and they’ll come.

When a music system collapsed at a gathering of the National Association of Secretaries of State, West Virginia Secretary Natalie Tennant had no choice but to belt out her rendition of “Take Me Home, Country Roads.”

Singing what has evolved into West Virginia’s anthem was her way of pitching her home turf as the meeting place for the national group.

And it worked.

Come July 10-13, the organization will send its representatives, in the first such meeting in the Mountain State, for the summer conference at The Resort at Glade Springs.

“I pulled it off,” Tennant said Tuesday.

That was two years ago, when she was fresh on the job.

When singing the familiar song, Tennant said she figured that it was one just about everyone across America could relate to, and she was right on target.

“Everyone has a connection to West Virginia, and the connection was ‘Country Roads,’” the secretary said.

“So I did it. And they’re coming, aren’t they?”

Not all states have secretaries, since some relegate such duties to a lieutenant governor, but those that do plan on sending the office holder — from Minnesota to the sunny South.

Sunday, the first day of the conference, is dedicated to a welcome reception, and the activities start in earnest on Monday, with a trip to the Beckley Exhibition Mine, while families and guests not involved in the association’s work will be taking in every amenity offered by the resort.

“That’s what makes this such a great opportunity,” Tennant said.

“Glade Springs offers so much that you don’t even have to leave the campus.”

Glade Springs was chosen because of its abundant and affordable resources, she said. Even two years ago, Tennant said she knew the economy would be feeble two years down the road.

“We wanted to make sure secretaries in other states would be able to afford it,” she said.

Tuesday is devoted partly to “A Taste of West Virginia” at Tamarack, the mecca for homegrown artisans near the Beckley exit of the West Virginia Turnpike. Other stops for families and guests will be a tram ride at Hawk’s Nest State Park and jet-boat trips along the New River.

A day trip through West Virginia will offer the visitors a look at Lewisburg — recently voted as the “coolest small town” in the nation.

Former secretaries of state in West Virginia are on the guest list, including 97-year-old Helen Holt, whose son, Rush, is a former congressman. Other likely guests include Sen. Joe Manchin, Betty Ireland, Edgar “Hike” Heiskell, and in a video appearance, Sen. Jay Rockefeller.

A portion of Tuesday’s leg of the four-day event will be devoted to remarks by Boy Scouts of America officials, touting the creation of a camp in rural Fayette County, viewed as a major economic-tourism nugget in West Virginia.

“It’s a game-changer,” Tennant said.

“We want the rest of the country to know what we have coming to West Virginia. It’s all about promoting West Virginia. We certainly can spur the economy with these folks coming. Everyone at the office is volunteering.”

And it appears Tennant is in for an encore of the John Denver song.

“Yes, I will,” she said.

“I have someone here in the office who can play guitar really well.”

— E-mail: mannix@register-herald.com