SAM 2021 Fall Meeting hosted by the Town of Deer Lake
Fri, Oct 22
|Deer Lake Holiday Inn Express
Join us in person as we work together to inspire environmental stewardship in your community.
Time & Location
Oct 22, 2021, 6:00 p.m. NDT – Oct 23, 2021, 10:00 p.m. NDT
Deer Lake Holiday Inn Express, 38 Bennett Ave, Deer Lake, NL A8A 1A9, Canada
About the Event
Our bi-annual business meetings are opportunities for representatives from our member municipalities, invited guests and our partner organizations to share conservation and stewardship success stories and challenges. The meetings are also a chance to network and partner with other SAM communities on your next Stewardship project! Attendance is highly encouraged, and we offer a travel incentive to cover some of the associated costs.
Again, we are working hard with our hosts to follow all COVID-19 protocols, in particular to ensure social distancing, masking as needed, and to hold as many activities as possible outdoors.
You are responsible to book your own accommodations and any related travel for this event. A block of 25 rooms are being held at the Holiday Inn Express in Deer Lake for SAM meeting participants. Please call (709) 635-3232 to reserve a room. When booking indicate, that you are with the "Stewardship Association of Municipalities". Reserve your room by October 5th, 2021 to guarantee room availability and the discounted group rate.
Once registered, participants will receive the Fall 2021 Meeting Agenda and supporting materials via email prior to the Fall Meeting.
Tentative SAM 2021 Fall Meeting Weekend Itinerary:
Friday, October 22:
2pm SAM Officers meeting (Officers only)
5pm Field trip (all attendees welcome)
7pm Meet and Greet/Registration (all attendees welcome)
Saturday October 23rd
9am SAM Fall Business Meeting
4pm Group Outing
6pm SAM Networking dinner
SAM Meeting Background
You may not yet have become aware of THE STEWARDSHIP ASSOCIATION OF MUNICIPALITIES INC, otherwise affectionately known as “SAM”. SAM is an incorporated non-profit organization (1994) comprised of NL municipalities interested in wildlife habitat conservation.
SAM is part of the Eastern Habitat Joint Venture (EHJV) whose mission is to conserve landscapes in Eastern Canada to sustain bird populations while providing ecological, social and economic benefits to society.
Your town became involved with SAM upon the signing of a Municipal Habitat Stewardship Agreement with the province. This agreement, as a tangible public step taken by your council, serves to proactively conserve habitat for wildlife, often wetlands for waterfowl and other birds, found within your municipal planning boundaries. Since taking that initial step many towns have become involved in restoring and enhancing wildlife habitat while educating and engaging residents in sustainable land use actions. Since 1989, 41 municipalities in NL have signed such agreements and incorporated them into their municipal planning documents and development regulations.
What happens at the meetings?
A finalized weekend itinerary and Saturday meeting agenda is emailed to all registered attendees before the meeting. Often after the Saturday meeting there is an outdoor event hosted by the community. These events sometimes take place on nature trails, beaches, and in conservation areas. Come prepared with outdoor footwear and rain gear. Binoculars and cameras are encouraged!
Who can attend a SAM meeting?
Invitations are emailed to SAM communities with an online registration form. Town councils appoint a representative to attend the meetings and they can be either:
A) A member of council
B) A member of staff or
C) A member of a council committee or interested town resident.
What is expected of attendees?
These meetings represent an opportunity for your community to showcase its involvement and implementation of your habitat stewardship agreement. It is also a chance to become inspired by work being done in other municipalities and bring those ideas back to your community. There are two important expectations of attendees:
A) First, we ask that representatives prepare a brief 3-5min verbal or written report outlining any conservation and stewardship activities that have taken place in your town since the last meeting.
B) Secondly, we request that following the meeting, each attendee provide a report on the meeting outcomes to their respective councils and/or committees.
What if I am unable to attend the meeting?
You are welcome to send a brief written report (1 page or less), outlining the activities which have occurred recently in the ongoing implementation of your municipal habitat stewardship agreement or in terms of your town’s efforts to increase environmental sustainability. Your report will be tabled at the meeting.
Does SAM pay for accommodations?
Representatives are responsible for arranging their own transportation and booking their own accommodations at the designated hotel. SAMs travel incentive policy allows us to reimburse attendees in person following the business meeting for one night of accommodation for each represented community at the hotel arranged by the host. If a representative wishes to share a room with a representative from another town, two nights of accommodations can be covered. All other expenses incurred at the hotel (ie second night stay, room service etc) are your own responsibility.
Where do I stay during the meeting?
Rooms will be blocked off at a hotel in the area by the host municipality for SAM meeting attendees. When making a reservation please let the hotel know that you are with the “Stewardship Association of Municipalities”. In order to take advantage of the SAM Travel Incentive policy, you must stay in the designated hotel, unless you are able to demonstrate why you could not get accommodations there. If that is the case please inform SAM Staff ahead of time.
Are meals provided at the meeting? What about allergies and dietary restrictions?
On Friday evening finger foods are generally provided during the meeting and greet. Registered attendees may bring a guest to the meet and greet as well. On Saturday lunch and health breaks are provided during the meeting. For the evening meal, registered attendees, with any identified plus one, are invited to the networking dinner. Please let us know on the online registration form about any food allergies or dietary restrictions, as well as if you are bringing a guest to the Friday meeting and greet or the Saturday networking dinner.
Local attractions:
Deer Lake Beach
Crooked Feeder Brewing Company
Roy Whelan Heritage Museum
Sir Richard Squires Memorial Provincial Park
Rough Waters Brewing Company
Humber River Off Grid Tours
Humber River Trail
Gros Morne National Park
Marble Mountain Ski Resort and Zip Line
Newfoundland Insectarium
Robbins Family Farm and Gardens