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.

We will work with our hosts to follow any necessary COVID-19 protocols, including: ensuring social distancing, Vaccine Passport (if needed), masking as needed, and to hold some activities, where possible, outdoors.

Guests are responsible to book their own accommodations and any related travel for this event. A block of 30 rooms are being held at the DoubleTree by Hilton St. John's Harbourview (2 Hill O' Chips, St. John's, NL) for SAM meeting participants. Please call 709-383-1475, to reserve a room or use the following link: https://www.hilton.com/en/book/reservation/deeplink/?ctyhocn=YYTCADT&groupCode=CDTSAM&arrivaldate=2022-05-05&departuredate=2022-05-09&cid=OM,WW,HILTONLINK,EN,DirectLink&fromId=HILTONLINKDIRECT

When calling to book please indicate, that you are with the "Stewardship Association of Municipalities (SAM)". You must also make sure to correctly identify the number of people that will be occupying the room, as one breakfast is allocated per person from The Little Sparo, their restaurant. Reserve your room by April 20th, 2022 to guarantee room availability and the discounted group rate ($129/night for single occupancy, $139/night for double occupancy).

Registered participants will receive the 2022 Spring AGM Meeting Agenda and supporting materials via email prior to the AGM.

Tentative SAM 2022 Spring AGM Weekend Itinerary (finalized itinerary will be sent with the supporting materials):

Friday, May 7th:

2pm - SAM Officers meeting at St. John's City Hall (Executive Officers only)

5pm - Interpretive Walk with SAM Staff: Quidi Vidi Lake (all attendees and guests welcome, transportation to and from is attendees' responsibility - parking is available, please note this is an outdoor event, we ask all to dress for the weather/activity)

7pm - Registration and Meet and Greet with refreshments at Quidi Vidi Village Plantation 10 Maple View Road (all attendees welcome, transportation to and from is attendees' responsibility - parking is available)

Saturday May 8th:

9am - SAM Fall Business Meeting (Room: Victoria 123 on 2nd floor, St. John’s Convention Centre, 50 New Gower Street; SAM representatives, partner organizations and Officers only)

4pm - Group Outing (more information to follow, please note this is an outdoor event, we ask all to dress for the weather/activity)

7pm - SAM Networking dinner (St. John's Convention Centre; all attendees and guests welcome)

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, 44 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. Please come prepared with outdoor footwear and gear (rain gear recommended). 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. We encourage bringing materials such as a slideshow or photographs to showcase the work that your community has been doing.

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. However, SAM's travel incentive allows SAM to reimburse attendees following the business meeting for one night of accommodation for each represented community at the hotel that has been 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 (see above for details). 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?

Breakfast is provided by DoubleTree by Hilton St. John's Harbourview for those staying there. Please, when booking, make sure to correctly identify the number of people that will be occupying the room, as one breakfast is allocated per person per day from The Little Sparo, their restaurant. On Friday evening refreshments are provided during the meet and greet event. Registered attendees may bring a guest to the meet and greet as well. On Saturday lunch and healthy snack/coffee breaks are provided during the meeting, these are for those attending the SAM AGM (Officers, representatives and partner organizations). For the evening meal, registered attendees (and any identified plus ones), 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:

Signal Hill National Historic Site

Cape Spear National Historic Site

The Rooms

Johnson Geo Centre

Railway Coastal Museum

Fluvarium

Quidi Vidi Village

George Street

East Coast Trail

Water Street/Duckworth Street

MUN Botanical Garden

National War Memorial

Bannerman Park

Bowering Park

Pippy Park