YOU ARE INVITED... to the 2018 SAM Spring AGM

Hosted by The Town of Stephenville Crossing

May 25 - 26, 2018

Proposed Weekend Itinerary*:

All event locations are to be determined in the coming weeks. A finalized agenda will be emailed with event locations to registered attendees.

Friday, May 25th:

1 - 4 pm: Officer’s Meeting (Executive Officers only)

7 - 9 pm: Meet & Greet - Refreshments provided

Saturday, May 26th:

8:30 - 9 am: Check in

9 am – 4 pm: SAM Annual General Meeting - Refreshments and lunch provided

4:30 – 5:30 pm: Outdoor Field Trip (RAIN OR SHINE)**

6 – 8:30 pm: Evening Dinner - Cash bar available

*Itinerary is subject to change. Event locations will be finalized with the agenda and distributed before the AGM in May

**Please bring appropriate footwear and clothing for outdoor walking tour. Binoculars and cameras are encouraged!

WHO IS SAM?……YOU ARE!

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.

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.

SAM meets twice a year (spring/fall) to share experiences, discuss potential projects and engage on conservation issues of shared concern.

Meeting Agenda

A finalized meeting agenda and itinerary will be emailed to all registered attendees. Please note that there is an outdoor event during the meeting, please remember to dress appropriately for the weather including outdoor footwear. Binoculars and cameras are encouraged!

Expectations of Town Representatives

SAM meeting Representatives have the support of council 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.

These meetings represent an opportunity for your community to showcase its involvement and implementation of your habitat stewardship agreement. We ask that representatives prepare a brief 5 - 7 min verbal or written report outlining any conservation and stewardship activities that have taken place in your town since our last meeting. Space will also be made available should you wish to put up a poster and/or have a display of the stewardship activities/projects accomplished by your committee or town.

Finally, we request that following the meeting, each attendee provides a report on the meetings outcomes to their respective council or applicable committee.

Unable to attend?

Please send a brief written report (1page 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.

SAM Travel Incentive Policy

Representatives are responsible to arrange their own transportation and accommodations. SAM will pay the hotel for one night of accommodation for each municipality. If a representative wishes to share a room with a representative from another town, two nights of accommodations can be covered. Finger food at the Meet & Greet on Friday evening as well as lunch and dinner on Saturday are covered.

Accommodations

Rooms have been blocked off at THE DAYS INN for SAM members. SAM Representatives are responsible for booking their own accommodations, and upon check out will have one nights accommodations paid for by SAM (as per the SAM Travel incentive policy). Also, Per SAM travel policy, to receive the above mentioned travel reimbursement, you must stay at this hotel, unless you are able to demonstrate why you could not get accommodations here. When making a reservation please let the Inn know that you are with the “Stewardship Association of Municipalities” as a block of rooms has been set aside for our purposes.