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.

​Please book your accommodations and travel prior to the online registration . When booking indicate that you are with the "Stewardship Association of Municipalities" and please reserve your room early to guarantee the discounted rate.

Rooms have been blocked off at the Comfort Inn, 106 Airport Road, St. John's. Please call (709)753-3500 to reserve a room.

SAM's Incentive policy for this meeting includes one nights accommodation for one member from each municipality. SAM will reimburse accommodations via written cheque to your municipality at the meet and greet registration table on May 10th, 2019.

Attendance is by invitation only. Invitations will be sent out via email.

SAM Spring AGM 2019 Itinerary*

Friday, May 10:

3:30 - 5:30 pm SAM Officers meeting

5:45 pm Car Pool to SAM Meet and Greet (Meet in hotel lobby)

6:30 - 8:30 pm Meet & Greet with Cod Sounds

6:30 - 7:30 pm "Eat it Wild" - Wild cookery & tea tasting!

7:30 - 8:30 pm Registration table, finger foods & cash bar

The Pouch Cove Recreation Chalet, 100 Satellite Road

Saturday May 11:

9:00 am - 4 pm SAM Annual General Meeting at the Pouch Cove Recreation Chalet

4 - 6:30 pm Group Outing - Hike the East Coast Trail (easy hike) (dress for the weather with appropriate footwear)

7 - 9 pm SAM Networking dinner at the All Saints Anglican Church Hall, 149 Town Circle Road

Stuffed Chicken Breast w/ Veggies (Vegetarian option available)

*Itinerary may be subject to change, registered participants will be made aware of any changes via email

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. 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 5 - 7 min 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?

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.

Does SAM pay for accommodations? SAM Travel Incentive Policy

SAMs travel incentive policy will pay for one night of accommodation for each municipality at the hotel arranged by the host municipality. Attendees must use a credit card to book the room and will have one nights stay paid for by the SAM treasurer before check out. Representatives are responsible for arranging their own transportation and booking their own accommodations at the designated hotel. Contact information for the hotel will be provided on the website at www.samnl.org/business-meeting.

​ 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) will be charged to the credit card used to book the room.

​ 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 ASAP.

​ Are meals provided at the meeting? What about allergies and dietary restrictions?

On Friday evening finger foods are provided during the meeting a 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 their 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

Remember the hotel is 25 mins each way from the meeting location. If you want to venture out, in the area here are a few location attractions that you might want to check out!

Kirby’s Garden – Across from the Town Hall, 660 Main Road, Pouch Cove.

A great picnic spot in the center of town! Take in the sights, snap some pictures, and

relax in the gazebo

The Water Witch Restaurant – 123 Town Circle, Pouch Cove

Need a couple mozza sticks before the SAM Networking Dinner? Check out the Water

Witch Restaurant

Biscayan Cove & The Cape St. Francis Lighthouse – Drive ~5 km mins up the dirt

road portion of Main Road, Pouch cove

Make sure you take a good vehicle up this dirt road to the very tip of the North East

Avalon. Beautiful views of the ocean, pigeon island, and the Cape St. Francis

Lighthouse

Shoe Cove Pond Park – Near 197 Main Road

Take a picture with the Pouch Cove Stewardship Sign and enjoy the pond, which is a

Pouch Cove Conservation Area!

Waterman’s Pond Park – Pouch Cove Highway, Near Red Head Road, Flatrock

Enjoy the scenery on Waterman’s Pond in Flatrock

Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto – Windgap road, near the Flatrock Community Centre.

It is the largest religious Grotto in Eastern Canada

The Traditional Coffee House – 1496 Torbay Road, Torbay

Put your feet up and enjoy great coffee and baked goods!