Form with which the board of directors of a corporation records the contents of its first meeting.
Form with which the board of directors of a corporation records the contents of its first meeting.
Motion: To introduce a new piece of business or propose a decision or action, a motion must be made by a group member ("I move that......") A second motion must then also be made (raise your hand and say, "I second it.") After limited discussion the group then votes on the motion.
For motions, include the exact wording of the statement, and the name of the person making the motion. Some organizations might require the name of the person seconding the motion, as well. Bowie adds that if the motion is not worded properly, it's up to the chair to help the member modify the wording.
Motion to Approve the Minutes: Once corrections are made, the chair asks for a motion to approve the minutes. A member makes the motion by saying, “I move to approve the minutes as corrected.” Another member must second this motion. This formalizes the approval process and ensures everyone agrees on the corrections.
They are legally required to include these details: Date, time, and location of the meeting. Record of notice of board meeting provision and acknowledgment. Names of attendees and absentees, including guests. Approval of previous meeting minutes.
Ideally, minutes should be circulated to board members for review and approval within a reasonable timeframe, such as before the next scheduled meeting. Some boards choose to distribute their finalized board meeting minutes via email or hard copy.
The minutes are a factual record of business. Do not include: Opinions or judgments: Leave out statements like "a well done report" or "a heated discussion." Criticism or accolades: Criticism of members, good or bad, should not be included unless it takes the form of an official motion.
Minutes should never be a verbatim documentation of every statement made during a board meeting. A document that purports to record every uttered word is a transcript, not “minutes.” Minutes should be concise and informative, but never voluminous.
The Chair has the same right to make or second a motion or to debate as the other Board Members. The role of presiding officer need not be assigned to another Board Member while the Chair exercises these rights.
Motion is stated. Motions may be made by any voting member of the board other than the chair.
A motion is the topic under discussion (e.g., “I move that we add a coffee break to this meeting”). After being recognized by the president of the board, any member can introduce a motion when no other motion is on the table. A motion requires a second to be considered.