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.
Meeting minutes don't need to capture discussions word by word, but they should effectively summarize key items and decisions to provide a clear and concise record of the meeting. Know that it's perfectly acceptable to write “a discussion of the options ensued.” If you need clarification on anything, be sure to ask.
The meeting-minute approval process begins when a chairperson makes the motion. To approve minutes, unanimous consent is required. The minutes of the previous meeting should be approved during the current meeting. If this isn't possible, a special committee or executive board may be required to approve the minutes.
In most cases, the meeting secretary will sign the approved copy of the minutes, while some boards require all present board members to sign the approved minutes.
Legal requirements for board meeting minutes include the name of the company, date and location, names of present and absent directors, and a record of all the proceedings during the meeting. Legal documents and reports must come as attachments.
Board meeting minutes are an objective record of what took place during a board meeting. The minutes are typically used for internal purposes like record-keeping and for posterity. Minutes can serve to inform future meetings and recall what was discussed, agreed upon or dismissed by a company's board members.
Robert's Rules (Section -16) state that “the minutes should contain mainly a record of what was done at the meeting, not what was said by the members.” Minutes are not transcripts of meetings; rather, the document contains a record of actions taken by the body, organized by the meeting's order of business (agenda).
Board meeting minutes should be prepared and distributed in a timely manner after each board meeting. Ideally, minutes should be circulated to board members for review and approval within a reasonable timeframe, such as before the next scheduled meeting.
Are board meeting minutes confidential? Yes. The board should assume the minutes are confidential and, in most cases, they will remain so. They should also realise that, sooner or later, the minutes may be available as part of a legal case.
Nonprofit board meeting minutes are not always made public, but the organization's policies and local laws may require disclosure. However, it's important for nonprofit organizations to understand and comply with relevant state laws and regulations governing the accessibility of board meeting minutes.