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.
The basic features of meeting minutes are the date, time, location and attendees, followed by a record of the board's actions, including brief descriptions of any presentations or topics discussed, specific resolutions adopted, and finally, general resolutions.
Writing meeting minutes with action items can transform those directionless meetings into productive discussions. It's important to start out with a meeting structure so you can keep your meeting focused. Then, write minutes that highlight the key parts of the conversation.
Simple Rule 1: A member of a group has a right to examine the minutes of that group. Plain and simple, Robert's Rules says that the secretary of an organization has to (1) keep minutes and (2) make them available to members that ask for them.
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).
Note that minutes of meetings and accompanying documentation can be requested under FIPPA, and with few exceptions, access to these records may be granted. Therefore, in creating your minutes be mindful that they may be made accessible beyond the original audience.
Members of organizations are entitled to obtain certain records like financial reports and meeting minutes. More importantly, board directors have legal and fiduciary duties, so it's important to have a record of the actions that the board took during meetings.
As a member of the company, you may ask the company in writing for a copy of the minutes of a meeting of members, or an extract of the minutes, or the minutes of any resolution passed by members without a meeting.
Finalized board meeting minutes must be distributed to all directors and shareholders, regardless of their attendance at the meeting. The board chairman must approve the minutes before distribution, ensuring the document reflects an accurate and concise record of the meeting.
Board minutes often contain information that is subject to the attorney-client privilege and that directors may prefer to keep confidential. However, most jurisdictions allow stockholders to inspect corporate books and records, including board minutes.