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 minutes should include the point that was discussed and the decision that was reached. Avoid making personal observations or opinions. Don't make your own comments. Stick to just the facts.
What information do board meeting minutes contain? Meeting date, time and location. Type of meeting. Names and titles of attendees and guests. Any absent board directors. Quorum. Notes about directors who left early or re-entered the meeting. Board approvals, resolutions and acceptance of reports. Overview of discussions.
Personal remarks don't belong. It is a big mistake to include personal opinions in the minutes. The writer must not editorialize, and members' personal remarks should not be included.
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.
All Meetings and minutes should follow Robert's Rules. Minutes should start with the attendance and continue through the motion to close the meeting (opening and closing of the meeting should have times attached.) Each topic that is discussed should have a brief paragraph summarizing what was discussed.
What Should Not be Included in Meeting Minutes? Personal opinions and comments. Excessive detail. Tangential conversations. Verbal exchanges or arguments. Unconfirmed information. Confidential or sensitive information. Off-the-record remarks. Meeting details.
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).
Understand who can access minutes: In many cases, meeting minutes are considered public records, which means others can view them. Make sure you understand who can view the meeting notes, and keep that audience in mind when deciding what information to include.
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.
Approve the minutes: Once corrections are complete, the chair asks for a motion to approve the minutes. One member makes the motion, a second member approves it, and the chair calls for a vote. The approval of meeting minutes goes through with a majority vote.