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.
Non-profit organizations typically have board meetings that last between one and two hours when held monthly, and up to eight hours for quarterly meetings. As a rule, these meetings focus on fundraising and community impact.
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).
Minutes may vary slightly depending on the state and the organization, but they typically include: 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.
Minutes of meeting Author (individual or group if identified). Year of meeting (in round brackets). Item of meeting being referenced (in single quotation marks). Title and date of meeting (in italics). Organisation. Location of meeting.
Minutes are not supposed to be verbatim and including too much detail may only provide ammunition that may be used against the board in a lawsuit. However, with too little detail the minutes may be useless and may leave an impression that the board did not adequately consider one or more matters.
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.
To capture the essential discussions in a useful way, board meeting minutes should be limited to four pages, even for meetings lasting up to two hours. Here are some guidelines to follow: Annually, the board should review the format and level of detail included in its minutes.
The minutes of an hour and a half to two-hour board meeting should probably not exceed four pages and can often be less. Here are some guidelines ensuring the key deliberations are adequately and usefully recorded: 1.
How to Record Meeting Minutes The date of the meeting. The names of people in attendance (including guests) The names of absent members. A call to order that lists the time the meeting began and what the overall objective is. Agenda item 1 with a summary, motions made, and other important details.
Be Objective: Avoid subjective comments and stick to facts. Use Bullet Points: They help in making the minutes easier to scan. Be Concise: Summarize discussions and decisions without unnecessary detail. Use Clear Language: Avoid jargon unless it's commonly understood by all attendees.