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.
As always, the minutes should be kept contemporaneously – meaning by the next Board meeting or 60 days, whichever is later. This communication is provided by the DC Bar Pro Bono Center and the authors as a public service solely for informational purposes, without any representation that it is accurate or complete.
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.
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.
Meeting minutes serve as a concise summary of what transpired during a meeting, focusing on: Decisions made: resolutions passed, policies adopted, and actions authorized. Discussions held: deliberations on decisions and differing viewpoints.
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 minutes should focus on the decisions made or actions agreed and should record the reasons for the decisions made and any key discussions. Sufficient but succinct background information should also be included for context and future reference.
Form of minutes of the board of directors of a corporation, to be used when the board of directors takes actions at a meeting (as opposed to acting by written consent without a meeting). This Standard Document has integrated notes with important explanations and drafting tips.
Board member terms usually range from two to six years, with three years being a common average. This duration strikes a balance between providing stability and allowing for fresh perspectives. There can also be unique term rules on boards. Some nonprofits boards have two consecutive terms of three years.
A board meeting is a formal gathering of a company's board of directors, which is when crucial agenda items will be discussed and actioned. Because of its importance, board meeting minutes are an absolute necessity, not just from a practical standpoint, but also from a legal one.
Organization type 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.