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.
Generally, board minutes are kept for internal records. However, in certain circumstances there may be a requirement to disclose/provide third parties with the record of board minutes.
Understand who can access minutes: In many cases, meeting minutes are considered public records, which means others can view them.
In short, the answer is yes – and no. If the non-profit is considered a governmental entity, then it must make its board meeting minutes public. If it is not, then it is at liberty to keep those minutes private.
Anyone can take notes during a board meeting. The corporate secretary will even turn their notes into more formal meeting minutes. However, board meeting tones tend to remain either for the note-taker's own reference or for drafting official minutes; they don't enter the corporate record themselves.
Do nonprofits have to make their board meeting minutes public? In most cases, no. Nonprofits usually don't have to share their board meeting minutes unless receive governmental funding, like school boards or public libraries. However, some choose to do so voluntarily for transparency and trust-building.
What to include Meeting date, time and location. Names of the committee or other group holding the meeting, the Chair and Secretary. List of those present, including guests in attendance, and any recorded regrets/absences. A record of formal motions and outcomes.
At a minimum, minutes should include: Name and kind of meeting. Date, place, and time that the meeting began and ended. Names of the chair and secretary or their substitute. Names of voting members attending and whether a quorum was present. Names of guests and their subject matter.
Board meeting minutes – before the board meeting Understand your role & your board's policies. Prepare your minutes template in advance. Note board meeting attendance. Fill in your template as the board meeting progresses. Record the time the meeting was adjourned. Obtain copies of all reports.
Let's discuss these steps on how to take minutes for a meeting in more detail: Create an outline. Check off attendees as they enter. Previous meeting notes. Don't write everything down. Record the important meetings. Put down meeting minutes as they're discussed. Review with attendees at the end of the meeting.
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.