Form with which the stockholders of a corporation record the contents of their annual meeting.
Form with which the stockholders of a corporation record the contents of their annual meeting.
Legal protection: Auditors, courts and the IRS consider meeting minutes official records of the actions of an organization and its board. Documented proof of what happened at a meeting can be critical.
To take effective meeting minutes, the secretary should include: Date of the meeting. Time the meeting was called to order. Names of the meeting participants and absentees. Corrections and amendments to previous meeting minutes. Additions to the current agenda. Whether a quorum is present. Motions taken or rejected.
What do the minutes contain? Time, date and place of meeting. List of people attending. List of absent members of the group. Approval of the previous meeting's minutes, and any matters arising from those minutes. For each item in the agenda, a record of the principal points discussed and decisions taken.
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.
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.
To take notes for board meeting minutes, focus on summarizing the most important points. Begin by noting the meeting start time and attendees. As the meeting progresses, document key discussions, decisions, and action items. Avoid writing verbatim; instead, summarize reports and motions.
9 proven tips for taking better meeting notes Choose a note-taking method that works you. Ditch the laptop—use pen and paper instead. Don't transcribe everything verbatim. Use a meeting notes template. Assign a specific note-taker for the meeting. Transcribe conversations with recording software.
What Should Be Included in Meeting Minutes? Date and time of the meeting. Names of the meeting participants and those unable to attend (e.g., “regrets”) Acceptance or corrections/amendments to previous meeting minutes. Decisions made about each agenda item, for example: Actions taken or agreed to be taken. Next steps.
Include the name of the organization, date and time of meeting, who called it to order, who attended and if there a quorum, all motions made, any conflicts of interest or abstainments from voting, when the meeting ended and who developed the minutes. The secretary of the board usually takes minutes during meetings.
Corporate meeting minutes typically include: The meeting's date, time and location. A list of attendees and absentees, including any present board members or officers. Agenda items. Summaries of all discussion points. Details of all activities completed or agreed upon. Results of any votes or motions.