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.
There are three standard styles of minutes: action, discussion, and verbatim. Each style has a specific use. Action minutes record the decisions reached and the actions to be taken, though not recording the discussion that went into making the decisions. This is the most common form of minutes used.
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).
Helpful Tips for Taking Board Meeting Minutes Use a template. Check off attendees as they arrive. Do introductions or circulate an attendance list. Record motions, actions, and decisions as they occur. Ask for clarification as necessary. Write clear, brief notes rather than full sentences or verbatim wording.
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.
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.
Following is a template for a slightly more detailed meeting minutes report:Title of meetingPurpose of meeting: why this meeting's happeningLocation: where you held the meetingDate and time: day and time of meetingAttendance: participant participant participant
Keep a basic record of what went on during the meeting. For example: who gave a presentation, did a “discussion ensue,” were “questions asked and answered?” But avoid recording everything.
What to include when writing meeting minutes? Meeting basics like name, place, date and time ... List of meeting participants. Meeting purpose. Agenda items. Next meeting date and place. Documents to be included in the meeting report. Key action items.
Board minutes often contain information that is subject to the attorney-client privilege and that directors may prefer to keep confidential. However, most jurisdictions allow stockholders to inspect corporate books and records, including board minutes.
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.