The minutes of board meetings are a critical aspect of good governance that ensure that every discussion is recorded and decision. The responsibility of recording minutes at a meeting typically falls to the secretary of the board or the http://www.aboutboardroom.com/boardmaps-vs-boardeffect-board-portal/ person assigned to the job.
The person who records the minutes of the meeting must be able listen and accurately record the entire discussion even when directors are debating a topic or arguing over one another. Minutes could be scrutinized in court if the company is sued and they should be as objective and impartial in the event of a lawsuit.
Determine the date and time of the meeting. This information is required to make your minutes more organized following the meeting. It also makes it easier for readers to find relevant information. You should also indicate whether the meeting is a regular or special, emergency, or executive session.
Include all attendees who attended the meeting, including the presiding officers and board members, as well as non-voting attendees including staff or guests. Having an accurate record of who’s in attendance is important particularly in recording meetings conducted remotely.
Include a brief summary of each item on the agenda. This can be accomplished by a paragraph or two of a summary which summarizes the principal discussions as well as any significant decisions made. It is important to not include too numerous details. The detailed minute books can confuse readers and make it difficult to comprehend the direction of the business.