Imagine this scenario: Your board of directors is having its first meeting of the term. The first item on the agenda is to approve a service contract that was initially discussed six months ago. There’s just one problem. Since some of the directors are newly elected, they didn’t participate in the original discussion. They can’t reach consensus because they’re missing some key historical details, and the meeting is dragging on.

Then, the board secretary proposes a simple solution: Check the previous minutes. Good idea. Minutes are an essential part of board meetings because they are an objective official record of actions the board took at a meeting.

A board without minutes is like the kid in school who “did his homework” but forgot it at home. Words can only go so far in trying to “say” what the actual minutes provide. Therefore, appropriately storing or filing the minutes is just as important as taking them.

Here is a quick primer on what they are, why they are essential, and how to take them and use them effectively.

Why Are Minutes Important?

Minutes are the official written record of an association’s decisions and actions based on the meetings of its board of directors and committees. By law, most for-profit and nonprofit entities in the U.S. must maintain meeting minutes as part of their corporate records. Over time, minutes become part of the written history of an association, documenting its past and acting as a guide for the future.

Properly drafted minutes are a form of protection against future risk. Memories are unreliable, and associations and their boards change over time. Decisions that have been recorded using objective language can reduce the liability risk of individual board members and confirm that the board is fulfilling its fiduciary duties. If there are conflicting accounts of an event, the board can reference the minutes and prevent a dispute from escalating. Or if an association is subject to litigation, the minutes are important evidentiary documents.

What Should Be Included?

Minutes are not the same as a transcript, so they should not include direct quotations from participants, personal opinions, or emotional arguments. Instead of recording every word that was said in a meeting, minutes should include:

• Names of all participants, including the person recording the minutes
• Call to order and adjournment times
• Decisions
• Votes taken should appear in their place of order in the agenda. Generally, don’t include names. Instead, record what happened: “Action: Motion made, seconded, and carried.”
• Directors who declare a conflict of interest
• Amendments to previous minutes and confirmation that the minutes have been approved
• Status updates of ongoing items

Who Should Take Minutes?

Who takes the minutes is just as important as the content. The most convenient and cost-effective option is to have a board member or staff person act as minute taker. However, that convenience can have serious disadvantages and end up costing an organization a lot amount more than it saves.

Properly drafted minutes are a form of protection against future risk. 

For example, a board member who is focused on taking minutes cannot actively participate in the meeting and contribute as a decision maker. If a staff person is busy with their regular duties, they may have issues completing the minutes. There may also be concerns with biased language, especially if the board member or staff person’s actions are under scrutiny by the board.  

The other option is to engage a third-party minute-taking service. Professional minute takers are knowledgeable in the content that should and should not be included, are experienced in documenting board decisions in objective language, and are impartial because they have no vested interest in the financial outcomes of the board’s decisions. The minutes have increased credibility because they were drafted by someone who was not involved in the decision making.        

How Are Minutes Stored?

Ideally, minutes are digitized and stored in a cloud-based system that is available to board members and staff. This prevents the minutes from being misplaced or lost, and ensures they remain accessible through board and staff turnover. Jurisdiction and the governing legislation for an association determine how long the minutes should be stored. 

By carefully considering the content and who performs the role of documenting it, maintaining quality minutes means better meetings, better decision making, and better associations. 

Editor's note: This article was updated on May 31, 2022.