What to Include and What Not to Include in Board Meeting Minutes
It doesn’t matter if the board is using a board portal, or if you use paper to keep track of your minutes, it’s vital that you take accurate and detailed notes. This will help keep the organization up-to-date. You must know what information you should include and what information to not.
For instance If you record the votes of members on a motion, the minutes should reflect only votes in favor or against a decision – not the names of individuals who voted and who backed the motion. This will protect the board from legal claims in the future. The one exception to this rule is when executive pay or financial transactions involving board members are involved – in these cases, the names of those who voted should be recorded along with rationales.
Another important aspect to include in your board meeting minutes is any information that can help clarify the board’s decisions. It could include comments from your organization’s lawyer or the chairman however, they should not be included with their opinions or conclusions unless stated explicitly. It’s also helpful to include any presentations or reports that were made at the meeting. This will allow your board to know about any relevant updates, and also provide information to your entire team.
Remember that the minutes of board meetings are an evidence of the board’s decision-making processes. They should be impartial and unbiased. This is why you should not document any personal opinions, arguments or disagreements, political discussions, or idle conversation. Instead, focus on recording facts and crucial decisions while remaining neutral in tone – even when there is tension in boardroombox.com the room.