meeting minutes

Recording votes in meeting minutes

By Ann Macfarlane / August 25, 2016 / Comments Off on Recording votes in meeting minutes

When deciding about recording votes in meeting minutes, first review any legal requirements in your state of incorporation. For instance, in California, public bodies must record how each board member cast their vote by name in the minutes. Those requirements may settle the matter for you. If your state doesn’t specify how to record the…

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Publish your numbers when electing nonprofit officers

By Ann Macfarlane / August 4, 2016 / Comments Off on Publish your numbers when electing nonprofit officers

When it comes time for electing nonprofit officers, far too often we see announcements like this: “The election for president was held and Director Black was elected to the office.” This is a mistake! When you hold an election for office, BE SURE to include the numbers of votes cast for each individual in your…

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What to include in meeting minutes?

By Ann Macfarlane / August 2, 2016 / Comments Off on What to include in meeting minutes?

Updated November 20, 2022 Readers sometimes ask us what exactly to include in meeting minutes. This is our best understanding of the content according to our experience and Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, 12th edition. The name of the body that is meeting and the type of meeting (regular, special, annual, continued, study session,…

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Nonprofit boards should not vote to approve minutes

By Ann Macfarlane / May 12, 2016 / Comments Off on Nonprofit boards should not vote to approve minutes
paper with pen

Do you serve on a private nonprofit board? Did you know that according to Robert’s Rules of Order, you shouldn’t vote to approve minutes? Instead, use this simple procedure. The secretary reads the minutes aloud. If the draft minutes have been distributed in advance, so everyone has had a chance to review them, this step is…

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Are summary minutes right for your nonprofit board?

By Ann Macfarlane / August 25, 2015 /
paper with pen

Over the years Jurassic Parliament has been a strong supporter of “action minutes.” We agree with Robert’s Rules of Order that the fundamental purpose of minutes is to record official actions taken by a governing body. Minutes are a legal record and document what the body has done. This is true for elected councils, appointed…

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