Do’s and Don’ts for Meeting Minutes

With many things in life and business, less is more.  In the nonprofit world, this is especially true for meeting minutes.  

Minutes are an official record of actions the board or committee took at a meeting, not a record of everything that was said.  They serve a historical purpose, but just as important, they serve a legal purpose, documenting the group’s adherence to the proper procedures and the nonprofit’s bylaws.  And minutes and recordings made during a meeting are discoverable in litigation, so it is imperative to be prudent about what you include.