The minutes of aboutboardroom.com board meetings are an important record of key information and governance processes. They can serve as an basis for post-decision review and to ensure that boards are accountable. They can also assist in preventing the board from taking shortcuts in the future that could prove problematic for the stakeholder group of the company.

Minutes are usually drafted by a board member who is the chairman or someone from the organisation’s staff. It could be a scribe who has experience in writing board minutes or a professional secretary who is knowledgeable about what should and shouldn’t be included in minutes. It is essential that the person writing the draft minutes is clear about the requirements. This will help to create notes that are unique and gives the board meetings credibility.

It is essential to include the date, the time, and the location of the meeting in the minutes. The next step is to make an inventory of the officers in charge directors, non-voting participants and the like. You should also note whether any members attended via phone or via the internet.

The minutes should be split into two sections including substantive business. Administrative business can include things like agenda approvals, a summary of previous minutes, or the use of consent agendas (which reduces debate by acknowledging the same items with a single motion). Substantive business is more content-heavy items such as the release of updates from committees, briefings on risk management, and decisions on new service initiatives.