Minutes - Constitute a valid meeting?

[Guest Theresa]

If a business meeting of an organization is called to order, but no minutes are recorded (or they are reported as having been "lost"), was the meeting a valid meeting? If officers were elected at that meetings, and there is no record of their election, should there be a revote?

[Chris Harrison]

The meeting was valid and so were the actions taken (the minutes are merely a record of what was done and not a validation of those records). The assembly should form a committee (comprised of people who have good memories and were at the meeting in question where the minutes were "lost") to draft them and then they should be presented to the assembly in the normal way. After that the assembly should consider disciplining the Secretary for being derelict in his duties for not taking the minutes or losing them.

[Gary c Tesser]

In previous eras, the minutes were produced first, after which the meeting was held, trying to do at the meeting what the minutes said the meeting had done. This sometimes produced chaos, especially when nobody showed up for the meeting. In these cases, in contrast to the situation that Original Poster Guest_Theresa asks about, which is whether a meeting without minutes is valid, we were, instead, asking whether minutes without a meeting are valid. Whereupon the Earth opened up and swallowed us, as recorded in the book of Leviticus, which is why you don't hear about that stuff much anymore.

Or -- what Chris H said. As usual.

[Guest Edgar]

The assembly should form a committee (comprised of people who have good memories and were at the meeting . . .

Though "comprised of" should be avoided.

[George Mervosh]

Though "comprised of" should be avoided.

Shame you didn't provide that advice to the NAP.

[David A Foulkes]

In previous eras, the minutes were produced first, after which the meeting was held, trying to do at the meeting what the minutes said the meeting had done. This sometimes produced chaos, especially when nobody showed up for the meeting. In these cases, in contrast to the situation that Original Poster Guest_Theresa asks about, which is whether a meeting without minutes is valid, we were, instead, asking whether minutes without a meeting are valid. Whereupon the Earth opened up and swallowed us, as recorded in the book of Leviticus, which is why you don't hear about that stuff much anymore.

Torah Torah Torah!

[Guest S2W4aY]

Thank you to all who responded, but especially Chris H. Some members of the body are attempting to piece together what they remember of the proceedings and try to bring that to the floor for a vote.

Theresa

[Guest Theresa]

Thank you to all who responded, but especially Chris H. Some members of the body are attempting to piece together what they remember of the proceedings and try to bring that to the floor for a vote.

Theresa

[Trina]

Thank you to all who responded, but especially Chris H. Some members of the body are attempting to piece together what they remember of the proceedings and try to bring that to the floor for a vote.

Theresa

Approval of minutes shouldn't be voted on (see RONR 11th ed. p. 354 l. 34 - p. 355 l. 6 for the proper procedure).

However, as long as the members aren't under the illusion that they can change history by their plan (e.g. elect different officers than were actually elected at the earlier meeting), piecing together what they remember of the proceedings is exactly what is called for.