Amending approved minutes of a non-profit board meeting

[Guest Jane Henry]

If a mistake is noted in board minutes after the minutes have been approved, is there any opportunity to make a correction?

 

Jane Henry

[Atul Kapur]

Yes. Use the motion Amend Something Previously Adopted.

"48:15 If the existence of an error or material omission in the minutes becomes reasonably established after their approval—even many years later—the minutes can then be corrected by means of the motion to Amend Something Previously Adopted (35), which requires a two-thirds vote, or a majority vote with notice, or the vote of a majority of the entire membership, or unanimous consent. In such a case the content of the original minutes must not be altered, although it may be advisable for the secretary to make a marginal notation indicating the corrected text or referring to the minutes of the meeting at which the correction was adopted. The minutes of the latter meeting must include the full text of the motion to Amend Something Previously Adopted, which necessarily includes all information required to construct an accurate record of the actions taken at the earlier meeting."

[Weldon Merritt]

Agreeing with Dr. Kapur, I will add that if the correction is likely to be noncontroversial, you may be able to use general consent. ("Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the minutes of the [date] meeting be corrected by [state the proposed correction].") But if anyone objects, then you will have to use the full process as described by Dr. Kapur.