Help! MUST we approve minutes first?

[Guest Melissa]

I know that approval of the minutes is traditionally among the first orders of business (clearly after role call).

It seems that while this is generally accepted, it isn't mandatory. For our board meetings, we typically wrap up with approval of the minutes. Is this incorrect?

[hmtcastle]

For our board meetings, we typically wrap up with approval of the minutes. Is this incorrect?

Yes, it's incorrect. It's like building the roof first and laying the foundation last.

Consider a situation where someone makes a motion to amend a motion that had been adopted at the previous meeting. Without approved minutes, there'd be no official record of the original motion.

Or consider a emergency arising which results in an early adjournment. Now you're faced with two sets of unapproved minutes at the next meeting.

[Guest Melissa]

Yes, it's incorrect. It's like building the roof first and laying the foundation last.

Consider a situation where someone makes a motion to amend a motion that had been adopted at the previous meeting. Without approved minutes, there'd be no official record of the original motion.

Or consider a emergency arising which results in an early adjournment. Now you're faced with two sets of unapproved minutes at the next meeting.

[Guest dave]

One "common sense" reason to approve the minutes first is to minimize the (incorrect) tendency to discuss actions, status, etc. when the only task in front of you is what was done at the previous meeting.

[Gary Novosielski]

I know that approval of the minutes is traditionally among the first orders of business (clearly after role call).

It seems that while this is generally accepted, it isn't mandatory. For our board meetings, we typically wrap up with approval of the minutes. Is this incorrect?

It's pretty close to mandatory, unless you've got a very good reason to put it off, and that should be rare, not typical.

Minutes remind you what happened at the last meeting and, often, things that you need to remember to do at this meeting. It's not only important to remember them, but to agree on what they are. And there's no better time to do that than right off the bat. That's why they come right after calling the meeting to order, and before any reports, speeches, other business, and even before <gasp> refreshments.