Minute-taking

Induction, Part 3b

Minute-taking

It is part of a Secretary’s responsibility to make sure that records of meetings are kept. Such records are called “minutes”.

The Secretary of an organisation or structure within an organisation will very often be the one to take minutes, but sometimes another person could do it, under the instruction of the Secretary. In some organisations, there may be an official called a “Minute Secretary”, whose job it is to keep the minutes, thus setting the Secretary free to take a more active part in the meetings.

On other occasions, an ad hoc “scribe” might be appointed to minute a gathering.

It is therefore a normal part of what a cadre might be asked to perform. So it is advisable to consider what might be involved, so that one can do this thing, if and when called upon.

The attached document has been compiled as a general and common manual on minute-taking. It is printable as an 8-page booklet.

In any particular case, in whatever organisation one might be working, it would be as well to look at how the minutes of that organisation have previously been done. This is so as to know what they are used to, but not to make one shy about improving practice in that organisation, if such improvement is necessary.

• The above is to introduce an original reading-text: Minute-taking.