First of all, as the minute man, scribe, or secretary, you have become responsible to report, as articulately as possible, all of significance that took place within a meeting without adding any confusing description or accidental prejudice. What makes this task so formidable? I presume there are several reasons one wouldn't want the responsibility. I have been to many a meeting where the board members look around as the meeting begins and someone will ask who's taking minutes? Suddenly, people are busy removing lint from their sleeves or even the sleeve of a nearby board member, carefully avoiding the chairman's questioning eyes. When you find a volunteer who is delighted to be the minute taker, hold onto them and never let them miss a meeting! Their absence is often a source of great concern to the rest of the board and their job is one that must be faithfully filled at every official meeting. With a job description like this, the role of secretary is a busy one that people often shy away from. The most common description of the secretary's role includes the keeping of all the minutes and records of the association and the distribution of all required notices. Specific responsibilities of directors serving on an association's board are most often stated in the by-laws of the association. The responsibility to take minutes of meetings of the association or its board is typically that of the secretary.

Taking the minutes