Article VIII - Minutes of Meetings

Section 1.

The Recording Secretary is the officer responsible for maintaining the minutes of all affiliate meetings, including Executive Board meetings and membership meetings. However, some affiliate constitutions provide for this function to be performed by the Secretary-Treasurer. Minutes should also be kept for all committee meetings, including meetings of any finance committees, budget committees, Insurance or Benefits Trusts, etc. Normally one of the committee members is designated to keep such minutes.

Section 2.

Minutes are a record of the proceedings of the meeting. They are a record of what was done at the meeting. It is not necessary to write down everything that was said by the members. The minutes should note the date and time of the meeting, who attended the Executive Board meeting or which officers were present at the membership meeting, and identify who presided at the meeting.

The minutes must note what motions were made, including any and all financial authorizations, who made the motions, who seconded the motions and whether they passed. The minutes should also state whether the minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved and should note the time of adjournment. Sample format for minutes may be found in the back of the International Constitution.

Section 3.

Copies of the Secretary-Treasurer’s report must be attached to the minutes of the meeting at which the report is given. Likewise, copies of the affiliate’s budget, audit report, other financial reports, and any contracts or policies approved, must be attached to the minutes at which they are adopted and therefore made a part of the financial records of the union.

Section 4.

Minutes must be signed by the Recording Secretary or the officer or member who wrote them. All minutes must be approved by the appropriate body -- e.g. Executive Board approves Executive Board minutes, membership approves membership meeting minutes, etc. Minutes are normally read and approved at the next meeting of the body.

Section 5.

As the minutes are considered to be a part of the financial records of the union, they must be retained for six years.