Step #9: Minutes of Past Meetings

          Your greatest link to a successful future, is your past mistakes. It is best to keep a written record of your past meetings and, in planning for your next great meeting, you will use these minutes to improve on your process.

          Plan to create minutes at your own meeting. There are many Online Formats that you can use to create meeting minutes. Typically, minutes will include:

- the name of the organization holding the meeting

- the place the meeting was held

- the date

- the list of people present

- the time the meeting was called to order

- what was said during the meeting

          Meeting minutes can follow a chronological format or the format of the agenda that you prepared before the meeting began. You may considering using evaluation forms to get guest feedback on your current and previous meetings. Typically these forms are confidential, and guests can feel free to speak their minds. Look at past evaluation forms to improve on your current and future meetings. 

Written By: James Willies

Sources:

Minutes Templates http://office.microsoft.com/en-ca/templates/CT010117260.aspx

Minutes http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minutes

Planning a Meeting http://www.rwjf.org/files/publications/RWJF_PlanningAMeeting.pdf