Create a bespoke document in minutes, or upload and review your own.
Get your first 2 documents free
Your data doesn't train Genie's AI
You keep IP ownership of your information
Meeting Minutes
I need meeting minutes for a weekly team meeting that includes a summary of key discussion points, decisions made, action items with assigned responsibilities, and deadlines. The document should be clear, concise, and formatted for easy reference by all team members.
What is a Meeting Minutes?
Meeting Minutes are the official written record of what happens during a business meeting or board session. They capture key decisions, discussions, and actions in a clear, organized way that meets Canadian corporate governance requirements. Think of them as your organization's memory - documenting who attended, what was decided, and what needs to be done next.
Under various provincial Business Corporations Acts, companies must keep proper meeting records. Good minutes protect organizations legally by showing they followed proper procedures, while giving absent members and future leaders a reliable account of past decisions. They're especially important for non-profits, public companies, and regulated industries where accountability matters most.
When should you use a Meeting Minutes?
Meeting Minutes become essential anytime your organization holds formal meetings where decisions affect company operations, legal compliance, or stakeholder interests. Use them to document board meetings, annual general meetings, committee sessions, and any gathering where you need a clear record of attendance, discussions, and decisions.
Under Canadian corporate law, Meeting Minutes protect your organization by creating an official paper trail of governance activities. They're particularly valuable during tax audits, legal disputes, or regulatory reviews. Many organizations create minutes for strategic planning sessions, shareholder meetings, and situations requiring proof of decision-making processes or voting outcomes.
What are the different types of Meeting Minutes?
- Corporate Minutes: Detailed records for board meetings and shareholder gatherings, focusing on corporate governance and legal compliance
- Formal Minutes Of Meeting: Comprehensive documentation for high-stakes business meetings requiring maximum detail and formality
- General Meeting Minutes: Standard format for routine operational meetings and team discussions
- Meeting Minutes Form: Simplified template for quick, structured recording of basic meeting information
- Church Meeting Minutes: Specialized format for religious organizations, addressing unique governance and community needs
Who should typically use a Meeting Minutes?
- Corporate Secretaries: Usually responsible for drafting and maintaining Meeting Minutes for board meetings and ensuring they meet legal requirements
- Board Members: Review, approve, and rely on minutes to track decisions and demonstrate their duty of care under Canadian corporate law
- Committee Chairs: Oversee the creation and accuracy of minutes for their specific committee meetings
- Nonprofit Directors: Use minutes to document decisions and maintain transparency for stakeholders and regulatory compliance
- Legal Counsel: Review minutes to ensure proper governance and protect organizations during audits or legal proceedings
- Shareholders: Reference minutes to stay informed about company decisions and exercise their voting rights
How do you write a Meeting Minutes?
- Meeting Details: Confirm date, time, location, and type of meeting before starting
- Attendance List: Record full names and roles of all participants, including those joining remotely
- Agenda Items: Obtain the official meeting agenda to structure your minutes accordingly
- Previous Minutes: Have the last meeting's minutes ready for approval and follow-up items
- Key Decisions: Note all motions, votes, and resolutions with exact wording
- Action Items: Track who is responsible for specific tasks and their deadlines
- Supporting Documents: Gather copies of reports, presentations, or materials discussed
- Review Process: Plan who needs to approve the draft minutes before finalization
What should be included in a Meeting Minutes?
- Meeting Identification: Full legal name of organization, meeting type, date, time, and location
- Quorum Statement: Confirmation that sufficient members were present under bylaws
- Attendance Record: Complete list of present and absent members, including titles and roles
- Agenda Confirmation: Statement that proper notice was given and agenda was followed
- Motion Documentation: Exact wording of motions, who moved/seconded, and voting results
- Discussion Summary: Key points of debate without attribution to specific speakers
- Adjournment Details: Time meeting ended and next meeting date if scheduled
- Authentication: Secretary's signature and date of approval by the board
What's the difference between a Meeting Minutes and a Board Resolution?
Meeting Minutes and Board Resolutions serve different but complementary roles in corporate governance. While Meeting Minutes provide a comprehensive record of everything that happened during a meeting, Board Resolutions focus specifically on formal decisions and their official approval.
- Board Resolution: A standalone legal document that formally records a specific decision or action approved by the board
- Scope and Detail: Minutes capture all discussions, reports, and decisions, while resolutions only document final decisions
- Legal Weight: Resolutions carry direct legal authority for specific actions, while minutes serve as evidence of proper governance
- Timing: Minutes are created during meetings and approved later, while resolutions can be drafted and signed immediately when needed
- Usage Context: Minutes are required for all formal meetings, while resolutions are used only for significant corporate decisions requiring formal documentation
Download our whitepaper on the future of AI in Legal
ұԾ’s Security Promise
Genie is the safest place to draft. Here’s how we prioritise your privacy and security.
Your documents are private:
We do not train on your data; ұԾ’s AI improves independently
All data stored on Genie is private to your organisation
Your documents are protected:
Your documents are protected by ultra-secure 256-bit encryption
Our bank-grade security infrastructure undergoes regular external audits
We are ISO27001 certified, so your data is secure
Organizational security
You retain IP ownership of your documents
You have full control over your data and who gets to see it
Innovation in privacy:
Genie partnered with the Computational Privacy Department at Imperial College London
Together, we ran a £1 million research project on privacy and anonymity in legal contracts
Want to know more?
Visit our for more details and real-time security updates.
Read our Privacy Policy.