The Art of Taking Minutes

Book excerpt: Regardless of the nature of your organization, be it a homeowner's association, non-profit, retreat, guild, or corporation, meetings are a very important part of the process. The ultimate teaching and reference tool, The Art of Taking Minutes guides the office professional of any level through the many steps of arranging meetings, putting together agendas, taking notes or minutes, transcribing them in a professional format, and doing the necessary follow-up to be successful. The first book of its kind covering the subject of meeting minutes when published in 1981, Delores Dochterman Benson's indispensable guide remains a leader in its field. With over one hundred sample templates and a chapter on the vocabulary associated with professional minutes, The Art of Taking Minutes is easy-to-understand and easy to put into practice. Though thirty years have passed since its initial publication, it remains a timeless resource and the most comprehensive and exhaustive primer written regarding meetings and minutes.