A consent agenda is the practice of bundling routine matters into one board vote to free up board meeting time to focus on the substantive issues facing the organization. Because every board action must be agreed upon and documented in the board meeting minutes, time is frequently wasted discussing and approving actions such as the… Continue Reading
Category Archives: Meeting Minutes and Consents
Nonprofit Law Jargon Buster: What is a Consent Agenda
Filed Under: Governance, Meeting Minutes and Consents
Nonprofit Law Jargon Buster: Voting by Unanimous Written Consent
Occasionally, urgent board action is required yet it is not possible or practical to have the board meet in person or even over the telephone. In these cases, most states permit the board members to conduct official business by signing a unanimous written consent.… Continue Reading
Filed Under: Meeting Minutes and Consents
Lessons to be Learned From the Arizona Fiesta Bowl
Could one man really do that much damage to an Arizona institution as high profile and important as the Fiesta Bowl? More likely, the nonprofit scandal of the year was a group effort fueled by a dysfunctional board. The Fiesta Bowl board bears all the hallmarks of a board more interested in administering than governing the organization. Still, there are lessons to be learned from the Fiesta Bowl’s governance and oversight failures.… Continue Reading
Memorializing Nonprofit Board and Committee Meetings
Because minutes hold such legal importance, it is necessary to make certain that every organization has a policy of recording minutes in such a way that ensures that the minutes accurately reflect the wishes and actions of the board of directors; however, all language which might be used to the company’s disadvantage in the future should be eliminated. Minutes should be worded in a way that is clear and concise and accurately conveys the meaning of the action taken. … Continue Reading
Filed Under: Meeting Minutes and Consents