What is the purpose of meeting minutes?

Meeting minutes serve as an official record of what transpired during a meeting, capturing key discussions, decisions made, and actions assigned. This documentation ensures that members who were present can refer back to it for clarity, and it also serves to inform those who were absent about the meeting's proceedings. By providing a concise summary of the discussions, meeting minutes help maintain accountability and continuity over time, allowing participants to follow up on outstanding items or commitments made during the session.

While it's true that minutes may include notes taken by the secretary, their primary role is not simply to serve as informal notes, but to present a structured report. They are distinct from the agenda, which outlines what will be discussed in future meetings, rather than what has already occurred. Additionally, while a formal set of rules may guide how meetings are conducted, this does not encompass the specific purpose of minutes in recording meeting outcomes.