RELEVANT
REVIEWS
The Minute
Taker's Handbook
2002. Watson, Jane. Toronto, ON:
Canadian Society of Association Executives. 108 pages.
Soft cover. http://www.csae.com/bookstore
Price
$19.95 (members)
$29.95
(non-members)
Plus
shipping & handling
Plus
applicable GST/HST
This resource will be a handy addition
to the minute taker's library, but will be of most use
to the rookie minute taker. It is promoted as a
3rd edition (earlier editions were published by Self
Counsel Press).
In addition to covering common minute
taking topics such as what should be in minutes, the
author addresses newer issues that impact minute-taking,
such as electronic meetings.
A total of 18 sample forms, etc. are
included in the book, and while not all will be useful
to every reader, there will be some that will improve
your meetings and minute taking.
The book has some good tips that make
minute taking easier, including tips on using a computer
to take minutes.
However, the book is not without its
shortcomings. I felt that it had a traditionalist
feeling to it...both in terms of its look and content.
This topic would benefit from some coverage of newer
provocative minute-taking concepts...and there are lots
out there. It is also lacking a bit on legal
issues related to minute taking.
For example, it devotes an entire
chapter to tape recorders. In my view, this is too
much coverage of an outdated minute taking tool, and the
author doesn't address the legal pitfalls with having a
taped copy of the meeting.
The book could also be better organized,
if structured as a reference book, so that users could
more easily earch for particular topics.
Overall, given the dearth of other
minute taking resources, this book is worth having
available in association offices.
Table of Contents
| Preface |
4 |
| Chapter
1 - Anyone for a Meeting? |
6 |
| Chapter
2 - Meetings and Their Participants |
12 |
| Chapter
3 - Minutes for Formal Meetings |
21 |
| Chapter
4 - Minutes for Informal Meetings |
39 |
| Chapter
5 - Techniques for Preparing Minutes |
45 |
| Chapter
6 - Computers: The Latest Tool for Recording Minutes |
62 |
| Chapter
7 - Electronic Meetings |
66 |
| Chapter
8 - Using a Tape Recorder |
71 |
| Chapter
9 - The Agenda |
74 |
| Chapter
10 - Listening at Meetings |
82 |
| Chapter
11 - Behind the Scenes |
91 |
| Chapter
12 - How Hidden Variables Affect Minute Taking |
96 |
| Chapter
13 - A Final Word to Minute Takers |
103 |
Where the Publication is Available
To order this
publication, visit
http://www.csae.com
Wayne
Amundson is president of Association Xpertise Inc.
and Publisher/Editor of The
Canadian Association e-zine.
Relevant
Reviews takes an occasional look at publications and
resources of relevance to associations and non-profits.
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