Last night I had a church council meeting. The regular secretary wasn’t there, so the president asked if I would take minutes. I’m not sure if I was the best choice.
First of all, I was still feeling pretty sick. The night before I had gone to bed at 8pm. Last night’s meeting didn’t end until 9:30. Fortunately, when someone made a motion, the president would say: “Brad, are you getting this down?” I thanked him each time he said that.
Secondly, there is so much talking at these meetings. So many words. I’m not sure what a secretary does with all those words. Should I write everything down, like I do when I take sermon notes? I opted for a shorter version. As we some people discussed the budget for an hour from 8:30 to 9:30, I just wrote: “Much discussion”. It ended with a Recommendation, so when I type the minutes, I should probably indicate what some of the discussion was actually about.
God bless you. I think the secretary’s job is the worst, and you’re exactly right – it’s all the talking. So. much. talking.
I ‘took notes’ during call committee meetings, but it was just typing a transcript on my laptop, otherwise I would have zoned out and the minutes would have been a series of cow-eating dinosaur cartoons.
P.S. Go to the doctor!!
I think I’m getting better now. Monday and Tuesday night consisted of sweaty, fitful sleep. Last night I did not soak my bed with sweat or wake up shivering.
Tonight I have no evening commitments. Yay! I’m going to go to bed at 8 (or earlier!).
Cow eating dinosaur cartoons sound like a vast improvement over most minutes I’ve ever had to read! I think all minutes should only read, “Some people showed up and talked a lot. That eventually ended, and they went home again.” That would seem to cover all circumstances, no?
HA! I laughed out loud at the ‘much discussion’ note. I think that’s how all minutes should read. Much dicussion, little discussion, lots of eye rolling, 2 people asleep…..
And I’m most impressed that your page isn’t covered in doodles. When I take notes, I’m a chronic doodler…and you’ll often find in my notes statements such as: I’m hungry. 3, 6, 9…..the goose drank wine. To be or not to be….
haha i laughed my ass off
I agree with your propostourous solution to this extravigational dilema