Governance Toolkit Module 5: Best Practice Board and Committee Minutes

| Introduction

Clear, strategic, and legally sound board minutes are more than just notes—they’re an essential governance record. In this module, you’ll explore how to create minutes that balance transparency, clarity, and regulatory requirements, all while supporting informed board decision-making.

Whether you write the minutes or review them, this module will elevate your understanding of what great minutes should capture and how they should be structured.

Important note: As you utilize the toolkit, it’s essential that your credit union follow the specific guidelines and requirements tied to its bylaws and/or charter and ensure alignment with your applicable regulations.

| Read

Start here and download the Guidebook. It serves as your core learning resource for the module and covers minute-writing principles, legal standards, and formatting tips, as well as the "Goldilocks Rule" for getting the level of detail just right.

Best Practice Board & Committee Minutes Guidebook

Download →

| Video

This module includes expert video instruction to support the guidebook. The video provides real-world examples, reflections, and communications strategies that help bring the principles of effective board communication to life.

Watch Video → Video Transcript → Session Notes →

| Toolkit

Use these additional tools alongside the Guidebook to build your board's communication effectiveness.

| Supplemental Materials

Back to all modules

| About the Course Creator

This module and the full Governance Toolkit was developed by Sylvia Groves, one of North America’s leading voices in board effectiveness and governance strategy. Sylvia is the President of Governance Studio and the creator of Fiercely Practical Governance™, a hands-on approach that helps boards move from theory to action.

| Questions or Looking for Governance Consulting?

We’re here to help! Contact us at cues@cues.org for support.

If your board or leadership team is ready to go deeper, CUES partners with Sylvia Groves and other experienced CUES governance consultants to offer tailored consulting and advisory services. To inquire about governance support, please contact governance@cues.org. We will connect you with the right expert based on your board’s unique needs.

Disclaimer

The Governance Toolkit has been built through a partnership with CUES and Governance Studio. This Module was written by Governance Studio. This publication and all related intellectual property rights (including, but not limited to, copyright) are the property of Governance Studio Inc. (“Governance Studio”) and Stabilization Central Credit Union of British Columbia (“Stabilization Central”), whose expertise contributed to the creation of this resource.

CUES is licensed to provide this publication to its members and purchasing credit unions as part of its member benefits and service offerings. No license, interest or other right to this publication has been granted, expressly or impliedly, to the recipient hereof, except as expressly permitted in this publication. The recipient of this publication may not copy, reproduce, distribute, use or disclose this publication or any part hereof for any purpose whatsoever, except for the internal purposes of the recipient or as may be otherwise consented to in writing by Governance Studio.

Governance Studio and CUES are not responsible for any errors or omissions contained in this publication and expressly disclaim liability, whether under contract or in negligence or otherwise, to any user, including subscribers and other persons who may use this publication and to members and customers of such subscribers.

Governance Studio and CUES expressly disclaims liability for loss, or damage, whether direct or indirect, resulting from any use of this publication, including, without limitation, any loss or damage, arising as a result of the procedures or forms contained in this publication being determined not to be valid or enforceable or not attaining the end desired by the user.