So far, I've found that what I said before seems correct. It is a public meeting so recording is not illegal unless your township has a specific law against it. I can't see any municipality passing a law to not record a public parent-teacher meeting (but you never know). Most general laws say "as long as it doesn't disrupt the meeting", it's legal. Most of what I've read is geared more toward video taping. How is an audio tape recording gonna disrupt anything? I would say you would be okay in recording the meetings. Maybe when you start your next meeting, just make a mention of it to the membership. Or do what I do, and don't tell them, but don't hide it. If someone sees it and questions it, just mention that it's a public meeting so the law doesn't apply there.
I think that the "illegal" recording goes only for private conversations. This is a public meeting and I think the rules are different for public meetings. I actually do record the meetings for my own personal use (we have a few backstabbers on my board). I put the tape recorder on the desk in front of everyone and nobody has ever said anything. I do ask permission to tape our Executive board meetings when it is just us though, although I do not get anything in writing.
I'm going to look further into it and let you know what I find out.
It is illegal in many states to record someone without their permission, remember Monica? If you have a note though that folks sign that says they do not object to being recorded, show the date and time and do a vocal in the recording to ensure that everyone consents on tape then you're okay. If someone comes in however, that has not consented, y ou need to stop the recording and gain their approval as well.
That is how I understand it. dianna
According to Robert's Rules of Order, you don't document ANY discussion. The only item that is documented is the MOTION that is made around the discussion. So, if an issue is discussed for discussion's sake, the minutes would only indicate, "the group discussed the advantages and disadvantages of various locations for the carnival" (for example). If a motion is made, the minutes would include the text of the motion and the results such as, "A motion was made by Sally Smith, seconded by Jane Doe, to hold the annual carnival at the high school. Discussion followed. Motion passed."
You'll never accurately capture every comment made by every person at a meeting. People will stop offering their opinions if they see them interpretted in the minutes; what you say in the course of fluid and open discussion can look lots different when it's written down for posterity. I wouldn't tape the meetings and I wouldn't record discussion. If someone wants to make sure the secretary is "getting it right", she can come to the meeting to observe and participate herself. Just my 2 cents.
Recently, the minutes of one of our general pto meetings were questioned by a parent. She felt that our recording secratary did not include in the minutes all discussions that took place. The parent felt that the members voted on an issue that we feel was not voted on. Others at that same meeting say the same thing we do, it was not voted on. This parent suggested in a very nasty email that we purchase a tape recorder to record all meetings.
We have no problem recording these meetings to stop any future problems like this. That way, our recording secratary can partipate in the meetings and worry about what took place at a later time.
BUT, another parent said we were not allowed to record them. huh??? Our school board meetings are recored, why cant the pto do the same?
