We read minutes at our meetings last year, and that was when you usually saw people's eyes glaze over and they would find something else to do. My opinion is that it's a waste of time; I can read them much faster than having someone read them to me. Plus, having at least the officers get them in advance gives people the chance to fix any stupid errors before they go out for approval. We do vote to approve the minutes each meeting, and then we post the minutes on our website after they've been approved at the meeting.

At the PTO Today conference, I went to a seminar on running effective meetings, and one of the first things the seminar leader mentioned was dumping the reading of the minutes. I would guess from the reaction that about a third of the room was completely shocked by the idea, so it's a pretty common practice to read them. We're not reading them this year.

We send a copy of the minutes home on the back of the monthly newsletter. At the meeting we provide everyone with another copy, let them review for a few minutes, then ask for them to be approved.

We give only the board members and principal a written copy, and the secretary reads them out loud. Everyone gets a copy of the meeting's agenda and treasurer's report.

We just hand them out and give a few minutes to review. Then, approve or if there are changes, make note of them. This, like many things, is very relaxed at our meetings.

We read the minutes at our meetings and only the board members get written copies. The treasurer's report as well. We do give everyone present at the meeting a copy of the treasurer report.

I like the reading of the minutes out loud, although, I do know some groups who do not read out loud. I guess it is your choice. I think (and this is my personal view....) that if you have written copies available, you will get less people out to the meetings since they can just get a copy of the minutes to read and pass around. Why bother attending a meeting if you can read all about it? I know our Bd. of Ed does not make copies of their minutes to distribute either.

I have been the Secretary for several of our PTO's for over six years now. As Secretary, I try to get the minutes out at least two weeks prior to the monthly meetings. My distribution list includes; any prior meeting attendees, Executive Board Members, Committee Chairs, Faculty Advisor(s) and Principal(s). As for the actual reading of the minutes at the meeting, we take approximately 5 minutes to review them and I make a motion to waive the reading of the minutes. [img]smile.gif[/img]