I was absent at last month’smeeting, so imagine my surprise when I found out that I had been elected the committee’ssecretary! As part of my duties, I have to take minutes at each meeting. Taking minutesmeans I have to pay attention and try my best to transcribe what each person says, or atleast do my best to summarize.

上个月的会议上我缺席了，因此可以想象当我发现我当选为该委员会的秘书，我是多么地惊讶!作为我的职责的一部分，我得利用好每次会议的每一分钟。利用好时间意味着我要注意并尽力抄写每个人说什么，或至少尽我所能来概括。

At yesterday’s meeting, the chair called the meeting to order and I conducted a roll call.Then, the chair went over the agenda and we discussed old business. We needed to vote on acouple of proposals from the past meeting, and it was my job to ask for a show of hands ofthose in favor of and those opposed to each one.

在昨天的会议上，主席要求点名，于是我进行了唱名。然后，主席讨论议程，我们讨论业务。我们需要表决上次会议的提案，它是我的工作要求那些赞成和反对的人进行举手表决。

After that was done, we went on to new business. We talked about the first item of businessfor 20 minutes when someone suggested that we table the topic until the following meeting,and the participants agreed. After another long discussion about the second agenda item, weran out of time. The chair adjourned the meeting.

之后，我们谈论新的业务。我们谈论的第一项业务的条款时花了20分钟，有人建议下次开会时我们提交讨论，与会者一致同意。花了很长时间讨论第二个议程项目后，时间已经到了。主席宣布休会。

Phew! That first meeting taught me a very good lesson. Never miss a meeting when newofficers are being chosen!

唷!第一次会议教我一个很好的教训。选取新人员时，不要缺席!

take minutes 利用好时间 call the meeting to order 敲桌子维持会场秩序 roll call 点名 a show ofhands 举手表决 in favor of 赞成 table vt.提交讨论