Chapter Leader Resource Center

MAORCA chapters help strengthen collaboration among retail investigators, law enforcement, prosecutors, and other appropriate industry partners within a local region.

Chapter priorities

• Build professional relationships across organizations.
• Identify common offenders and related investigations.
• Facilitate appropriate intelligence sharing.
• Improve collaboration across jurisdictional boundaries.
• Support educational and prevention initiatives.
• Encourage coordinated investigative efforts.
• Recognize the contributions of local partners.

Remember: A chapter does not need to host large events to be successful. Consistent engagement and meaningful relationships often produce the greatest value.

Start with the organizations already working in your region and gradually expand your professional network.

Potential partners

• Retail asset protection and loss prevention investigators
• Local and county law enforcement
• State police and investigative agencies
• Federal law enforcement partners
• Prosecutors and their investigative staff
• Shopping center and property security personnel
• Relevant fraud and financial crime investigators

Tips for increasing participation

• Send personal invitations rather than only mass emails.
• Ask existing members to introduce appropriate colleagues.
• Include organizations from neighboring jurisdictions.
• Encourage retail and law enforcement co-hosting.
• Make every meeting useful for the people attending.

Chapter leaders coordinate opportunities for collaboration. They do not need to personally handle every task.

Suggested responsibilities

Consider dividing responsibilities among volunteers, including meeting coordination, outreach, presentations, and follow-up communication.

Use this checklist to manage your planning timeline. Beginning approximately eight weeks ahead is a useful starting point for larger meetings.

6 to 8 Weeks Before

3 to 5 Weeks Before

1 to 2 Weeks Before

Meeting Day

Within 48 Hours

Customize these messages with your chapter information.

Subject: Invitation | Retail & Law Enforcement Intelligence-Sharing Meeting

Hello,

You are invited to participate in an upcoming MAORCA chapter intelligence-sharing meeting bringing together retail investigators, law enforcement, and appropriate industry partners in our region.

Date: [DATE]
Time: [TIME]
Location: [LOCATION]

The purpose of this meeting is to strengthen relationships, share relevant crime trends, identify investigative connections, and support collaboration across organizations and jurisdictions.

We encourage attendees to come prepared to discuss relevant trends, ongoing investigative challenges, or appropriate intelligence-sharing opportunities.

Please RSVP by [DATE] using [RSVP DETAILS].

We look forward to connecting with you.

[NAME]
[MAORCA CHAPTER]

Subject: Reminder | MAORCA Intelligence-Sharing Meeting

Hello,

This is a reminder of our upcoming MAORCA chapter intelligence-sharing meeting.

Date: [DATE]
Time: [TIME]
Location: [LOCATION]

We look forward to bringing together retail and law enforcement partners to discuss regional crime trends and opportunities for collaboration.

If you have an appropriate topic to share, please contact [HOST NAME].

Thank you,
[NAME]

60-Minute Meeting

1. Welcome and introductions: 10 minutes
2. Regional trends and emerging concerns: 15 minutes
3. Retail and law enforcement intelligence sharing: 25 minutes
4. Follow-up opportunities and announcements: 10 minutes

90-Minute Meeting

1. Welcome, introductions, and ground rules: 10 minutes
2. Retail trends and intelligence: 20 minutes
3. Law enforcement updates: 20 minutes
4. Featured case or topic presentation: 20 minutes
5. Open discussion and investigative connections: 15 minutes
6. Closing and next steps: 5 minutes

Two-Hour Meeting

1. Welcome and introductions: 10 minutes
2. Featured training presentation: 30 minutes
3. Retail intelligence presentations: 25 minutes
4. Law enforcement intelligence and case updates: 25 minutes
5. Open discussion and collaborative opportunities: 20 minutes
6. Announcements and closing: 10 minutes

Tip: Encourage networking before and after the meeting. Some of the most meaningful case connections occur through direct conversations.

Productive intelligence-sharing meetings depend on trust, professionalism, and responsible information handling.

Recommended ground rules

• Share only information you are authorized to disclose.
• Respect confidential and sensitive investigative material.
• Do not distribute presentations, photographs, or case information without appropriate permission.
• Protect victim, witness, and other personal information.
• Use approved channels for investigative follow-up.
• Respect applicable legal, organizational, and agency information-sharing requirements.
• Do not discuss competitively sensitive business information, including pricing, wages, margins, promotions, or market allocation.

Sample opening statement

Before we begin, a quick reminder that the purpose of today's meeting is to strengthen professional relationships and support appropriate collaboration.

Please share only information you are authorized to disclose. Information discussed here should not be recorded, photographed, or redistributed without the appropriate permissions.

We also ask everyone to respect the sensitivity of ongoing investigations and avoid sharing competitively sensitive business information.

If a specific investigative connection is identified, please coordinate directly through your organization's approved channels.

Thank you for helping maintain a professional and trusted environment.

A good intelligence presentation should be focused, relevant, and designed to generate useful discussion.

Suggested presentation structure

1. Overview: Briefly describe the criminal activity or trend.
2. Geographic scope: Explain affected areas and jurisdictions.
3. Modus operandi: Describe relevant patterns and methods.
4. Investigative connections: Identify appropriate links or similarities.
5. Outstanding questions: Explain what information may help advance the investigation.
6. Contact information: Provide an authorized point of contact for follow-up.

Presentation tips

• Keep slides simple and readable.
• Use photos and video only when authorized.
• Clearly identify restrictions on further dissemination.
• Avoid displaying unnecessary personal information.
• Conclude with a specific question or request for assistance.

Venue checklist

Helpful meeting roles

• Host: Welcomes attendees and manages the agenda.
• Check-in coordinator: Welcomes and confirms attendees.
• Technology coordinator: Handles audiovisual requirements.
• Timekeeper: Helps presentations remain on schedule.
• Follow-up coordinator: Tracks approved action items and future meetings.

The meeting should be the beginning of collaboration, not the end of it.

Subject: Thank You | MAORCA Chapter Meeting

Hello,

Thank you to everyone who participated in our recent MAORCA chapter intelligence-sharing meeting.

We appreciate the time and effort you contributed to strengthening collaboration between retail investigators, law enforcement, and our other industry partners.

Our goal is to continue building relationships that lead to better information sharing, stronger investigations, and more effective responses to organized retail crime.

We encourage you to follow up directly with the appropriate contacts regarding any investigative connections identified during the meeting.

We look forward to seeing you at our next meeting.

[NAME]
[MAORCA CHAPTER]

Five questions for attendee feedback

1. Was this meeting valuable to your work?
2. Which discussion or presentation was most helpful?
3. Did you identify any useful contacts or potential investigative connections?
4. What topics would you like covered next?
5. Would you attend another chapter meeting?

Share contact details and presentation materials only with the appropriate permissions.

Successful chapters maintain engagement between meetings. They also make participation worthwhile without creating unnecessary administrative work.

Engagement ideas

• Rotate meeting locations and hosts.
• Invite new investigators to introduce themselves.
• Feature a different retail or agency perspective at each meeting.
• Share MAORCA training opportunities and resources.
• Encourage appropriate referrals and connections.
• Recognize partners who contribute to collaborative successes.
• Schedule future meetings before the current meeting ends.

Measure success by more than attendance. Meaningful engagement, professional relationships, case connections, and continued participation matter.

Maintain a simple record of chapter activity so MAORCA can better understand the value and impact of local collaboration.

Suggested information to track

• Meeting dates and locations
• Total estimated attendance
• Number of retail organizations represented
• Number of law enforcement agencies represented
• General topics discussed
• Training or prevention activities
• Appropriate collaborative outcomes
• Opportunities for future meetings or initiatives

Recognition helps strengthen the community and celebrate individuals and organizations making a positive impact.

Consider submitting recognition for:

• Outstanding retail investigations
• Law enforcement investigative successes
• Collaborative cases involving multiple partners
• Prosecutors supporting organized retail crime cases
• Community prevention efforts
• Individuals demonstrating exceptional partnership

Before submitting any recognition, verify that the information is appropriate for publication and that necessary approvals have been obtained.