EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT JASON GILES Muscogee (Creek) Nation
W elcome to beautiful Anaheim! The Indian Gaming Association visits Anaheim for the second time in three years and after two pandemic interrupted shows. We are excited to be in Anaheim and look forward to resuming our San Diego Tradeshow in 2025. I want to thank the City of Anaheim and everyone at the Anaheim Convention Center for their constant attention and updates throughout these years. Their constant outreach, even through the pandemic years, proved invaluable to our planning. IGA has faced several administrative challenges since coming out of the pandemic, including a name change and securing future dates for our Annual Tradeshow and Convention. These uncertainties weighed heavily on the Association, but we made adjustments, both financially and administratively, and our advocacy work remains strong. The overriding goal during these uncertain times was to protect our number one asset, our dedicated staff working on Indian Country’s behalf in Washington, D.C. Working with the Finance Committee and Treasurer, the Association embarked on aggressive cost saving measures over the last two years. The Indian Gaming Association starts 2024 in a strong position having recovered financially from the pandemic. This year we are starting work on the last part of our Headquarters expansion, a state of the art “Tribal Leaders’ Lounge” in the downstairs part of Association’s building. The Lounge will be available for IGA Tribal Membership to come and relax between meetings on Capitol Hill, or bring visitors to a little slice of Indian Country in Washington, D.C. As we begin 2024, the Federal Government has yet to resolve the FY 2024 Budget battle and time is running short for a lot of Indian Country’s legislative and regulatory work with regards to Tribal tax laws, and gaming regulation. Our staff is proud to serve Indian Gaming in a role that helps to bring
14 INDIAN GAMING - ANNUAL REPORT 2023
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