Gaming. Just as important, the Association was able to avoid layoffs and retain our loyal staff who continued to keep the Association active through new forms of communication and lobbying. For their continuing support, I want to thank the following Tribes and companies for their generous donations: Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Poarch Creek Band of Indians IGT Aristocrat Gaming Our Associate members are an important component of serving our Tribal Members and we hope to see more donations from companies that are benefitting from Indian Gaming. This year we are reforming our Associate Member Program to make it easier for companies to join the Association and provide a platform for companies to share the work they are doing in Indian Country. I pledge to continue our cooperative work on the Annual Budget, and will continue to coordinate with the Finance Committee, the Chairman, Executive Director, and our Membership, to protect the Association’s resources and ensure they are being used to meet Indian Country’s priorities. I am overwhelmed by the unity displayed by Indian Country during these trying times. Because of our collective advocacy, the Federal Government provided unprecedented support to Tribal Governments and our reservation economies during the Covid pandemic. As Treasurer, I want to build on this cooperation and respect for Tribal sovereignty as we work our way out of the pandemic challenges and prepare for new methods of doing business in Indian Country. As Treasurer, I owe it to our Tribal Membership to not only maintain the Association’s excellent credit rating, but to ensure the long-term fiscal health of the Association. It is an honor to have an elected role in an organization that is now of the most esteemed advocacy groups in Washington, D.C. I want to thank the Tlingit & Haida Indian community, especially the Douglas Village, for their support, in addition to all of our Member Tribal Nations for helping the Association achieve its goals. I look forward to meeting with you in San Diego and hearing your suggestions on how to continue to help all Tribal Nations pursue economic self-sufficiency, care for our people, and build a future for the generations to come. I wish you much success in 2023 and look forward to seeing you on the Tradeshow floor.
11 INDIAN GAMING - ANNUAL REPORT 2023
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