508 people were in attendance at the 2017 New Mexico Teamsters Appreciation Day on Saturday Sept 23rd.  Members came from a wide variety of crafts and companies which included (in order of highest member turnout) UPS, ABF, YRC, Film/Movies Drivers, Creamland, CH2M/OMI, Sysco, UPS Freight, Sysco, AmeriPride Linen, American Airlines,  Sandia Labs, and TeamOne. There were Teamster Retirees that also attended and had a booth set up for info on their Teamster Retiree Club.

To View Photos of the Event, Click Here To view a video of the event, Click Here. 

Secretary-Treasurer Walter R. Maestas along with The Teamsters 492 Executive Board and Business Agents were all there and you may have seen some of them busy working to make sure the event ran smooth. This year’s theme was “We Are Teamsters!!!” Hanging from the new 492 tents and on the back of the free shirt were logos of the dozens of Companies Local 492 represents. Everyone enjoyed the free food featuring Popeye’s Chicken, the free Teamster shirts for Members (designed by ABF Brother Albert Lujan), plus face painting & a Jumper for the kids. We also gave away a 49" Flat screen TV, Drone, Electric Fireplace heater, and whole lot more including 20 gift bags full of Teamster books, Teamster DVD, and also some 492 Teamster swag. The first bunch of kids who attended received a free Teamster Ring Disc Frisbee (we ran out). The three most sought after prizes were the TV, won by UPS Brother John Wecrzynek, and the two custom made 492 Teamster Disk-it’s, won by OMI/CH2m Hill Brother Ricardo Sanchez & UPS Brother Dominic Gutierrez.

The Teamsters Joint Council #3 Truck was there thanks to Retired 455 Vice President, Jim Adams, who drove it down from Colorado.

This is the 5th year Teamsters Local 492 has hosted an event to celebrate the Teamsters of New Mexico, and the third year we have had a committee of Volunteer Teamsters Members plan the event. The Teamsters Local 492 Executive Board, on behalf of all of the Members who enjoyed the event, would like to thank The 492 Volunteer Event Committee for all of their hard work and the countless hours of their personal time they donated to this great Union over the past months preparing for this day. In addition to the planning, the Committee showed up Thursday & Friday to set-up the inside of the hall and came in at 8 am Saturday morning to prepare the outside. Most of the Committee also worked the entire event to insure the Members would enjoy themselves. In alphabetical order, The 2017 Committee was led by Brother Joseph Carrillo (ABF) (event coordination), Lacey Eversole (ABF), who also volunteered at the check-in table, Sister Rori Hall (ABF), who also volunteered at the Teamster store and raffle tickets, Brother Albert Lujan (ABF) who also volunteered with face painting for the kids & also designed the beautiful shirt this year, Business Agent Kevin Pohl, Brother Robert Sanders (ABF), and Brother Jesus Vidaca (ABF) (event coordination) and his kids Ashley & Jesus Vidaca Jr.

Other volunteers (in alphabetical order) who came in early on Saturday to help set up the event were Business Agent Melissa Malcom-who also volunteered at the check-in table, Business Agent Tracy M^cCarty, Trustee Aaron Powell & his family Becky, Mya and Eli, Brother Kirk Weis (ABF), Recording Secretary Trey White-who also volunteered at the check-in table, and Brother Donald Wood (ABF).

Other volunteers (in alphabetical order) that helped during the event were office secretary Darlene Archuleta-Teamster store and raffle tickets, Sister Esther Basham (ABF)- food table and supplied the homemade salsa, Sister Silvana Cufré (ABF)-Face painting and Tanya Pohl-Teamster store. (If you would like to be on the event committee or volunteer at our next event, let us know by Clicking Here)

A special thanks to the many that stuck around to help clean up. Thank you to all who participated and attended this event, we truly enjoyed seeing all of you and meeting your families and we hope to be able to do this for years to come. On behalf the Teamsters Local 492 staff, Business Agents and Executive Board, we truly appreciate the Members of this Local Union and everything you do to make this Union great, and all the hard working Union Stewards that do such a great job helping their fellow Members, Thank you Teamster Brothers & Sisters!

Go down memory lane below:

(2016) Great Turnout for NM Teamster Appreciation Day

(2015) 492 Teamster Day 2015 Turns Out Record Attendees

2014 Membership Appreciation Day

(2013) Great Time Had At The First Ever 492 Membership Appreciation Event