Teamsters Local 492 would like to thank everyone who attended the first ever Membership Appreciation Cookout held on Oct 18^th & 19^th, 2013. Click Here to see all photos. An estimated 300 Members and their families came to the event during the 2 day period from a wide variety of crafts and companies which included (in alphabetical order) ABF, AmeriPride Linen, Creamland, LANS, Penske, Sysco, TDI, UPS, UPS Freight, Western Refinery, and YRC. There were many Teamster Retirees that also attended as well as New Mexico Attorney General Gary King. The current Executive Board and Business Agents were there and enjoyed meeting and talking to the Members in this social atmosphere which also gave the Members a chance to have quality time to ask questions and get to know the 492 E-Board & BA’s better. 

Teamster Members and their families were treated to Hamburgers & Hotdogs, Teamster T-shirts that commemorated the event, along with Teamster Local 492 key chains, pens, Frisbees and balls for the kids. Attendees were also able to get an up-close look at the Teamster Joint Council #3 Tractor/Trailer which was brought down from Colorado by Retired Vice President of Local 455, Jim Adams.

There was a small car show where the participants had a chance to win a die cast model replica of the beautiful Teamster Joint Council #3 Tractor/Trailer. The Friday winner was Retiree Dean Van Dorn of YRC who had the Oldsmobile Holiday, and the Saturday winner was Retiree Tom Elmhorst of YRC who had a Dodge & Plymouth enterered. Others that entered cars (in alphabetical order) were Retiree Ruben Barreras of ABF, Retiree Johnny Benavidez of ABF, Brother John Chavez of ABF, Brother David Morrow of ABF, Brother Danny Muller of ABF, Retiree Billy Sanchez of ABF, and a special thanks to Brother John Wegrzynek of UPS for helping with the car show set up along with entering his car.

There was also a periodic daily raffle for a Teamster Local 492 Jacket that will have the winners name embroidered on it. The winners were (in alphabetical order) Brother Paul Andrews of UPS, Brother Mark Ayers of ABF, Retiree Johnny Benavidez of ABF, Brother John Chavez of ABF, Brother Mike Larranaga of Western Refining, Retiree Dean Van Dorn of YRC and Brother Jim Willis of ABF.  Congratulations to our 7 winners!

We would like to thank Brother David Snow who is a Union Steward at Creamland for donating his time and jumper for the kids to play in on Saturday. As you can see from some of the photos, the kids had a great time.

Finally, Teamsters Local 492 would like to thank the volunteers that helped make the first ever 492 Membership Appreciation event possible and so successful, which include Brother Joseph Carrillo of ABF & Brother Scott Rhodes of ABF and special thanks goes out to Brother Kevin Pohl and Brother Moises Ortega for organizing the event.   

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 again next year. 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.