The 2015 New Mexico Teamsters Appreciation Day had a record turnout this year with about 500 people (members and their families) attending the event from a wide variety of crafts and companies which included (in alphabetical order) ABF, AmeriPride Linen, Chiulista, Creamland, Film/Movies, Franklins, LANS, NCRTD, OMI, Penske, Sysco, TeamOne, UPS, UPS Freight, and YRC. 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

Guest speakers included Teamsters Vice President Steve Vairma, US Congresswoman Michelle Lujan Grisham, and New Mexico State Senator & Majority Leader Michael Sanchez. The Executive Board, Business Agents and office staff were on hand and enjoyed meeting and talking to the Members in this social atmosphere which also gave the Members a chance to have quality time to get to know the 492 E-Board & BA’s better. Everyone enjoyed the food featuring Popeye’s Chicken, the free Teamster shirts for Members, face painting, and some Teamster swag as well. 

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

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.

There was also a raffle where we had lots of prizes and lots of winners. The two most sought after prizes were the TV (won by Brother John Petitt of UPS) and the custom made 492 Teamster Disk-it (won by Brother Joshua Cordova of ABF).

This is the 3rd year Teamsters Local 492 has hosted an event to celebrate the Teamsters of New Mexico, but this is the first year we have had a committee of Teamsters Members plan the event, and it definitely showed. As you may have noticed, the event was very well organized and this years Member attendance more than doubled last year’s! That is thanks to Brother Kevin Pohl and his 492 Event Committee, led by Brother Joseph Carrillo. The Event Committee put all of this together, got the word out, and performed way beyond expectations with a phenomenal job! The attention to detail, the seamless functionality, the amazing appearance, the great prizes, and everything else, were all because of the work and vision The 492 Event Committee. 

The Teamsters Local 492 Executive Board, on behalf of all of the Members who enjoyed the event, would like to thank The 492 Event Committee for all of their hard work and the countless hours of their personal time they donated to this great Union over the last 3 months preparing for this day. On the committee are (in alphabetical order) Sister Esther Basham who also volunteered at food table, Brother Joseph Carrillo (event coordination), Sister Silvana Cufré who also volunteered with face painting for the kids, Sister Lacey Eversole who also volunteered at the check-in table, Sister Rori Hall who also volunteered at the check-in table, Brother Albert Lujan who also volunteered with face painting for the kids, and Brother Robert Sanders who also volunteered at the DRIVE table.

We would also like to thank all the volunteers that helped set up the event, close down and clean up, and also thanks to the day-of-the-event volunteers that kept the whole thing running smoothly which include all those above plus; Sister Darlene Archuleta, Sister Melinda Delgado, Brother Robert Delgado, Sister Jenny Gutierrez, Sister Lena Hodges, Sister Mary Jeter, Teamsters Local 492 Secretary-Treasurer Walter R. Maestas, Sister Melissa Malcom, Brother Eddy Merida, Brother Josh Perez, and Brother Jesus Vidaca. (If you would like to be on the event committee or volunteer at our next event, let us know by Clicking Here)

A Special thank you to ABF for lending us their tents and to Line Haul Manager Randy Archer for helping us set them 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 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!