1245 Members and Families Come Together for 13th Annual Soccer Tournament

Building stronger ties—and a little friendly competition—on the field

Ripon, CA – More than four hundred members and their families joined together for the 13^th annual IBEW 1245 Soccer tournament which took place in Ripon, California.

Begun in 2011, the tournament has grown to 16 teams from IBEW 1245’s Line Clearance Tree Trimming division along with representatives from Manufacturing. This year, members from PG&E fielded a team for the first time. Teams competed in one of two side-by-side tournaments.

IBEW 1245 Sr. Business Manager Ralph Armstrong welcomed the members and thanked the staff and volunteers who made it possible. “This event continues to get better each year. Its growing popularity and the strong turnout from our members and their families is a testament to how well it’s organized. I’m always impressed by the level of competition and the intensity each team brings to the field,” he said.

Each team is led by a team captain who is recruited by IBEW 1245 Business Representatives. Team Captains, in turn, build their team roster and promote the spirit of the day. Their adopted theme: building “friendship, unity and solidarity.”

Yovani Garcia, team captain of UTS Mountain View stated that “This event is important because just like the work we do is done as a unit, we are one big unit {working} towards a goal.” While the goal on the soccer field is to score and have fun, the goal at work is “to deliver electricity and sustain our livelihoods.”

7-year member Oswaldo Garcia, a Line Clearance Tree Trimmer from Arborworks, Inc, shared, “It was cool meeting people from different yards to come together, set aside work, and relax.”

25-year member and Line Clearance Tree Trimmer Serrafin Hernandez began participating in 2012. Joined by his twenty-two year old son, he stated, “Todo bien! Family. No stress. A day to relax with family.” He expressed gratitude for the Union’s support and recent efforts to educate members about immigrant rights at work.

While members took to the fields, their families joined in an array of kids’ activities.

IBEW 1245 Staff, Organizing Stewards, and long-time and first-time volunteers worked the event, keeping coolers full of water, running kids’ activities, serving full platters of tacos, rice and beans, conducting the raffle and salsa cook off, and making sure the fields were as pristine as when we arrived.

IBEW 1245 Assistant Business Manager and Organizer, Rene Cruz Martinez reflected, “This is all about building relationships. By being here, we strengthen our brotherhood and sisterhood. It’s a branch of our local that makes us who we are.”

Organizing Steward Betty Trujillo noted, “Just to see everyone enjoying themselves, the camaraderie, is amazing. Members coming together – it’s beautiful.”

Sr. Business Representative Francisco “Cisco” Ferreyra, summed up the day saying, “Soccer has long been my passion, inspired by my dad who introduced me to the sport. It unites people of all nations, backgrounds, and ages. I’ve participated in this tournament from the start. The goal is to bring people together for joy, healthy competition, and a break from work. Our aim is also to recognize and develop leadership and to celebrate the union difference with our families. What once began with line clearance arborists will one day include all branches of the IBEW. The IBEW is a family, and being part of this effort unites us and brings great joy.”

At the end of the tournament, IBEW 1245 Executive Board member Steve Ramirez joined Business Representatives Heriberto “Tito” Ayala and Cisco to hand out medals and the coveted trophies. As members left, they declared, “We can hardly wait for next year!”