Bringing Members and Their Families Together
On May 16, 700 PLEA members and their families gathered for a fun-filled Family Day at the Main Event in Avondale. Attendees of this year’s event enthusiastically participated in activities such as laser tag, bowling, pool, virtual reality (VR) games and more, and caught up with fellow members and the PLEA Board and staff over a buffet lunch.
For many, the event was highly anticipated, as it was the long-awaited follow-up to the first Family Day held in 2019, also at the Main Event. (PLEA was unable to hold the gathering in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions and health and safety concerns.) Members like Michael Reed, a 14-year veteran of the Phoenix Police Department, gladly welcomed the return of the event after living and working under difficult pandemic conditions over the past year-plus. “We were looking for a fun, safe day of games and food, and this year’s Family Day did not disappoint,” he said. “My daughter really liked the confidence course, my son liked laser tag and we all enjoyed the pool tables and VR games.”
The event was created by PLEA as a way to bring the membership and their families together annually in a relaxing environment that allows for members to get to know one another, foster camaraderie and engage in some friendly competition over games.
“I believe events like Family Day are important so that the membership can have a day of fun and meet the union representatives and other members outside of the professional atmosphere,” Reed adds.
PLEA partners with family entertainment company Main Event, a pro-law-enforcement business, to host the popular member gathering. The Main Event closes its doors to the public from morning to afternoon to give PLEA members exclusive access to most of the facility. This year, two VR games were added to the event.
Reed says fun events like Family Day are good ways for members to engage with the association. “It’s important for members to get involved in PLEA in order to stand together as a collective group to support each other,” he says. “I’d like to thank all of you at PLEA for making this event happen again!”