The legion got a fresh voice at their last meeting on Jan. 13.
After four years as president, Larry Cameron was forced to step aside as per legion rules. In his place, Niki Sokolan was installed as the new president after being the only nomination for the position.
Sokolan has been a member of the legion for many years and says that she has been hanging around the legion almost since the time she started walking. Although not a member at first she first started going to the legion to help out in the hall, do some fundraising for the legion and help out down in the museum.
“Just wherever I could kind of lend a hand,” she said.
She became a member because both of her grandfathers are veterans of World War II and because it is something that her family has been involved with for many years, she said. Both for father and her grandfather are members and former presidents themselves.
For the past four years Sokolan has been Cameron’s vice-president gaining valuable experience, something Cameron said is going to suit her well.
“I think she’s ready,” he said.
Despite being vice-president for the past four years Sokolan said that it’s still “a little overwhelming.”
“There is a lot of big shoes to fill but I’m excited about it, I’m looking forward to it and I’m ready to hear everyone’s ideas and opinions and hopefully we can get in some newer, younger members,” she said.
Since Cameron is the now former president, his job over the next few months will be to help guide Sokolan if she needs the assistance. Like any person taking over a new position, Cameron says there are going to be challenges but he thinks Sokolan will be ok.
“There are bound to be a few bumps in the road but there was for both of us even when I started but I think she will do well,” he said.
Sokolan was pleased with how her first night as president went.
“We had a lot of members come out tonight,” she said.
Sokolan is much younger than Cameron and both agree that it might be good for the legion to have a fresh face, hoping it might help attract more members.
“As the years go on our memberships are decreasing and our members are getting older and we’re not bringing in any newer, younger ones,” she said,Cameron echoed the same sentiment and added that a fresh face will also provide the legion with a fresh perspective and new ideas.
“As older people, we kind of get set in our ways and it’s nice to have somebody try and point us in a different direction even though we might not want to,” he said.
Sokolan wants people to know that the legion isn’t there only for the veterans but also for the community as a whole.
“There are a lot of other organizations or individuals out there that support really great causes that we would also like to support and we also do a lot of activities that people don’t realize so it’s not only the fundraising and helping out it’s also the socialization aspect of it,” she said.
Sokolan encourages everyone to visit the legion.
“Come on down to the legion and just get to know us and get to know other people in your community,” she said.
