PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

It was truly an honor for me to be reelected your President on June 20, 2025. I have been fortunate to be able to travel to many chapters around the country and to open our first ever PAA Headquarters at the Hellenic Center in Bethesda, MD.  The link to report for my first term is HERE. My goals are many but my main focus for the next two years includes the following:

Membership--Retention and recruitment of members; finding past scholarship recipients and bringing them back through our CAN program; begin conversations with our neighbors to the North in Canada.  
Communication--Working with our VP of Communication to expand the areas of communication to our members--ENewsletter, KPHTH Magazine, Social Media
Program Expansion and Membership Benefits --Continue to enhance and expand our key programs:  Scholarship, Cultural, Philanthropy, Mentorship, Veteran's Affairs, Archives, PEF, PAA Foundation, Cretan Alliance Network; more programs in Crete; PAA Talks!
Publicity--Share all of the great stories that the PAA does around the world to continue to enhance our incredible reputation and to motivate others to join us
PYA--Help the youth to expand their programming, membership and their outreach around the country.
New Funding Sources--Find ways to expand new funding sources (private grants, corporate funding and initiatives, etc)

These are just a few of the many goals that I have set forth for this administration.My board and I are always here for all of you so don't hesitate to reach out at any time if we can help you.  Thank you very much for your incredible support and the honor to serve a second term.

Diane

Meet our PAA President -Diane Kounalakis

President Diane Kounalakis is a member of the Epimenides/Ariadne Chapter of San Francisco.   She has been an active member of her local chapter since 1978, beginning with her involvement with the Cretan Youth of San Francisco (now known as KPHTH/SF).   She served as local chapter President and then served as President of the Pancretan Youth Association for five years (1981-1986).  When she joined the adult chapter, she was an active board member and served as President as well for her chapter.  

She served on the national PAA Board as PYA Youth Supervisor, Cretan Alumni Network Chair, Strategic Planning Committee Member and and for the past two terms, she has served as the PAA Vice-President of Communications, heading up a number of initiatives, including the KPHTH Magazine, Social Media outreach, website maintenance and so much more.  Diane was also a member of the organizing committee of the highly successful Excursion to Crete in 2022.  During her first term as President, 2023-2025, Diane's administration created robust Summer Activities in Crete, online programs through PAATalks!, mentorship programs, a national dance workshop with the Pseloretes Dance Group from Crete for our PYA in NYC, a variety of cultural programs, an expansive scholarship program and philanthropic donations throughout Greece and the US that totaled close to $290,000.00.

Diane is married to Jeffrey Baxter and they have two children, Antonios and Victoria Baxter. She has one brother Markos and he is married to Eleni Kounalakis and they have two children.  Diane has a Bachelor and Master's degree in Communication and was the Public Relations Director for the San Francisco Ballet.  She currently has her own public relations consulting firm.  Along with her work with Pancretan, Diane also is on the board of Peninsula Family Service and she volunteers a tremendous amount of her time with the Alzheimer's Association of America, helping to raise awareness and funds to fight this disease.  In 2025, she was awarded the prestigious GABBY Award for her leadership from the Greek America Foundation in NYC.  

Diane's  family roots are from Vrysses, Apokoronou (father Antonios Kounalakis) and Chania, Crete (mother Vasiliki Rozakis Kounalakis).  Diane is the first woman to be elected President of the Pancretan Association in 96 years.   To reach Diane, email her at dkounalakis@pancretan.org