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Date: 6/28/2024
Subject: PAA Newsletter July 2024
From: Toula Elefter



Dear Friends:
 
I hope all of you are enjoying summer so far!  We continue to prepare the various summer activities that are taking place in Crete this summer.  Please make sure to join us on August 18 at 10:30 a.m. at the Arkadi.  The event will include a memorial service in the church, followed by a reception and short presentation.
 
The PAA is participating in one of the many special events that are being held throughout Rethymnon this year, marking the 200th anniversary of the passing of the Four Martyrs. We encourage all of you traveling to Crete this summer to join us and bring your families. The story of the Four Martyrs is a powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit in the face of oppression and the enduring quest for freedom. As we mark this bicentennial anniversary, their legacy continues to inspire and resonate, emphasizing the importance of remembering and honoring those who laid down their lives for the principles and freedoms we cherish today.

I look forward to seeing many of you in Crete this summer at all of our events (Summer Activities Updated June 21) and next year, we hope to offer even more events throughout Crete for all of you to enjoy.

Happy 4th of July!  Stay safe and celebrate America's birthday!

 
Diane Kounalakis                     
PAA President
  
World Council of Cretan 2024 Annual General Meeting
 
PAA members are cordially invited to attend the 2024 Annual General Meeting of the World Council of Cretans.
 
The meeting will take place in the "Archbishop of Australia Stylianos" Hall at the Center of Cultural and Social Services of the Holy Metropolis of Rethymnon and Avlopotamos "THEOMITOR" located at Pandelis Psychountakis Street 5 Rethymnon (from Timiou Stavrou Street).
 
Our PAA General Supervisor, Nickos Kastrinakis will be nominated to serve as President of the WCC.
If you are traveling to Crete in August, please consider joining us on Saturday, August 10 at 9:30 AM for the election of officers and to show our support to Nickos and the WCC.
 
CLICK HERE and let us know if you can attend. Questions? Email us at president@pancretan.org

Philanthropic Committee
New Fundraiser to build the first-ever two-bed epilepsy Monitoring Unit
at the 
University Hospital in Heraklion to serve ALL of Greece!
 
The creation of a two-bed Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) is a pioneering initiative in Crete. It presents a unique opportunity to enhance outcomes for individuals grappling with epileptic seizures. EMUs are “the gold standard” for the differential diagnosis, classification, quantification and localization of seizures. 
 
This endeavor has the full support of both Dr. Panagiotis Mitsias, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer at the University of Crete Hospital and George M. Kontakis, Rector of the University of Crete.  To build the two-bed Epilepsy Monitoring Unit would require the PAA to raise $110,000.00 US dollars. 
 
The PAA Philanthropic Committee will be donating towards the fundraising efforts. We are also currently seeking donations, large and small, to help us achieve our goal within the next six months.
 
 CLICK HERE for more details and to contribute to the PAA Epilepsy Unit at the University of Crete. 
 
Evangelia Hobitakis
Philanthropic
ehobitakis@pancretan.org

Cretan Musicians
Traveling to the USA!
  
October
Demetris Anagnostakis, Lyra; Gianis Kaklis, Laouto; Stelios Eliakis, Laouto.
Contact John Bertakis at 630-936-3133
 
Petros Saridakis and Band
Contact Chris Delmadoros at 727-460-5803
 
September-October
Manolis Kontaros and 4 Musicians
Contact George Marmelakis at 203-417-1269
 
November 9
Michalis Stavroulakis, Laouto 
Christos Dounis, Lyra
Manolis Drimis, Guitar
Stefanos Marakis, Bass
Contact Niko Vamianakis at 801-557-2426
 
If you would like more information about having them participate in an event in your local area, please reach out to the contact person noted above.

PANCRETAN ENDOWMENT FUND
Celebrate the Success of the Botanical Park Improvements! 
 
The PAA/PEF fundraiser to enhance the Botanical Park with benches and improvements of the observatories was a great success!
To celebrate, a reception will be held at the park on July 15th at 7:30 PM
 
The evening's events include:
  •  Unveiling of the new benches
  • A tour of the improved observatories
This free event is open to all, especially those traveling to Crete. 
 
Please register by clicking here:  PAA/PYA Summer Activities in Crete
Donations are still welcome.
You can donate online by clicking here:  Pancretan Endowment Fund Donations
Prefer to donate by check?
Make your check payable to Pancretan Endowment Fund and mail it to:
PEF Treasurer, John Kypriotakis; 10337 Millport Drive; Tampa, Florida 33626.
 
Learn more about PAA/PEF:   www.pancretan.org
Anna Giannoulias, PEF Chair
pef@pancretan.org

PAA Talks
PAATalks!  #5--Wednesday, September 25th at 6 p.m. PST.
Join us to learn details about the PAA 300 Program!
 
Engaging our community, one talk at a time!
Brought to you by the PAA Board
and Creta Autentica.  Join us and enter a chance to win a wonderful gift from our co-sponsor:  Creta Autentica.
 
These are 30-minute programs offered the 4th Wednesday of every month
at 6:00 PM PST.
 
Click here PAATalks to register and you will be sent a link and reminder.   

 SAVE THE DATE:
September 25, 2024. 
 
PAA 300 Program
Presented by Kostas Katsohirakis

Veteran/Military Information
 
The PAA is proud of all our veterans and active military personnel who have valiantly served in the United States and in Greece.  Over the years, PAA has honored our Veterans at events and in a beautiful album that was produced in 1997.  We hope that you can help us update our database. Please CLICK HERE 
to fill out Veteran/Military Information form for all veterans/military personnel, individuals who are still living, and those who have passed.
 
We plan to publish this information by the summer of 2025 to honor our heroes.  Please upload a photo as well.  
 
If you have any questions about Veteran's benefits available in the United States, you may contact me at mikethegreek@earthlink.net
 
Thank you for helping us honor our veterans and military personnel!
 
Michael Frangadakis, Chair, Veteran's Affairs
Irene Peros and Jim Saklas, Committee Members



Pancretan Association of America/Hellenic Center
6505 Bells Mill Road 
Bethesda, MD 20817