Over 400 Cretans from the USA, from more than 88 Cretan Associations – members of The Pancretan Association of America (PAA) – were welcomed at the 43rd National Convention in Greater Akron, Ohio, from 29 June to 5 July.

Cretans of Australia and the world Cretan community had their representative as well, with the president of the World Council of Cretans, Antonis Tsourdalakis, honouring the PAA National Convention with his presence.

The convention included official business meetings and social and networking activities throughout the community. The national convention concluded with the election of the new president of the PAA board, Mr Yiannis Sarzetakis from California.

At the 43rd National Convention in Ohio, the 100 year anniversary of the formal union between the island of Crete and the country of Greece was also commemorated.

This year’s biennial convention marked the first PAA national convention to be held in Akron since 1938. Several local chapter members who attended the 1938 convention were present to celebrate their Cretan heritage.

The convention was hosted by The Cretan Association of Akron, Ohio.
The Pancretan Association of America was founded in the 1920s and is the second largest Greek ethnic organisation in the United States after the Greek Orthodox Church.