Los Banos Rotary Club History
Local doctor leads Group Study Exchange team to India

Rhonda Lowe

Local physician, Dr. Pete Peraiah left Sunday to lead five member Rotary team to India where they will spend the next five weeks touring some 25 different businesses in the country. Dr. Peraiah, a member of the Los Banos Rotary Club, will serve as team leader on the trip. Dr. Peraiah is a local surgeon who has practiced in Los Banos since 1972. He was born in Lingamagunta, India and attended Guntur Medical College, Andhra University in Andhrapradesh, India. His ability to speak both English and Telugu as well as his extensive service to Rotary on both a local and District level have prepared him to lead this team.

Other team members are Rotary members from Modesto, Sonora, Woodbridge and Wilseyville in professions that include a District Biologist, a second grade teacher, owner of a research and mechanical experimentation firm, and executive director of Central Sierra Arts Council.

While in India, team members will participate in vocational visits that relate to their own profession. Dr. Peraiah will tour a hospital run by a Rotary Club, a voluntary Health Service, a leading eye hospital, a medical college and another leading hospital in Chennai.
The second grade teacher will have the opportunity to visit a Missionary Convent School, a Government Corporation School for underprivileged students, a school that focuses on after school programs and a school teaching creative Movement Education.
The Biologist will tour several research facilities as well as the Marine Products Export Association, the A.L. Mudaliar Institute of Basic Medical Science and have a meeting with the Government Fisheries Department.

The Arts Council Director will visit the Government College of Arts, Madras Crafts Foundation, Lalit Kala Academy, Madras Museum and visit antique and handicraft shops.

The last team member will tour the School of Architecture, Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority, Larsen & Toubro, a structural engineer and a senior city architect.

The Los Banos Rotary Club has had the opportunity in the past to participate in both sending members on other Group Study Exchange programs as well as hosting teams visiting the United States from other countries. Most recently Don Escallier participated in a trip to France and five French team members spent nearly a week in Los Banos touring local businesses and living with local Rotary members.
The exchange of ideas, knowledge and culture are what make this program so successful and so valuable to all involved.

A complete account of Dr. Peraiah’s trip will be featured in an upcoming edition of the Los Banos Enterprise. 

January 19, 2000

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