The History of the AA Perpetual Memberships

This plaque, listing the Platinum, Diamond, Double Diamond, Triple Diamond, Four-Star Diamond and Five-Star Diamond perpetual members, hangs in the Alumni Association. For a list of benefits for Perpetual Members, CLICK HERE.

The day you walked across the stage, shook hands with the dean, and accepted your diploma, you became part of a small and valuable portion of the world's population. You instantly joined a particular group: those who have earned their Doctor of Medicine degree. That group breaks down even further when you consider the fact that you graduated from a specific medical school, one that offers a purpose-driven, holistic, and unselfish approach to the study and practice of medicine. And, upon graduation, you joined a family of alumni that, at the publication of the last Alumni Directory, has 7771 living members.¹ 

Because you chose to attend a school like Loma Linda University, or the College of Medical Evangelists (CME) as it was known before 1962, there’s a chance that you’re interested in serving your fellow man in a variety of ways. In addition to your work as a physician, you may volunteer your time to, or financially support service organizations within your community. The service organization that is closest to your identity as a graduate of a medical school is your alumni association. In 1915, CME graduates created their own Alumni Association, sustained it themselves, and they are the ones who determine its character. Today, just as in the past, alumni reach out to their fellow man through their service organization. Service, in addition to the medical profession, unites graduates in a common purpose, makes them pursuers of the same goal, and identifies them as members of a group working to benefit others. These quality people have characterized the Alumni Association, School of Medicine of Loma Linda University from its beginnings nearly 100 years ago.

In the spring of 1921, when the Seventh-day Adventist medical school in Loma Linda had only graduated about 100 doctors, one graduate, Iner Sheld-Ritchie ’15, published his idea for an alumni association. He felt that the school now had enough graduates to support an organized association. It “has great possibility if properly developed,” he wrote. “It should necessarily be organized upon a sound and proper financial basis, having the support of all its members.” And Dr. Sheld-Ritchie had specific ideas about the purpose of this new organization. “Such benefits as a poor students’ fund and the establishment or aid of medical missionary work, both at home and in foreign fields are worthy of our attention.”²

Alumni began to meet and organize, electing officers, and, in 1931 starting their own publication, known today as The Alumni Journal. A year later, in 1932, the Alumni Association was legally incorporated. Three alumni, G. Mosser Taylor ’24, Russell Starr ’23, and Walter Macpherson ’24, wrote the bylaws of the association.³ But these three decided to do something out of the ordinary. Traditionally, most alumni associations come into being as part of the school they represent. These alumni associations accept financial support from and are considered part of the school.⁴ But the founders of the Loma Linda University School of Medicine alumni association chose to create their organization separately from the mother institution. This meant, of course, that all funding and financial support would have to come from alumni.

Today, 78 years after legal incorporation, the Association members have proven equal to the task of growing and sustaining their service organization. The Alumni Association, School of Medicine of Loma Linda University not only still exists, but is also bigger and better able to meet the goals objectives Dr. Sheld-Ritchie had envisioned. The founders knew, and history has since proved, that graduates of the Loma Linda University School of Medicine believed not only in the unique mission of their alma mater, but also in the sui generis of their Alumni Association, and they would give freely to support such a cause.

In the beginning, the Alumni Journal expressed a great need for funds. (“If a few more members will pay their dues during this month, the Association will be able to meet its expenses this year.”⁵) Initially, in 1931, alumni were asked to give one percent of their income to the Alumni Association for dues.⁶ But soon after that, dues were raised to $3,⁷ and alumni could upgrade their membership to the “sponsor” level with an additional $7 donation (for a total of $10).⁸ One creative treasurer, H.O. Swartout ’33, abandoned prose as he called for funds from Alumni Association members:

Dear fellow Alumnus, we need your support,

Of funds now on hand we’re uncomfortably short.

Some dues have been paid, but many have not,

If the rest would come in it would help out a lot.

Our office and Journal mean quite an expense,

But the value of both I am sure that you sense.

Of other good projects we’d like to put through

In this coming year, there’ll be not a few.

If each does his share, each share will be small,

And no heavy burden on any will fall.

Three dollars for dues is not a large sum.

Why not add seven more and a sponsor become?

The sponsors and members who’re listed below

Are paid up to date. From the list you may know

If you’re among those who’re already on deck.

If not, now’s a good time to send in your check.⁹

Alumni responded to such pleas, and the Alumni Association continued to expand its areas of service because of the faithful support it received from School of Medicine graduates and friends of the school.