The elderly priest, speaking to the younger priest, said, "You had a good idea to replace the first four pews with plush bucket theatre seats. It worked like a charm." "The front of the church always fills first now." The young priest nodded, and the old priest continued, "And you told me adding a little more beat to the music would bring young people back to church, so I supported you when you brought in that rock n roll gospel choir. Now our services are consistently packed to the balcony." "Thank you, Father," answered the young priest. "I am pleased that you are open to the new ideas of youth." "All of these ideas have been well and good," said the elderly priest. "But I'm afraid you've gone too far with the drive-thru confessional." "But, Father," protested the young priest, "my confessions and the donations have nearly doubled since I began that!" "Yes," replied the priest, "and I appreciate that. But the flashing neon sign, 'Toot 'n Tell or Go to Hell" cannot stay on the church roof."

I began my practice of pediatrics in 1947 in a preceptorship with Dr. Robert McKean, awaiting my residency at the University of Colorado. I was then at Colorado from 1948 to 1950. I was called to active duty from the Naval Reserve, returning to Boise in 1951.

At that time, Ada County was part of the Southwestern Idaho Medical Society. An evening dinner meeting was held monthly in the Owyhee Hotel. This was preceded by a cocktail hour and the drinks were generous. During one meeting, one member began discussing the "ski fedule". The meetings were greatly enjoyed with a lot of collegiality. It was an opportunity to discuss patients who had been referred to Boise specialists as well as other matters of interest. You can understand the objections to Ada County breaking away to form their own Society, leaving others on their own. During a monthly staff meeting at one of the hospitals, I was elected President of The Boise Physicians Club. This was an organization in name only. No Constitution or bylaws etc. My only duty was to distribute windshield stickers with a triangular shape and the initials BPC. This was supposed to identify your car to the police in case you were making a house call and parked in an unauthorized place, etc. There was street parking at both hospitals with "Doctors Only" parking.

Because of my status as head of the local physician's "organization", I would often receive calls from the media and others. They would understandably be puzzled when I would tell them to contact Dr. David in New Plymouth or whoever also happened to be the President of the SW Society.

It became obvious to most of us that we needed our own Society. We presented the idea to the officers and councilors of the IMA at the annual meeting at Sun Valley. There was skepticism as well as objection to our proposal. We were told to prepare a petition signed by all the individual physicians and return to the next annual meeting of the IMA. This was done and I hand carried the document for the next year which included going to the individual homes to get the signatures. Nearly all signed but there was still objection by a few especially those who enjoyed many referrals from the area.

The following year we again approached the officers and councilors and our petition was accepted and we proceeded to form the Ada County Medical Society. For a Constitution and Bylaws we used the IMA rules, crossing out and changing those that did not apply.

The bylaws called for a President and President Elect but since we were starting from scratch these were appointed. Dr. James Coughlin was President and Dr. C.C. Johnson was President Elect. I didn't wish to appoint myself but when we had an election I became the next President of the Society.

We had monthly luncheon meetings and had perhaps 70% or so in attendance at the meetings.

And that's the story of the ACMS.

Loy T. Swinehart, M.D.