Social Events

As registration continues for SINR 2026, we are delighted to share more about the three social and cultural experiences intentionally woven into this year’s conference, which reflect Jill’s and my values about professional collegiality, culture, and the importance of integrating experience with learning. All of these events are included in your registration fee, except for some small contributions as noted below.

Welcome Dinner and Concert
Tuesday, June 2 | Saugatuck Women’s Club

We will open SINR 2026 with a Welcome Reception, Dinner, and Concert at the Saugatuck Women’s Club, a long-standing community-centered facility in Saugatuck.

Music for the evening will be provided by Whorled (https://www.whorledband.com), a Michigan-based ensemble whose work is shaped directly by the cultural histories and lived experiences of its members. For Whorled, music is inseparable from their identity. Two members of the group, Mariko and Keala, are proudly Japanese (and half-Japanese) and maintain close ties to Japanese culture through regular travel and ongoing immersion. Their musical lives reflect this connection while also embracing a wide range of traditions, from French and Irish accordion music to old-time, bluegrass, and Celtic forms. If you want to get a taste of their music, try watching them for just one minute: Whirl-y-Reel | Re-imagined and performed by Whorled, SoL of the Lost Tamarack, June 21, 2025.

Dr. Thom Jayne, another member of the ensemble traces family roots to Scotland and carries a lasting cultural affinity shaped by that heritage, alongside many years living and working in rural Africa through agricultural development with Michigan State University. Extended family ties in southern Africa and long-standing relationships with smallholder farmers and village communities have left a deep imprint on his musical voice, informed by African rhythms, styles, and collaborative traditions. Together, these personal histories give rise to music that is global in scope yet grounded in individual experience, relationship, and place.

According to Dr. Jayne, “we are excited about the conference’s theme of “identity”, which we think applies to music and our band Whorled as well as who we are as individuals.”

The program will also include a musical contribution by Dr. Catherine Doogan, a neuropsychologist in the UK who is also a vocalist and a 2026 SINR faculty member. Dr. Doogan will sing traditional folk songs rooted in cultural history and migration, reflecting how music can carry stories of movement, continuity, and belonging across generations. Her participation highlights the richness of professional lives that encompass both scientific and creative expression.

The Welcome Dinner is intended as a relaxed evening of shared food, conversation, and music—an opportunity to gather as people with diverse backgrounds and paths, meeting one another in a setting that values story, culture, and connection as integral to professional exchange.

Dr. Doogan shared, “My identity as a clinical neuropsychologist is a privilege. The idea that people trust me enough to be vulnerable has made me feel that I am bearing witness to what may be the most challenging and troubled times in someone’s life. When I sing, I am tapping into something that runs deep within my cultural identity.

When I first qualified, my first job was on a stroke unit. One of my patients—an African preacher from Ghana—had aphasia and was depressed, and his family was worried about him. I knew only one song from Ghana, so I started singing it with him. The large family standing around his bed joined in, and eventually the patient did too. It was a breakthrough moment in his engagement with all of us as therapists. The shared language of music, from his culture, made that possible.”

Guest fees for the Welcome Dinner are $30.

Silent Art Auction: Supporting Colleagues and Cultivating Community

Art has long been central to the identity of the Saugatuck Douglas area, often described as Michigan’s “Art Coast.” In that spirit, SINR 2026 will feature a silent art auction showcasing work by local artists as well as members of the SINR community. Proceeds from the auction will directly support early-career professionals and colleagues from low- and middle-income countries, helping to offset travel and registration costs and ensuring that the conference remains accessible to an international and diverse group of participants. Stay tuned - our international faculty will also be contributing items from their homelands to the auction!

From Barri Rosenbluth of the Saugatuck Douglas Art Club:
“The Saugatuck Douglas area is a great place to live especially for artists and art appreciators. The natural beauty of the lakeshore, sand dunes and surrounding farmland provide endless inspiration throughout the seasons. There are many opportunities to learn and grow through the Oxbow School of Art, the Saugatuck Center for the Arts, and the Saugatuck Douglas Art Club. The Art Club is a charitable organization that not only enriches our community but also provides financial support to high school students entering college and to K-12 art teachers for supplies. Our mission is to strengthen and inspire the artistic growth of the local visual arts community. We are so pleased to collaborate with SINR for your upcoming conference.”

Examples of art to be auctioned include the following:

“Ten Dollar Delight”
Sue Flanagan
Pastel, 8 X 10 inches

“Dune Trail”
Barri Rosenbluth
Acrylic, 9 X 12 inches

“Almost Time for an Adult Beverage at Dyckman Park”
Lance Trexler
Oil on vellum paper, 11 X 16 inches

“A Cake Made of Wishes” Birthday Cards and Envelopes
Laura Trexler
Micro archival and Prismacolor pens and markers, 5.5 X 4.5 inches

“The Shape of Belonging” Cards and Envelopes
Laura Trexler
Micro archival and Prismacolor pens and markers, 4.5 X 5.5 inches