Riverfront Readings

Riverfront Readings & The Writers Place
present
A Tribute to Phil Miller
& the Annual Scholarship Reading

Sunday, October 4th
3:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Register for the Zoom reading at https://squoom.com/z/rfz211024

Phil Miller was a friend to many poets and a fine poet himself. A major supporter of the greater Kansas City writing community, he started the Riverfront Reading series, was a co-founder of The Writers Place, and served as a co-editor of Poutpourri literary magazine. Over the years, he gave area and regional writers a venue for their work. In 2002 he and his wife, Nancy Eldredge, moved to Mount Union, Pennsylvania, where he continued to write, promote others’ work, and publish The Same magazine. Phil was also a fine teacher and a kind, intelligent, highly articulate, and supportive person. He passed away on Valentine’s Day of 2011. In honor of the tenth anniversary of his death, the annual Phil Miller Scholarship reading will also be a tribute to Phil.

To read one poem by Phil or about him please RSVP by October 20th at philmillertribute@riverfrontreadings.com. Slots are limited, so it will be a first-come basis.

Send a favorite memory or thought about Phil in a sentence or two to carl.bettis@gmail.com.

How to Donate

The scholarship is for students at KCKCC, where Phil taught for many years.

1. For online donations: Visit https://www.kckcc.edu/foundation/giving/online-giving.html, select one-time or recurring, select or fill in the amount. For Designation: Write in "Philip Miller Scholarship." Click "Give securely" and complete your payment.
2. Mail a donation to KCKCC, 7250 State Avenue, Kansas City, KS 66112, Attn: Mary Spangler. Make checks payable to KCKCC Foundation, "Philip Miller Scholarship" in the comment section.
3. Bid on Phil Miller Tribute Baskets filled with Phil's books and original artwork. Baskets will be posted on the Writers Place website at https://thewritersplace.wildapricot.org by 10/12. Bidding opens 10/22, closes at noon 10/24. Send bids to baskets@riverfrontreadings.com.

The video of our 2020 Haunted Words Scholarship Reading Open Mic is now on YouTube!

This Special Riverfront Reading is the Haunted Words Poetry Open Mic and will benefit the Philip Miller Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Themes: Ghosts or the poetry of Phil Miller. Two poems per reader.

To sign up ahead of time, email carl@riverfrontreadings.com. (You may sign up during the event if slots are still available.)

In honor of Philip Miller's dedication to students, young and new writers are encouraged to participate.

The scholarship benefits students at Kansas City Kansas Community College. If you can't make the reading but still want to contribute to the scholarship fund, find directions for donating by mail or online at:

https://riverfrontreadings.com/index.php?p=24&more=1

or go directly to the KCKCC Foundation website at:

https://kckcc.edu/foundation/giving/index.html

(When asked to specify a program or given the opportunity to add a note, enter "Philip W. Miller Memorial Scholarship.")

Our dear friend, Riverfront supporter, and artist, Conci Denniston passed away on November 18^th, 2019. Conci was a quiet force to be reckoned with. She was perpetually curious, unfailingly kind, and knew her stuff. Conci was a wonderful visual artist. Her choice of colors, subject matter, and sense of movement were stories in and of themselves. She participated in Riverfront and the Collaborators offering very perceptive feedback. She was a listener and a shrewd observer of human behavior. If you were lucky enough to visit Conci in her home in Emporia or Fairway, Kansas, it was like entering a magical, warm, and fun world. Her home and gardens were remarkable. Conci was busy and on the go until the day she died. In our last Riverfront Reading in 2019, we featured her artwork; much of the work on display was new. She attended a Writers Place Reading two days before she died. As was her way, she probably chatted with just about everyone in attendance. It’s hard to imagine life without her. We offer our deep-felt condolences to her family and children; Megan, Ethan, and Owen and her many friends.

A celebration and memorial, art show, poetry reading, and open mic will be on Saturday, January 11^th from 12:00 to 3:00pm at the Union Pacific Depot, 402 N. 2^nd Street, Lawrence, KS. In lieu of flowers, donation may be made to the Phil Miller Scholarship. KCKCC Foundation, 7250 State Avenue, rm 3500, Kansas City, Kanasas 66112. Please note the donation is in memory of Conci Denniston.

To donate online via PayPal or credit card:

• Go to https://kckcc.edu/foundation/giving/index.html
• Click on the blue box that says "Donate to the KCKCC Foundation."
• Choose your payment method and follow on-screen directions. When asked to specify a program or given the opportunity to add a note, enter "Philip W. Miller Memorial Scholarship."

Haunted Words
Phil Miller Scholarship Reading & Open Mic

Sunday, October 13th
3:00 - 5:00 PM
Nonprofit Village
31 W. 31st Street, KCMO 64108

Music by Linda Minson & Friends

This special Riverfront Reading is the Haunted Words Poetry Open Mic and will benefit the Philip Miller Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Themes: Ghosts or the poetry of Phil Miller. Two poems per reader.

To sign up ahead of time, email randy@riverfrontreadings.com. (You may sign up at the event if slots are still available.)

In honor of Philip Miller's dedication to students, young and new writers are encouraged to participate.

This event includes a silent auction of original artwork by local/regional artists, book baskets by local/regional writers and more. Proceeds go to the scholarship fund.

The scholarship benefits students at Kansas City Kansas Community College. If you can't make the reading but still want to contribute to the scholarship fund, find directions for donating by mail or online at:

https://riverfrontreadings.com/index.php?p=24&more=1