Can AF Sancratosia take back the first place?
2023 will be a year to remember for micronations, not only is it a year with one of the largest MicroCon to date, but it will also be the first one to have a sanctioned event in Europe. Two events to bring micronationalists from around the world together (albeit, mostly from Western countries). While most of the burden for the success of these events rest on the shoulders of the host nation, the Royal Republic of Ladonia and the co-host of the European event, the Grand Duchy of Flandrensis, attendees still have some pressure to make a good impression.
We asked some micronationalists about their preparation and their expectation for these events.
Participating for the first time at an intermicronational event such as MicroCon is both exciting and terrifying at the same time. Will you have the time to have everything prepared in time?
For many micronations, the addition of a European event is what allows them to participate at MicroCon and this is precisely the case for the Democratic Republic of Satoshi. Preparing for a MicroCon takes time… and money. Sometimes, this means to take some decisions on what to produce or buy and what to leave for another edition. Especially when factoring in the costs of attending (transport, tickets, hotels, etc.) Nevertheless, anyone attending MicroCon can expect to find on display tables items such as postage stamps, flags, business cards, flyers and, of course, passport stamps. Deciding which one to bring is always hard.
But it’s a small price to pay compared to the joy of meeting other micronationalists. A first MicroCon is also usually a good opportunity to meet Kevin Baugh (who is attending both the American and European editions of the event) an inspirational figure for many micronationalists.
Organizing your own successful intermicronational event before attending MicroCon is not something that happened quite a lot in the past, but this is precisely the situation that applies to the Archduke of Duckionary.
Duckionary may be attending their first MicroCon, they are not strangers to intermicronational summits, having organized, with the United Republic of Obscurium, the Micro-Euro Summit in 2022 and planning to organize one in 2023. Having had the chance to set up a display at their own successful event, Duckionary won’t have trouble finding items to showcase at this year’s MicroCon. As for their preparation, the focus will be made on printing new documents, preparing the final display and preparing the uniforms, usually a highlight at any intermicronational event. Uniforms can help a micronationalist stand out in the crowd and should never be overlooked by anyone wishing to attend one.
For Duckionary and many other micronations, attending MicroCon will be an opportunity to finally meet people with whom you’ve only communicated via email.
MicroCon 2022 was actually planned to happen in 2021, but got delayed because of the restrictions on travel during the pandemic of COVID-19. This move allowed for some to attend for the first time one year earlier.
For the Principality of Sancratosia, attending a first MicroCon less than a year after declaring independence has been a challenge, especially since it should have attended only MicroCon 2023, had the previous one not be reported. Nevertheless, it was a good experience that allows the Sancratosian delegation to be even more prepared this year. The Principality hopes to bring more free souvenirs that micronationalists can take home, which is always appreciated at MicroCon. Sancratosia is also expected to distribute medals this time, now that the production of physical awards is well underway in the Principality.
This year’s MicroCon will, once again, be an opportunity to meet friends and make new ones. And now that the stress of the first participation is way behind for Sancratosia, it will surely make the experience even more pleasing.
Preparing when being part of an organization differs as being the one that leads the preparation. Especially when you are in charge of one event on the schedule.
Matthew Salzer, a minister of the Royal Republic of Ladonia, is no stranger to MicroCon but this year comes with additional preparation challenges. For the first time, the Executive Vice President of the Micronational Olympic Federation will officially represent the organization under a separate banner, give a speech and organize the Nemean Games, a sanctioned event that is part of the official schedule. Not only does the preparation include the usual stuff, such as the wardrobe, but also the different items which will be used to ensure the success of the sporting event. This is made more difficult by the added preparation of giving a speech at this year’s conference. Salzer did organize sporting competitions in Las Vegas, but they were not part of the official schedule, so participation is expected to be higher this year.
MicroCon is always a place where people can have fun and that’s exactly why some people attend in the first place, and sports is always a good place for fun!
MicroCon is also attended by “regulars”, micronationalists which have attended previous editions and their experience comes in play when preparing for this new event. Presentation tables are one of the areas where most micronations shine.
Great tables can always be expected and this is precisely what the Grand Republic of Cycoldia has prepared. We can expect a lot of stuff from Cycoldia and some surprises! Being a speaker also adds to that preparation, which is exactly what Christina I & II face for this year’s edition, as she is expected to give a presentation for the first time. She is a regular and will be attending her third edition, having been present in 2019 and 2022.
This year will also be exciting for the Cycoldian delegation notably because of the presence of a second delegate, a first for the Grand Republic. It’s always nice to find micronations growing their delegation in between two participation.
Very few will make the trip across the Atlantic to meet other micronationalists and the ones that do will generally attend both. One micronation is an exception and will only attend a MicroCon on the other side of the ocean.
A regular of MicroCon, the Newgraviate of Saint-Castin will not be present in Joliet, Illinois but will instead attend the MicroCon EU in Ypres, Belgium. Minister-President Desaintes will add this year’s edition to his previous participation of 2017, 2019 and 2022. This MicroCon will mark his first presence at an intermicronational conference since being elected to the position of General Secretary of the MicroFrancophonie. With the smaller representation of French micronations in Joliet, this certainly played a role in the decision to attend the one in Ypres, where a bigger delegation of French-speaking micronationalists will attend, starting with the Grand Duchy of Flandrensis, co-host of the European event and member of the MicroFrancophonie. Working a full-time job outside of micronationalism proves to be a challenge for some. Finding the time to do everything and be assured that you can leave work for MicroCon is difficult sometimes and requires sacrifices. Saint-Castin’s delegation will also face a challenge of packing, which is experienced by most micronationalists who travel by plane. Not everything fits a suitcase and some elements may be left out simply because of that.
MicroCon is a wonderful window to the world of other micronations and can help you promote and explain your ideas to other people. And there are no better ways than to do it in person, where you can build long-standing relations with fellow micronationalists.
Whether it’s the first participation or the fourth one, some may still wonder why it’s so important for many micronationalists to travel and gather for a weekend, sometimes in another country.
MicroCon is a forum to meet new people, like Kevin Baugh, Grand Duke Travis, Niels of Flandrensis, etc. It’s where most “famous micronations” come together, but it’s also a place to see different views on micronationalist and can be a fun and learning experience!
– Lucas, Grand Miner President of Satoshi
MicroCon and all other physical meetings (be it PoliNation, Micro Euro Summit or MicroFrancophonie) are important in that they connect the delegates. During these few days, you get to meet a lot of great people, you get to know new and old faces and you certainly learn a lot about how to improve your own micronation.
– Arthur C. de Tourneau, Archduke of Duckionary
There’s no other place like MicroCon, it’s like a big family reunion! You meet people who share a passion you have and you are surrounded by people you admire as well as people who could become your friend by the end of the event.
– Cloe, Sovereign Princess of Sancratosia
Because it helps people meet each other and exchange ideas on what a micronation is.
– Matthew Salzer, Executive President of the Micronational Olympic Federation
Well, it’s a major event to go to and many micronationalists attend, so it can be a hub of diplomacy.
– Christina I & II, Summi Imperatoria of Cycoldia
MicroCon is one of these rare events where micronationalists from different places and with different political views meet. MicroCon allows you to discover the true personality of the people behind micronations which can be hard to do online.
– Dominic Desaintes, Minister-President of Saint-Castin and Secretary General of the MicroFrancophonie
With only a couple weeks to go for each MicroCons, micronationalists around the world prepare, hoping to make a good first impression on newcomers and to impress the old guard. They are busy purchasing what they need, thinking of their schedule, planning their trip, thinking about what they will be packing and how, but most importantly, they are all eager to meet other micronationalists. Outside of the stuff you bring, the costumes you wear, the presentations you give, you are going to MicroCon to meet humans, people that have decided, like you, to join the micronational community, and this is the driving force behind all MicroCon events.
Best of luck to all micronationalists in their preparation!