Not going to be able to make it to Los Angeles for ASAE’s Annual Meeting and Expo? Not a problem — there are tons of opportunities to follow along virtually.

If you’re a Twitter user — and even if you’re not — follow the hashtag #asae10 to see what people are saying during sessions, learning labs and parties. Attendees post all kinds of information, and it’s all in real-time. You can use Twitter.com’s search or Tweetchat, as well as other Twitter clients, to follow the hashtag.

ASAE is also offering a virtual conference experience. It’s not free, of course, but virtual attendees do have the opportunity to earn up to 12 CAE hours, as well as live-stream 24 education sessions. Additionally, 70 other sessions will be available on-demand, so you can watch them at your leisure. ASAE also gives virtual attendees access to “online networking opportunities.” This virtual conference could be a good option for small staff professionals who can’t quite justify the attendance and travel costs, but who want to take advantage of the many learning opportunities.

In addition to tweeting during the meeting, many ASAE attendees will be blogging from the event, as well. At the Annual Meeting’s website, there’s a dynamic blogroll that anyone can contribute to. If you’re a blogger attending the event, be sure to add your own, and whether you’re attending or not, be sure to check out each of the blogs for their unique perspectives.

Of course, we’re excited to be attending, exhibiting and participating in the event. But even if you’re unable to go, try to take advantage of the many virtual experiences. (It’s ASAE’s first time hosting a virtual Annual Meeting!) With today’s technology and the resources available, virtual attendees will certainly have a fulfilling experience.