Hello from somewhere above Las Vegas! (Isn’t technology amazing?!) I’m headed back to the East Coast after a busy few days in Los Angeles for ASAE’s Annual Meeting and Exposition, and it truly was a fantastic trip. The sessions provided me with a ton of food for thought, and I really enjoyed meeting so many people “in real life.”

Today, I wanted to share a quick tidbit of info from Jeff De Cagna’s session on mobile technology. I’ve been thinking about this for a few days and I think it’s really important, especially for small staff associations.

Jeff shared a great deal of important statistics (for example, for every one computer sold, there are four mobile devices sold), but the point that really stuck out to me was about the generations. Everyone uses mobile devices. Not everyone uses social media.

Too often, we talk about the importance of having presences on social media and engaging with your members online, but it’s vital to remember that not everyone uses Twitter, Facebook, et al. Nearly everyone — from the 22-year-old new member straight out of college to the 65-year-old who’s about to retire — uses mobile devices. Perhaps not everyone uses a phone that can connect to the Internet, but those phones’ market shares are growing each and every day, and experts predict that within just a few years (5 or so, I believe), we will access the Internet more on our phones than on computers.

So when you’re thinking about what to include in your communications arsenal, don’t forget about mobile. It could be more important to your association than social media. If you use Google Analytics or another website analytics program, it should show you how people are accessing your website — whether it’s via iPhone, BlackBerry or computer. Be sure your website is visually appealing and has easy-to-digest information. Ask your members if they would use an app.

Most people are never more than 10 feet away from their mobile phones. Members should have easy access to your association on those devices.

Does your organization have a mobile strategy?

Although I’ve been faithful Mac user for years (I’m currently using a white MacBook after the sad demise of my old-school PowerBook), I was a bit late to jump on the iPhone bandwagon. I knew I didn’t want a first-generation iPhone, and then the timing was never right for me to purchase subsequent ones. But when I saw the details of the snazzy new iPhone 4, I knew I had to ditch my poor, slow BlackBerry Curve and upgrade.

I’ve spent the last two days downloading apps, easily surfing the Web and getting used to the touchscreen (which, I must say, is extremely intuitive). The whole experience has reinforced my belief that associations have to consider how their websites look on the mobile web, and if an app may be right for them.

Right now, I only have a select few apps that I paid money for — among them, the AP Stylebook app. (Yes, I’m a huge nerd.) One app that I didn’t know existed was the one for This American Life, one of my favorite radio shows whose podcast got me through many a long commute back in the day.

What I love about the TAL app so far is that it has archives of every radio show back to 1995. It updates with new ones automatically, and there are also archived clips of the short-lived TAL television show. And all for just $2.99! (Sure, it’s a little annoying that I can’t listen to episodes underground on the subway unless I buy them from iTunes, but the app does give users an easy way to do that.)

OK, so what does this have to do with associations?

As mobile Web browsing continues to become more mainstream — and not just with the iPhone, but with other operating systems (such as Droid), as well — associations have to consider their mobile presence. An app can be an easy way to put all pertinent info in one handy place. Members could have the ability to access news, community features, advocacy information, event calendars and even multimedia — literally at their fingertips!

Yes, not everyone has a smart phone and right now, using a phone to browse the Web isn’t for everyone. But these phones are gaining huge market shares, and there’s continued pressure to always be connected and have information readily available. Even organizations with limited time, staff and other resources should begin considering how they can take advantage of mobile tools. As members of Generation Y continue to grow up and enter the workforce, memberships will (hopefully) begin to skew younger. As “digital natives,” Millennials prefer (and sometimes expect) to have information available wherever they prefer — and many of us are used to constantly being connected. It’s second nature to us.

Mobile does matter. Maybe not right now, to your organization, but it matter to the millions of iPhone, BlackBerry, Droid and Palm users out there who are getting more and more used to browsing the Web on smaller screens, and using apps to constantly have information. Don’t let your organization fall behind the mobile curve.

With so many technology and social media options, it’s hard to know where to get started, or, depending on your membership, if you even need to. However, when I find out about a cool new application that could be really beneficial to organizations, I can’t help but share it.

You may have heard about FourSquare or Gowalla – two location-based applications intended to share with other users where you are at any given time. However, using these applications at your conference or event can be difficult because there’s no easy way to break down exhibit halls or conference centers into even smaller venues for easier and more accurate check-ins.

Enter DoubleDutch. This application allows users to create their own branded check-in application designed specifically for their use case, such as conferences. Exhibitors’ booths, session rooms and hotel bars will all be distinguishable using the application, so attendees, vendors and other participants can all check in at their exact locations and share it with other users.

Although the application is only available for iPhone users right now, I definitely think it’s worth keeping an eye on this one for your future conferences. I know others have written about using FourSquare for events (see Maggie McGary’s take and Maddie Grant’s, and see my recap of Foursquare here), and there’s a lot of potential for location-based applications to grow, especially with more people buying iPhones, Androids and Blackberrys.

If you’re wary of using mobile applications to check in to different places and sharing your location during your everyday life, I totally get that. But when you’re at a conference, it can be difficult to keep track of people you want to spend time with. Checking in to different locations can help attendees find one another, meet new people and have a more fulfilling conference experience. Helping attendees keep in touch is what events are all about, and applications such as DoubleDutch only enhance the connections.

DoubleDutch has several cool features, including a points system, venue photos, reviews and ratings, friending, Facebook and Twitter integration and achievement stickers (akin to FourSquare’s Mayor and Explorer badges).

Stay on the lookout for more applications such as this one. I have a feeling more will start popping up, and that they’ll become much more mainstream in the next year or so.