function validateForm() {
	var alertMessage = "";
    var isAlert = false;
	//firstName
	if(  !checkNotEmpty( document.contact_form.firstname.value ) ) {   
		alertMessage += "Please enter your first name. \n";
		isAlert = true;
	}
	//lastname
	if(  !checkNotEmpty( document.contact_form.lastname.value ) ) {   
		alertMessage += "Please enter your last name. \n";
		isAlert = true;
	}
	//address 
	if(  !checkNotEmpty( document.contact_form.address.value ) ) {   
		alertMessage += "Please enter your address. \n";
		isAlert = true;
	}
	//city
	if(  !checkNotEmpty( document.contact_form.city.value ) ) {   
		alertMessage += "Please enter your city. \n";
		isAlert = true;
	}
	//state
	if(  !checkNotEmpty( document.contact_form.state.value ) ) {   
		alertMessage += "Please enter your state. \n";
		isAlert = true;
	}
	//zip 
	if(  !checkNotEmpty( document.contact_form.zip.value ) ) {   
		alertMessage += "Please enter your zip code. \n";
		isAlert = true;
	}
	//country
	if(  !checkNotEmpty( document.contact_form.country.value ) ) {   
		alertMessage += "Please enter your country. \n";
		isAlert = true;
	}
	//birthdate
	var sDay = document.contact_form.dobDay.value;
	var sMonth = document.contact_form.dobMonth.value;
	var sYear = document.contact_form.dobYear.value;
	if( !checkNotEmpty( sDay ) ) { 
		alertMessage += "Please enter the day. \n"; 
		isAlert = true; 
	}
	if( !checkNotEmpty( sMonth ) ) { 
		alertMessage += "Please enter the month. \n"; 
		isAlert = true; 
 	}
	if( !checkNotEmpty( sYear ) ) { 
		alertMessage += "Please enter the year. \n"; 
		isAlert = true; 
	}
	//check the validate date, work for the leap year
	if ( !isAlert && !checkValidDate(sMonth + "/" + sDay + "/" + sYear) ) {
		alertMessage += "Please enter a valid date. \n";	
		isAlert = true; 
	} else {
		//add the date of birth
		document.contact_form.birthdate.value = sYear + "-" + sMonth + "-" + sDay;
	}
	//email
	if(  !checkNotEmpty( document.contact_form.email.value ) ) {   
		alertMessage += "Please enter your e-mail address. \n";
		isAlert = true;
	}
	//are you a
	if(  !checkNotEmpty( document.contact_form.are_you_a.value ) ) {   
		alertMessage += "Please select you are a public sector professional or a consumer. \n";
		isAlert = true;
	}
	
	// Reason for Inquiry
	if(  !checkNotEmpty( document.contact_form.reason.value ) ) {   
		alertMessage += "Please select the reason for inquiry. \n";
		isAlert = true;
	}
		
	if (isAlert) {
		alert (alertMessage);		
		return false;
	} else {
		return true;
	}
}