function validateForm(frm){
	var is_err = false;
	var err_msg = '';
	
	//capture the data
	var name = frm.contact_name.value;
	var phone = frm.contact_phone_number.value;
	var email = frm.contact_email_address.value;
	var msg = frm.contact_question.value;
	
	//verify that the required fields have been submitted
	if(name == ''){
		err_msg += "Please specify your name.\n";
		is_err = true;
	}
	
	if(phone == ''){
		err_msg += "Please specify your phone number.\n";
		is_err = true;
	}
	
	if(msg == ''){
		err_msg += "Please enter a question.\n";
		is_err = true;
	}
	
	//verify that the email address provided is valid
	var reg = new RegExp(/^[0-9a-zA-Z\.]+@[0-9a-zA-Z]+[\.]{1}[0-9a-zA-Z]+[\.]?[0-9a-zA-Z]+$/);
	if(!reg.test(email) && email != ''){
     	err_msg += "The email address specified is invalid.\n";
     	is_err = true;
    }
	
	//alert the user on error, return true on success
	if(is_err){
		alert(err_msg);
		return false;	
	} else {
		return true;	
	}
}