function validate() {
var fname= document.getElementById('fname');
	//make sure the user puts something in the full name
var lname= document.getElementById('lname');
	if (fname.value == "" && lname.value == ""){
		alert('Please enter full name.');
		return false;
	}else if (fname.value == "") {
		alert('Please enter first name.');
		return false;
	}else if (lname.value == "") {
		alert('Please enter last name');
		return false;
	}

var email = document.getElementById('email');
	//make sure the user puts something in the email
	if ((fname.value == "" || lname.value == "") && email.value == ""){
		alert('Please enter full name and email address.');
		return false;
	}else if (email.value == "") {
		alert('Please enter email address.');
		return false;
	}
	//check for illegal characters	
	var invalidChars = ' /;,:';
	for(var i=0; i<invalidChars.length; i++){
		var badChar = invalidChars.charAt(i);
		if (email.value.indexOf(badChar) > -1) {
			alert('You have entered an invalid character: '+ badChar);
			email.parentNode.className = 'invalid';
			return false;
		}
	}
	//make sure the email address contains @ after the first char
	var atPos = email.value.indexOf('@',1);
	if(atPos == -1){
		alert('Your email address must contain a single @');
		return false;
	}
	//make sure there is not an additional @ after the first one
	if(email.value.indexOf('@',atPos+1) != -1){
		alert('Your email address must contain a single @');
		return false;
	}
	//make sure there is a period after the @ symbol
	var periodPos = email.value.indexOf('.',atPos);
	if(periodPos == -1){
		alert('Your email address must contain a period after the @ symbol');
		return false;
	}
	return true;
}