function checkForm(thisform)
  {
	//lorf selections
	var a1 = thisform.lorf.selectedIndex;
	var a1_text = thisform.lorf.options[a1].text;
	
	//lost or found
	if(a1_text=="Select One")
	{
		alert("You must select Lost or Found");
		thisform.lorf.focus();
		return false;
	}
    //validate the name
    if(thisform.entname.value=='Your Name' || thisform.entname.value=="")
    {
		  alert("The name field is required.  Please fill it in.");
		  thisform.entname.value='';		  
		  thisform.entname.focus();
		  return false;
    }
	
	//validate the email
	var reEmailAddress = /^([A-Za-z0-9_\-\.])+\@([A-Za-z0-9_\-\.])+\.([A-Za-z]{2,4})$/;
	if(thisform.entemail.value=='' || thisform.entemail.value=="Your Email")
    {
		  alert("Email field is required. Please fill it in.");
		  thisform.entemail.value='';		  
		  thisform.entemail.focus();
		  return false;
    }
    if(!reEmailAddress.test(thisform.entemail.value))
    {
		  alert("The email you entered is not valid. \nPlease enter an email in the form of\nyouremail@domain.com");
		  thisform.entemail.value='';		  
		  thisform.entemail.focus();
		  return false;
    }
	

	
	//entwhat
	if(thisform.entwhat.value=='' || thisform.entwhat.value=="What did you lose?")
	{
		alert("You must enter what you lost or found");
		thisform.entwhat.value='';
		thisform.entwhat.focus();
		return false;
	}
	
	//entwhen
	if(thisform.entwhen.value=='' || thisform.entwhen.value=="When did you lose it?")
	{
		alert("You must enter when you lost or found the item");
		thisform.entwhen.value='';
		thisform.entwhen.focus();
		return false;
	}
	
	//entwhere
	if(thisform.entwhere.value=='' || thisform.entwhere.value=="Where did you lose it?")
	{
		alert("You must enter where you found or lost the item");	
		thisform.entwhere.value='';
		thisform.entwhere.focus();
		return false;
	}
	
	//entdesc
	if(thisform.entdesc.value=="Any descriptive details?")
	{
		thisform.entdesc.value='';
	}
	
    //if all is OK submit the form
    thisform.submit();
  }