function validateForm(contact) {
     var ret=true;
     var msg='';
     var pwlength=8;
     if (!contact.first_name.value) {
            $('#edit-first-name').addClass("error");
            ret=false;
            msg=(msg + "First name is a required field.\n");
     }
     else{
            $('#edit-first-name').removeClass("error");
     }
     if (!contact.email.value) {
            $('#edit-email').addClass("error");
            ret=false;
            msg=(msg + "Email is a required field.\n");
     }
     else{
            $('#edit-email').removeClass("error");
     }
     var emailFilter = /^.+@.+\..{2,4}$/;
     if (!(emailFilter.test(contact.email.value))) {
        msg=(msg + "Please enter a valid email address (e.g., user@domain.com).\n");
        $('#edit-email').addClass("error");
	ret=false;
     }
     else {
        var illegalChars=/[\(\)\<\>\,\;\:\\\"\[\]]/;
        if (contact.email.value.match (illegalChars)) {
            msg=(msg + "That email address contains illegal characters, please try again.\n");
            $('#edit-email').addClass("error");
	    ret=false;
        }
        else {
            $('#edit-email').removeClass("error");
            ret=true;
        }
     }
     if(!ret){
	alert(msg);
     }
     return ret;
}