function chkForm(){
		
		//name of nominee
		if(document.nomination.nominee.value==''){
			alert("Please enter the nominee's name.");
			document.nomination.nominee.focus();
			return false;
		}
		//nominee's company
		if(document.nomination.nomineeCo.value==''){
			alert("Please enter the nominee's company.");
			document.nomination.nomineeCo.focus();
			return false;
		}
		//nominee's street
		if(document.nomination.nomineeStreet.value==''){
			alert("Please enter the nominee's street address.");
			document.nomination.nomineeStreet.focus();
			return false;
		}
		//nominee's city
		if(document.nomination.nomineeCity.value==''){
			alert("Please enter the nominee's city.");
			document.nomination.nomineeCity.focus();
			return false;
		}
		//nominee's state
		if(document.nomination.nomineeState.value==''){
			alert("Please enter the nominee's state.");
			document.nomination.nomineeState.focus();
			return false;
		}
		//nominee's zip
		if(document.nomination.nomineeZip.value==''){
			alert("Please enter the nominee's zip code.");
			document.nomination.nomineeZip.focus();
			return false;
		}
		//if they start a zip 4 make them finish
		if(document.nomination.nomineeZip4.value!= ''){
			if(isNaN(document.nomination.nomineeZip4.value)==true  || document.nomination.nomineeZip4.value.length!=4){
				alert('You started a zip4, it must be a 4-digit number.');
				document.nomination.nomineeZip4.focus();
				return false;
			}
		}
		//nominee's phone number (area code)
		if(isNaN(document.nomination.nomineeAcode.value)==true || document.nomination.nomineeAcode.value.length!=3){
			alert("Area code must be 3-digit number.")
			document.nomination.nomineeAcode.focus();
			return false;
		}
		//nominee's phone number (prefix)
		if(isNaN(document.nomination.nomineePre.value)==true || document.nomination.nomineePre.value.length!=3){
			alert("Prefix must be 3-digit number.")
			document.nomination.nomineePre.focus();
			return false;
		}
		//nominee's phone number (number)
		if(isNaN(document.nomination.nomineePh.value)==true || document.nomination.nomineePh.value.length!=4){
			alert("Phone number must be 4-digit number.")
			document.nomination.nomineePh.focus();
			return false;
		}
		//nominee's type of business
		var opt=-1;
		for(i=0;i<document.nomination.busType.length;i++){
			if(document.nomination.busType[i].checked){
				opt=i;
			}
		}
		if(opt==-1){
			alert("Please select a type of business.");
			document.nomination.nomineeEmail.focus();
			return false;
		}
		//if other they must fill-in description
		if(document.nomination.busType[3].checked){
			if(document.nomination.otherBusType.value== ""){
				alert("Please tell us the type of other business.");
				document.nomination.otherBusType.focus();
				return false;
			}
		}
		
		
		//nominee's year's in business
		if(isNaN(document.nomination.yrs.value)==true || document.nomination.yrs.value==''){
			alert("Years in business must be a number.");
			document.nomination.yrs.focus();
			return false;
		}
		//size of nominee's company
		if(!document.nomination.size[0].checked && !document.nomination.size[1].checked){
			alert("Please select the number of employees.");
			document.nomination.yrs.focus();
			return false;
		}
		//will the nominee (or designee) attend the dinner
		if(!document.nomination.attend[0].checked && !document.nomination.attend[1].checked){
			alert("Will the nominee (or designee) attend the awards dinner? Please check yes or no.");
			document.nomination.yrs.focus();
			return false;
		}
		//category of award
		var aopt=-1;
		for(i=0;i<document.nomination.category.length;i++){
			if(document.nomination.category[i].checked){
				aopt=i;
			}
		}
		if(aopt==-1){
			alert("Please select an awards category.");
			document.nomination.yrs.focus();
			return false;
		}
		//reason for the nomination
		if(document.nomination.detail.value == ""){
				alert("Please tell us why you are nominating this candidate.");
				document.nomination.detail.focus();
				return false;
		}
		//nominator's name
			if(document.nomination.nominator.value==''){
			alert("Please enter the nominator's name.");
			document.nomination.nominator.focus();
			return false;
		}
		//nominator's company
		if(document.nomination.nominatorCo.value==''){
			alert("Please enter the nominator's company.");
			document.nomination.nominatorCo.focus();
			return false;
		}
		//nominator's street
		if(document.nomination.nominatorStreet.value==''){
			alert("Please enter the nominator's street address.");
			document.nomination.nominatorStreet.focus();
			return false;
		}
		//nominator's city
		if(document.nomination.nominatorCity.value==''){
			alert("Please enter the nominator's city.");
			document.nomination.nominatorCity.focus();
			return false;
		}
		//nominator's state
		if(document.nomination.nominatorState.value==''){
			alert("Please enter the nominator's state.");
			document.nomination.nominatorState.focus();
			return false;
		}
		//nominator's zip
		if(document.nomination.nominatorZip.value==''){
			alert("Please enter the nominator's zip code.");
			document.nomination.nominatorZip.focus();
			return false;
		}
		//if they start a zip 4 make them finish
		if(document.nomination.nominatorZip4.value!= ''){
			if(isNaN(document.nomination.nominatorZip4.value)==true  || document.nomination.nominatorZip4.value.length!=4){
				alert('You started a zip4, it must be a 4-digit number.');
				document.nomination.nominatorZip4.focus();
				return false;
			}
		}
		//nominator's phone number (area code)
		if(isNaN(document.nomination.nominatorAcode.value)==true || document.nomination.nominatorAcode.value.length!=3){
			alert("Area code must be 3-digit number.")
			document.nomination.nominatorAcode.focus();
			return false;
		}
		//nominator's phone number (prefix)
		if(isNaN(document.nomination.nominatorPre.value)==true || document.nomination.nominatorPre.value.length!=3){
			alert("Prefix must be 3-digit number.")
			document.nomination.nominatorPre.focus();
			return false;
		}
		//nominator's phone number (number)
		if(isNaN(document.nomination.nominatorPh.value)==true || document.nomination.nominatorPh.value.length!=4){
			alert("Phone number must be 4-digit number.")
			document.nomination.nominatorPh.focus();
			return false;
		}
		return true;
	}