function validate() {

    var theMessage = "         A response MUST be provided to the following questions: \n----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------";
    var noErrors = -1;

    // make sure field is not blank
    if (document.FormName.requestername.value=="") {
    theMessage = theMessage + "\n --> Name of Requester?";
	noErrors = 1;
    }

   // validate an e-mail address
    if (!/^\w+([\.-]?\w+)*@\w+([\.-]?\w+)*(\.\w{2,4})+$/.test(document.FormName.requesteremail.value)){
    theMessage = theMessage + "\n --> Email of Requester:";
	noErrors = 1;
    }

    // make sure field is not blank
    if (document.FormName.speakername.value=="") {
    theMessage = theMessage + "\n --> Name of Speaker?";
	noErrors = 1;
    }
	
	// make sure field is not blank
    if (document.FormName.speakeraffiliation.value=="") {
    theMessage = theMessage + "\n --> Affiliation of Speaker?";
	noErrors = 1;
    }
	
	
	// make sure field is not blank
    if (document.FormName.speakerwhy.value=="") {
    theMessage = theMessage + "\n --> Why this speaker would be interesting for the SOCS community?";
	noErrors = 1;
    }

   

    // If no errors, submit the form
    if (noErrors == -1) {
    return true;

    } else {

    // If errors were found, show alert message
    alert(theMessage);
    return false;
    }
  }