function $(id) {
		return document.getElementById(id);
	}

	function validate(formName) {
		valid = true;
		var emailFilter=/^.+@.+\..{2,6}$/;

		if (formName == "volunteer") {
		
		  if ($("first_name").value == "") { alert("Please enter your first name"); valid=false; }
		  if ($("last_name").value == "") { alert("Please enter your last name"); valid=false; }
		  if ($("phone").value == "") { alert("Please enter your phone number"); valid=false; }
		  else {
		    var stripped = $("phone").value.replace(/[\(\)\.\-\ ]/g, '');
		    if (isNaN(stripped)) { 
		  	  alert("Please enter a valid phone number"); valid=false;
		    } else if (stripped.length < 10) { alert("Please enter a valid phone number"); valid=false; }
		  }

		  if ($("email").value == "") {
		    alert("Please enter your email address");
		    valid=false; 
		  } else {
		    if (!(emailFilter.test($("email").value))) {
		      alert("Please enter a valid email address");
		      valid=false; 
		    }
		  }
		  
		  over_eighteen_radio = document.getElementsByName("over_eighteen");
		  over_eighteen = "N";
		  for(var i = 0; i < over_eighteen_radio.length; i++) {
		    if(over_eighteen_radio[i].checked) {
			  over_eighteen =  over_eighteen_radio[i].value;
		    }
	      }
    	  if ((over_eighteen == "Y") && ($("signature").value == "")) { 
		    alert("Please type your name for a signature");
			valid=false;
		  }

    	  if ((over_eighteen == "N") && ($("parent_signature").value == "")) { 
		    alert("Please fill in the parent signature field");
			valid=false;
		  }
		  
		  /*
    	  if (($("over_eighteen").checked) && ($("signature").value == "")) { 
		    alert("Please type your name for a signature");
			valid=false;
		  }

    	  if (($("under_eighteen").checked) && ($("parent_signature").value == "")) { 
		    alert("Please fill in the parent signature field");
			valid=false;
		  }
		  */

		
        }

		return valid;
	}