function do_validate(formObj)
{
   var checks = 0;
   var isOK = true;
   with (formObj)
   {
     for (i = 0; i < length ; i++)
     {
	   if (elements[i].type == 'textarea')
        {
		var textname = elements[i].name;
           
		   if (elements[i].value == '')      
           {
              alert("The " + textname +" text area is empty. ");
              isOK = false;
           }  
     	}
	 }
  }
  
  if(document.contact_form.email.value =="")
  {
  alert ("you must enter a valid email address");
  isOK=false;
  }
  
  if (isOK)
 {
      document.contact_form.submit();
 }
 else
  		{
		alert("You cannot submit this form to us until you have completed all sections.");
		}
}

//-->