function checkPollieForm(){

	// quickie references to my fields
	var name = document.getElementById('name');
	var address = document.getElementById('address');
	var suburb = document.getElementById('suburb');
	var state = document.getElementById('state');
	var postcode = document.getElementById('postcode');
	var topic = document.getElementById('topic');
	var pollie= document.getElementById('pollie');
		
	// check the inputs  (main function nav)
	if (alphaNumField(name, "your name", "your name.")) {
		if (alphaNumField(address, "your street address", "your street address.")) {
			if (alphaNumField(suburb, "your suburb", "your suburb or town.")) {
				if (alphaNumField(state, "your state", "your state.")) {
					if (alphaNumField(postcode, "your postcode", "your postcode.")) {
						if (selectField(topic, "Please select the subject of the letter.")) {
							if (selectField(pollie, "Please select the pollie to whom you wish to address your letter.")) {
								return true;
							}
						}
					}
				}
			}
		}
	}
	return false;
}

// function for checking alphanumeric text fields
function alphaNumField(element, initial, fieldDesc) {
	var alphaNumExp = /^[-0-9a-zA-Z',&.'";:-_ /]+$/;
	if ((element.value == initial) || (element.value.length < 2)) {
		var shortStub = 'Please enter ';
		alert(shortStub + fieldDesc);
		element.focus(); // set the focus to this input
		return false;
	} else if ((element.value.length > 1) && (!element.value.match(alphaNumExp))) {
	var wrongStub = 'Please enter only letters and numbers for your ';
		alert(wrongStub + fieldDesc);
		element.focus();
		return false;
	} else {
		return true;
	}
}

// function for checking dropdown fields
function selectField(element, message){
	if (element.value == '') {
		alert(message);
		element.focus();
		return false;
	} else {
		return true;
	}
}

function inputGuy(myElement, myAction, myValue) {
	if ((myAction == 'on') && (myElement.value == myValue)) {
		myElement.value = '';
	} else {
		if ((myAction == 'off') && (myElement.value == '')) {
			myElement.value=myValue;
		}
	}
}