function checkForm(form) {
	form.name.required = true;
	form.name.requiredError = 'You must provide us with a contact name.';
	form.name.pattern = 'alphabetic';
	form.name.patternError = 'The name field may only contain the letters A-Z / a-z and spaces.';

	form.address.required = true;
	form.address.requiredError = 'You must provide us with a contact address.';

	form.city.required = true;
	form.city.requiredError = 'You must provide us with the city you live in.';
	form.city.pattern = 'alphabetic';
	form.city.patternError = 'The city name you entered may only contain the letters A-Z / a-z and spaces.';
	
	form.state.required = true;
	form.state.requiredError = 'You must provide us with a 2 letter state abbreviation.';
	form.state.pattern = 'alphabetic';
	form.state.patternError = 'The state abbreviation you provided must consist of 2 letters.';
	form.state.minlength = 2;
	form.state.minlengthError = 'The state abbreviation you provided must consist of 2 letters.';
	form.state.maxlength = 2;
	form.state.maxlengthError = 'The state abbreviation you provided must consist of 2 letters.';

	form.zip.required = true;
	form.zip.requiredError = 'The zipcode field must be filled in.';

	form.email.required = true;
	form.email.requiredError = 'The email field must be filled in.';
	form.email.pattern = 'email';
	form.email.patternError = 'The email address you entered is not valid.';
					
	form.zip.pattern = 'zipcode';
	form.zip.patternError = 'The zipcode entered is not valid.';
	
	form.phone.required = true;
	form.phone.requiredError = 'The first phone number (area code part) field must be filled in.';
	form.phone.pattern = 'us phone number';
	form.phone.patternError = 'The format of your phone number must be in the format (123)456-7890 or 123-456-789';
	
	// attach validation information for a set of radio buttons to the first radio button in the group 
	form.elements['notify_type'][0].required = true;
	form.elements['notify_type'][0].requiredError = 'Select the best method of contacting you.';
	
	var errors = getFormErrors(form);
	if (errors.length > 0) {
		var errorMessage = 'The form was not submitted due to the following problem' + ((errors.length > 1) ? 's' : '') + ':\n\n';
		for (var errorIndex = 0; errorIndex < errors.length; errorIndex++) {
			errorMessage += '* ' + errors[errorIndex] + '\n';
		}
		errorMessage += '\nPlease fix ' + ((errors.length > 1) ? 'these' : 'this') + ' problem' + ((errors.length > 1) ? 's' : '') + ' and resubmit the form.';
		alert(errorMessage);
		return false;
	}
	
	// no errors: return true
	return true;
}