function validate() {
        var valid = true;
        var errorMsg = "";

        var firstNameRef = document.getElementById("firstName");
        var lastNameRef = document.getElementById("lastName");
        var emailAddressRef = document.getElementById("emailAddress");
        var cityRef = document.getElementById("city");
        var stateRef = document.getElementById("state");
        var storyRef = document.getElementById("story");

        var failureBoxRef = document.getElementById("failureBox");
        var failedItemsRef = document.getElementById("failedItems");


        if (firstNameRef.value.length == 0) {
                valid = false;
                errorMsg += "<li>" + "First Name is required." + "</li>";
        }

        if (lastNameRef.value.length == 0) {
                valid = false;
                errorMsg += "<li>" + "Last Initial is required." + "</li>";
        }


        if (emailAddressRef.value.length == 0) {
                valid = false;
                errorMsg += "<li>" + "Email Address is required." + "</li>";
        }
        else if (!checkEmail(emailAddressRef.value)) {
                valid = false;
                errorMsg += "<li>" + "Email Address is not valid." + "</li>";
        }

        if (storyRef.value.length == 0) {
                valid = false;
                errorMsg += "<li>" + "Story is required." + "</li>";
        }
        if (!valid) {
                // set errors
                failureBoxRef.style.display = "";
                failedItemsRef.innerHTML = errorMsg;
                window.location="#failureBox";
        }
	return valid;
}