function checkAndSubmit() {
	
	var missing_required_fields = '';
	
	//validation
	if (document.newsletter['firstname'].value=='') {
		missing_required_fields = missing_required_fields+'First Name\n';
	}
	if (document.newsletter['lastname'].value=='') {
		missing_required_fields = missing_required_fields+'Last Name\n';
	}
	if (document.newsletter['email_address'].value=='') {
		missing_required_fields = missing_required_fields+'E-Mail Address\n';
	}
	if (document.newsletter['school'].value=='') {
		missing_required_fields = missing_required_fields+'School\n';
	}
	if(document.newsletter['state'].selectedIndex==0) {
		missing_required_fields = missing_required_fields+'State\n';
	}

	if (missing_required_fields!='') {
		alert("Please fill in all required fields: \n\n"+missing_required_fields);
		return false;
	}
	else {
		document.newsletter.submit();
	}
}