function countCharacters()
{
    textArea = document.getElementById('message');
    addText = textArea.value;
    strLen = addText.length;
    if (strLen > 1000) {
        textArea.value = addText.substring(0, 1000);
        alert('The maximum length for online submission is 1000 characters!');
        strLen = 1000;
    }

    document.getElementById('charactersUsed').innerHTML = 'currently '+strLen+' characters';
}

function submitContactForm()
{
    var mailForm   = document.getElementById('contactUs');
    var fname      = document.getElementById('fname');
    var lname      = document.getElementById('lname');
    var email      = document.getElementById('email');
    var textArea   = document.getElementById('message');
    var textValue  = textArea.value;


    var error = '';

    if (fname.value == '') {
        error += "- First name\n";
        fname.style.backgroundColor = "#FFFFCC";
    } else {
        fname.style.backgroundColor = "#FFFFFF";
    }

    if (lname.value == "") {
        error += "- Last Name\n";
        lname.style.backgroundColor = "#FFFFCC";
    } else {
        lname.style.backgroundColor = "#FFFFFF";
    }

    if (email.value == '') {
        error += "- Email\n";
        email.style.backgroundColor = "#FFFFCC";
    } else {
        email.style.backgroundColor = "#FFFFFF";
    }
    
    if (textValue.length == 0) {
    	error += "- Message\n";
    	textArea.style.backgroundColor = "#FFFFCC";
    } else {
    	textArea.style.backgroundColor = "#FFFFFF";
    }

    if (error != '') {
        error = "Please fill out the required fields:\n\n" + error;
        alert(error);
    } else {
        mailForm.submit();
    }
}