function validate_email(emField)
	{
	var fieldValue = emField.value // store field's entire value in variable
	// Begin Valid Email Address Tests
	
	//if field is not empty
	if(fieldValue != ""){ 
	var atSymbol = 0
	
	//loop through field value string
	for(var a = 0; a < fieldValue.length; a++){ 
	
	//look for @ symbol and for each @ found, increment atSymbol variable by 1
	if(fieldValue.charAt(a) == "@"){ 
	atSymbol++
	}
	
	}
	
	// if more than 1 @ symbol exists
	if(atSymbol > 1){ 
	// then cancel and don't submit form
	alert("Please Enter A Valid Email Address") 
	return false
	}
	
	// if 1 @ symbol was found, and it is not the 1st character in string
	if(atSymbol == 1 && fieldValue.charAt(0) != "@"){ 
	//look for period at 2nd character after @ symbol 
	var period = fieldValue.indexOf(".",fieldValue.indexOf("@")+2) 
	
	// "." immediately following 1st "." ? 
	var twoPeriods = (fieldValue.charAt((period+1)) == ".") ? true : false 
	
	//if period was not found OR 2 periods together OR field contains less than 5 characters OR period is in last position
	if(period == -1 || twoPeriods || fieldValue.length < period + 2 || fieldValue.charAt(fieldValue.length-1)=="."){
	// then cancel and don't submit form
	alert("Please Enter A Valid Email Address") 
	return false
	}
	}
	// no @ symbol exists or it is in position 0 (the first character of the field)
	else{ 
	// then cancel and don't submit form
	alert("Please Enter A Valid Email Address")
	return false 
	}
	}
	// if field is empty
	else{ 
	// then cancel and don't submit form
	alert("Please Enter A Valid Email Address")
	return false 
	}
	//all tests passed, submit form
	return true
}