//-- validate state form 
function validateState(form) {
  //-- define variables --
  var ret = false;

  //-- assign variables
  var state = document.state_result.state;

//-- check state
  if (state.selectedIndex == 0){
    alert("Alert: Please choose your state of residence.");
    document.state_result.state.focus()
    return(ret);            
  }

  //-- Passed everything
  ret = true; // OK to submit the form
  return(ret);
}  
// End of validateState script -->