function changeAll(divs) {
  	dropBoxes = divs;
  	dropBoxArray = dropBoxes.split(",")
  	for(i=0;i<dropBoxArray.length;i++){
  		document.getElementById(dropBoxArray[i]).style.color = "#FDF4F4";
  	}
  }

  function checkNewsSubForm(theform) {
    //reset all the validation warnings    
    changeAll("firstName_required,lastName_required,contactEmail_required");
  	pass = 1;
  	focusfield = "";
    //disable the submit button
    preventDoubleSubmit(document.getElementById('submitFormButt'),true)
  	if (isWhitespace(theform.firstName.value)) {
      document.getElementById('firstName_required').style.color = "#CC0000";
      pass = 0;
  		if (focusfield == "") {focusfield = "firstName";}      
  	}
  	if (isWhitespace(theform.lastName.value)) {
      document.getElementById('lastName_required').style.color = "#CC0000";
  		pass = 0;
  		if (focusfield == "") { focusfield = "lastName";}
  	}
    if (isWhitespace(theform.contactEmail.value) || !isEmail(theform.contactEmail.value)) {
      document.getElementById('contactEmail_required').style.color = "#CC0000";
  		pass = 0;
  		if (focusfield == "") { focusfield = "contactEmail";}
  	} 
  	if (pass == 0) { 
  			alert("FORM ERROR!\nPlease complete the fields as indicated.");			
  		  if (focusfield != "") {
  			  focusfield = "theform." + focusfield + ".focus();";
  			  eval(focusfield);
  			}
        //re-enable the submit button
        preventDoubleSubmit(document.getElementById('submitFormButt'),false);
  		  return false;
  	 }
   }