function submitForm() {
	
	var frm = document.getElementById("newAccountForm");

	// hide the previous errors
	hideErrors();
	
	var msg = "";
	if (!validateEmailAddress(frm)) {
		msg += "This email address is not valid.<br />";
		document.getElementById("error_emailAddress").style.display = "inline";
	} 
	
	if (!validatePassword(frm)) {
		msg += "This password is not valid.<br />";
		document.getElementById("error_password").style.display = "inline";
	} 
	
	var firstName = document.getElementById("name").value;
	if (!firstName || firstName.length == 0) {
		msg += "Your name is required.<br />";
		document.getElementById("error_firstName").style.display = "inline";
	}
		
	// if there were errors show the error msg
	if (msg != "") {
		var msgSpan = document.getElementById("errorMessage");
		msgSpan.innerHTML = msg + "<br />";
		msgSpan.style.display = "inline";
		
		return false;
		
	// no errors, submit form
	} else {
		var msgSpan = document.getElementById("errorMessage");
		msgSpan.innerHTML = "Thank you, your account is not being created and will be forwarded to your account center in a few seconds.";
		msgSpan.style.display = "inline";
		frm.submit();
	
	}
	return true;
}	

function hideErrors() {
	
	// clear the msg
	var msg = document.getElementById("errorMessage");
	msg.style.display = "none";
	msg.innerHTML = "";
	
	// hide the field markers
	document.getElementById("error_emailAddress").style.display = "none";
	document.getElementById("error_password").style.display = "none";
	document.getElementById("error_firstName").style.display = "none";
}