function checkMemberLogin() {
	// retrieve the form values
	var objMemberForm = document.getElementById("memberLoginForm");
	
	// check if the user has filled in a username
	if(trim(objMemberForm.username.value).length < 2) {
		alert("Please enter your username.");
		objMemberForm.username.focus();
		return false;
	}
	
	// check if the user has filled in a password
	if(trim(objMemberForm.passowrd.value).length < 2) {
		alert("Please enter your password.");
		objMemberForm.passowrd.focus();
		return false;
	}
	
	// if function got this far, all input values are filled in and the client request can be processed
	return true;
}