function verifyselection(form) {
  for (var i = 0; i<form.elements.length; i++) {
    if ((form.elements[i].selectedIndex > -1)) {
      if (form.elements[i].selectedIndex == 0) {
        var opttext = form.elements[i].value.toLowerCase();
        if (opttext.indexOf('optional') < 0) {        
          alert('Please select a ' + form.elements[i].name.toLowerCase());
          return false;
        }
      }
    }
  }
    return true;
}