function handle_join_request() {
	
	if ( $('#id_to_email').val() == '') {	
		alert('Please enter an email address ');
		return false;
	}
	
	$("#id_join_mailing_list_response").empty().html('<div><tt><img alt="processing your request..." src="/site_media/image/indicator.gif"/> loading..</tt></div>');

	var f = $('#id_join_mailing_list_form');
	var serializedForm = f.serialize();
	$.ajax( {
        type: 'post',
        data: serializedForm,
        url:  '/mailinglist/',
        success: function( result ) {
          $('#id_join_mailing_list_response').empty().html( "<div><tt>" +
                                     result +
                                     "</tt></div>" );
        }
    } );
}