var membershipoff = new Image();
  membershipoff.src = "images/int-membership_off.gif";
  var membershipon = new Image();
  membershipon.src = "images/int-membership_on.gif";

  var aboutusoff = new Image();
  aboutusoff.src = "images/int-aboutus_off.gif";
  var aboutuson = new Image();
  aboutuson.src = "images/int-aboutus_on.gif";

  var contactusoff = new Image();
  contactusoff.src = "images/int-contact_off.gif";
  var contactuson = new Image();
  contactuson.src = "images/int-contact_on.gif";

  var blinksoff = new Image();
  blinksoff.src = "images/int-links_off.gif";
  var blinkson = new Image();
  blinkson.src = "images/int-links_on.gif";

  var articlesoff = new Image();
  articlesoff.src = "images/int-articles_off.gif";
  var articleson = new Image();
  articleson.src = "images/int-articles_on.gif";

  var photooff = new Image();
  photooff.src = "images/int-photo_off.gif";
  var photoon = new Image();
  photoon.src = "images/int-photo_on.gif";

  var projectoff = new Image();
  projectoff.src = "images/int-project_off.gif";
  var projecton = new Image();
  projecton.src = "images/int-project_on.gif";

  var eventsoff = new Image();
  eventsoff.src = "images/int-events_off.gif";
  var eventson = new Image();
  eventson.src = "images/int-events_on.gif";

  var whatsnewoff = new Image();
  whatsnewoff.src = "images/int-whats-new_off.gif";
  var whatsnewon = new Image();
  whatsnewon.src = "images/int-whats-new_on.gif";



var isMenuAct = false; // the menu is not active yet

function actMenuItem(imgName) {
  isMenuAct = true; // the menu is now active
  act(imgName);
  inact(defImg);
}

function inactMenuItem(imgName) {
  isMenuAct = false; // the menu is no longer active
  if (document.images) {
    inact(imgName);
    timerID = setTimeout('if (!isMenuAct) act("' +  defImg + '")', 100);
  }
}

function act(imgName) {
  if (document.images) 
    document[imgName].src = eval(imgName + "on.src");
}

function inact(imgName) {
  if (document.images)
    document[imgName].src = eval(imgName + "off.src");
}