function add_person(person $person)
{
    connect();
    $result = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM PERSON WHERE ID = '" . $person->get_ID() . "'");
    if (!$result) {
        error_log('ERROR on select in add_person() ' . mysql_error());
        die('Invalid query: ' . mysql_error());
    }
    // the function get_MS_ID does not exist in the original Homebase code
    // this code causes and error and should be deleted
    // not clear what the logic was
    /*   if (mysql_num_rows($result) != 0)
         {
             delete_dbMasterSchedule($person->get_MS_ID());
             connect();
         } */
    error_log('will insert person id= ' . $person->get_id() . ' avail= ' . $person->get_availability());
    $avail = implode(",", $person->get_availability());
    $schedule = implode(",", $person->get_schedule());
    $query = "INSERT INTO PERSON VALUES ('" . $person->get_id() . "','" . $person->get_first_name() . "','" . $person->get_last_name() . "','" . $person->get_birthday() . "','" . $person->get_gender() . "','" . $person->get_address() . "','" . $person->get_city() . "','" . $person->get_state() . "','" . $person->get_zip() . "','" . $person->get_phone1() . "','" . $person->get_phone2() . "','" . $person->get_email() . "','" . $person->get_type() . "','" . $person->get_status() . "','" . $schedule . "','" . $person->get_notes() . "','" . $person->get_skills() . "','" . $person->get_reason_interested() . "','" . $person->get_date_added() . "','" . $person->get_password() . "','" . $avail . "','" . $person->get_contact_preference() . "');";
    error_log('query is ' . $query);
    $result = mysql_query($query);
    if (!$result) {
        error_log("error doing insert in add_person " . mysql_error());
        echo mysql_error() . " - Unable to insert in PERSON: " . $person->get_ID() . "\n";
        mysql_close();
        return false;
    }
    mysql_close();
    return true;
}