---- CODE BLOCK ----
{
    if($opt_mailto) {
	$mail_obj = VNI::Mailer->new();
	$mail_obj->to($opt_mailto);
	$mail_obj->subject($report_title);
	$mail_obj->from($from);

	$message = $mail_obj->open();
    } else {
	$message = *STDOUT;
    }

    # select whatever filehandle is in $message for output
    select($message);


# -- further down
    format MSG_TOP = 
blah some header for this report
---------------------------------
.

    format MSG =
@<<<<< @<<<<<< @<<<<<< @<<<<<<
$foo,  $bar,   $baz,   $quux
------------------------------
.

    $^ = "MSG_TOP";
    $~ = "MSG";

    foreach (@lusers) {
          $foo = $_->data; $bar =$_->otherdata; 
          # etc, etc,

          # THIS WRITE WORKS WHEN $message == *STDOUT
          # OUTPUT DISAPPEARS OTHERWISE
          write($message);
    }

    # The following prints always work correctly.
    print $message "Some summary info: $balance\n";
    print $message "People who suck: $sucky\n";
}

----- END CODE ----