sub make_all_reports {

  # connect to the database
  my $dbh = &_get_dbh;

  &make_summary_report($dbh);
  &make_report1($dbh);
  &make_report1($dbh);

  ...

  # close the database connection
  $dbh->disconnect;

  # return happy and healthy
  return (1);

}

##</code><code>##

sub make_report1 {

  # connect to the database
  my $dbh = shift;
  $dbh = &_get_dbh if (!defined($dbh));

  ...

  my $caller = caller(1);

  # close the database connection if opened here
  $dbh->disconnect if (!defined $caller);

  # return happy and healthy
  return (1);

}