Thanks btrott,
After some contemplation, I don't think this is my ideal solution, though I can see it's benefit in other situations.
Say for example my module I'm building is named CGI::SQL,
I'd like it to have functions that use the $dbh, but it doesn't try to connect itself-- a connection is already assumed-- this gets me out of the business of managing the user's preferences for their connect string.
maybe just passing in the $dbh as a normal function argument is the way to go?