Returning variables from sub routines.

[jason corbett]

I have a sub routine that I created called dateme.
when i run the sub routine, I am getting errors that Global symbol "$process_date" 
requires explicit package name at ....What gives?
 
Thanks,
JC
 
Here is the snipet
 
#---called from
 
dateme( );
 
 
#---------------------------
sub dateme{

my $process_date=' '; 
 
  $process_date=localtime( );
 
 return $process_date;

}