Access variables define in a function in another function?

Is is possible to have variables that are defined in a function 
accessible in another function?

I'm working on a program that makes calls to several (user defined) 
functions.  I would like to access some of the variables defined in the 
first function for use in the second one, but I'm not sure how to do 
that. Everything I've read indicates the variables must be defined 
outside the function to be more globally accessible. But that would not 
be very convenient.   So I hope there's a work around.

Thanks.  -Pat