Update global variable in DTS from a value in a table

SQL Server 2000
--------------------
Here's what i want to do:

I have a DTS with some global variables.  I would like to have the global variables updated from a table in a database (on the same server)...for example the table may be named "file locations" and the table then has a "name-value" pair.

Currently we do something like create an ActiveX script to get the value like the following:

'**********************************************************************
'  Visual Basic ActiveX Script
'************************************************************************

Function Main()
      dim test
      Main = DTSTaskExecResult_Success

      dim myConn
      dim myRecordset
      dim iRowCount

      ' instantiate the ADO objects
      set myConn = CreateObject("ADODB.Connection")
      set myRecordset = CreateObject("ADODB.Recordset")

      myConn.Open = "Provider=SQLOLEDB.1;Data Source=Workstation1234; Trusted_Connection=yes;database=DataPrep;"

      mySQLCmdText = "Select value from DataPrep.dbo.dbproperty where name ='SettingsFile'"

      myRecordset.Open mySQLCmdText, myConn
      set Flds = myRecordset.Fields
      set iRowCount = Flds("value")

      msgbox "Current RCDR: " & iRowCount
      DTSGlobalVariables("@SettingsLoca").Value=iRowCount

      Main = DTSTaskExecResult_Success
End Function

------------------------------------------

Then we set the global variable with a "Dynamic Properties task" object in the dts (on succcess of the get)

***************************

First of all that seems like a lot of work to get the value from a table in a server that we're already on...is there a leaner way?

If not is there a way where i can then put this code in a user defined function in the database itself and call that function within the dts?  The thing is we have maybe 10 DTSs and everytime one would need to be updated - it would require 10 updates.

I looked at : http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dtssql/dts_addf_ax_06er.asp  and it seems that's what MS is doing...hmmm.
***************

As far as points go, I'll start at 200 points if someone can point me to where this is already answered.  If it involves someone doing actual work on this I will significantly increase it - at least more than double the 200 currently.

thanks,
matt