global variable

Sorry to ask but...

I have a symbol on the stage. I need to know its Y-coordinate relative to the stage. Accessing it from the symbol returns a relative value of 0.

offset().top returns 0.

I can get the top coordinate from the stage:

sym.myPosition = sym.$("mySymbol").css("top");

I think I have tried every possible permutation for accessing the value from the symbol:

Everything I have tried (including answers given here) all return "not defined".

I have tried using globals with

getComposition().getStage().myPosition; with and without sym

I have tried using getComposition().getStage().getVariable with and without sym, 

It is defined at the stage level.

I give! Any help???

S. Hopkins