Accessing function outside static function

Im passing variables between classes using a static function. Like so:


//Main.as
...
Index.location(info);

...
//Index.as

public static function location(info:Number):void
{
     info = city;
     loadXML();
}
public function loadXML():void
{
....


when I do this I get the error: Call to possibly undefined method loadXML. Now if I set the city var and loadXML function to static also, I get no error and it works, but what I am wondering is if this is:
a) the best practice, im guessing not
b)how do I access these fucntions, var, etc without making them all public static?
c)best practice to deal with this situation

Thanks in advance