Gnome doesn't see user's PATH

[Forrest Smith <forrestsmith@midsouth.rr.com>]

Hi all!

 Does anyone know why apps run from the panel aren't aware of
user's environment vars, specifically PATH?

 Example, if Mutt is executed from my panel, I can't execute
commands that are in my PATH.  If I run it from a terminal window,
I can.  The same goes for Emacs.

 I'm using Gnome 2.8.2 in Sarge.


Thank ya,
  Forrest Smith