How Do I Change the NORMAL defaults permanently for doc's opened via SHELL MENU

[TRK]

Hello... I typically open Word by clicking a shortcut on the desktop and have the default NORMAL template modified to my liking.



However, I often use the shell menu to open a doc when convenient (right-click on desktop or within a folder -> New -> list of things I can open including a Word Doc...) but when I open Word from the shell menu I get a MS-default NORMAL template I don't like. I modify it, and tell it to save not just for this template but all the ones going forward, but the next time I use the shell menu, it's the same MS-default template instead of my modified one.

How can I modify the NORMAL template for docs opened via the shell menu? Thanks!