Changing Panel Names for Gnome Menu Launcher ??

[William Case <billlinux rogers com>]

Hi;

I would like to change the names for the menu launcher that comes
pre-set on my upper panel.  Currently I have "Applications  Places
System".  This launcher takes up 2.5" on my upper panel.  I would like
to change the headings to "Apps Places Sys".  That would probably give
me 1/2 to 3/4 inches of extra panel space. 

Is there anyway I can safely do this without destroying any functions of
the menu?  Is there a way to add menu headings to my gconf-editor so
that the headings can be controlled from there? 
-- 
Regards Bill