mergeTemplate - non-standard resource

I need to give some background info before I ask the Velocity question...

I've changed my code to use class resources instead of absolute or
relative pathnames.  In other words, I changed this:

Image myImage = new Image(display,
"bin/gov/noaa/ohrfc/resources/rvf.icon.png");

to this:

Image myImage = new Image(display,
this.getClass().getResource("resources/rvf.icon.png").getFile());

This is less direct, but has several advantages, including that
getResource uses the class location (bin/gov/noaa/ohrfc) to complete the
full pathname of "resource/rvf.icon.png". The getFile() method will
return the full pathname of the file (which is:
/home/oper/workspace/GIFTS/bin/gov/noaa/ohrfc/resources/rvf.icon.png).  
This makes it more portable, and makes it more compatible with using
Java Web Start for this application.  Using getResource(), my code
doesn't break if I move my classes somewhere else besides
"bin/gov/noaa/ohrfc".

The problem comes in with Velocity's mergeTemplate() method which chokes
when an absolute pathname is used.  It also chokes when I use a pathname
that is relative to the class location.  Rather, it requires something
in between whereby I have to specify the class location *and* the
relative path to the template file, namely, I need to specify
"bin/gov/noaa/ohrfc/resources/SHEF.template", whereas I want to specify
"resources/SHEF.template" or give it the full absolute pathname.

I am using version 1.6.1-dep.  Does a later version fix this problem?  
Or is there another work-around where I can either: 1) avoid giving the
class location (bin/gov/noaa/ohrfc)' or 2) give the entire absolute path
location [which can be determined on-the-fly using getResource().getFile()]?

Mark

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