Question: how to get MacOS Big Sur 11.4 to recognize a package from saved worksheets? It works with new blank worksheets!

I'm having an issue with MacOS Big Sur 11.4 recognizing a package from saved documents. The package works great from new documents! 

Specifically: 
I've followed the instructions on 
https://www.maplesoft.com/support/help/Maple/view.aspx?path=worksheet/reference/initialization
to add  a .mapleinit
file to my user home directory under MacOS Big Sur 11.4

The .mapleinit file has code as follows to run the VLA package: 
VLAlibpath := "/VLA/library/":
libname := `VLAlibpath`, libname:
and I have the VLA package files with the library inside of it in my home directory too. 

When I open a new Maple document and run and use the package, it works just fine! 

The problem though is that if I save the Maple file and reopen it, it will no longer recognizes the package. I get: 
Error, invalid input: with expects its 1st argument, pname, to be of type {`module`, package}, but received VLA

It is very odd since the file still recognizes the libname just fine:
libname;   "VLA/library/", "/Library/Frameworks/Maple.framework/Versions/2021/lib"

The workaround is to copy and paste into a new document and start a fresh but that is obviously not ideal. 

Any ideas? It is a really really old package, but great for visualization.

Thanks,
Sarah