WESTERNPORT — With $5,130 from the Maryland Historical Trust and matching dollars and labor from its own coffers, the Westernport Heritage Society will begin its new fiscal year by improving the operation of its museum.

The total $18,045 will enhance the program at the society’s Maryland Avenue museum, which is located in the old Western Maryland Train Station adjacent to Railroad Park, president Tom Clayton announced.

The grant was awarded based on the society’s planning document, A Strategic Plan for the Westernport Heritage Society, 2006-2011. The Maryland Historical Trust, working through the Maryland Department of Planning, scored the grant application high in its competitive process.

Internet access is planned as part of the grant. A new Web site, weshersoc.org, has been designed to tell the organization’s story and to announce upcoming activities.

“A Web site has long been a dream of the society,” Clayton said. “Since so many Tri-Towners live away, we have tried for several years to organize a site like this to allow folks to know what’s going on back home.”

Pat McCarty prepared the grant application and designed the site. Members of the board and other volunteers helped with photos.

The grant funds improvements in leadership, collection standards, communications and financial resources. Money for training directors and volunteers as well as leadership evaluation will be included. Collection standards and practices will receive scrutiny with new museum software, computers and standardization. The society will begin regular newsletter publication in the spring. Bookkeeping will be improved with new software and the completion of a new financial practices manual.

The next meeting of the Westernport Heritage Society will take place Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. in the museum. Members will receive new membership lists and discuss the possibility of establishing a new furnace fund.