Building the Foundation: SATH's New Committee Structure

Building the Foundation: SATH's New Committee Structure

A message to Epsilon Alumni from the St. Anthony Trust of Hartford Board

If you've been following along, you know 2026 has been a pivotal year for St. Anthony Trust of Hartford. With the Epsilon Chapter's planned reopening at Trinity College now targeted for July 2027, the Board has spent recent months doing the less visible — but essential — work of rebuilding SATH's governance so we're ready to support the chapter's return.

That work starts with committees.

Why This Matters

For a while, SATH operated with a small, informal group handling everything from finances to building maintenance to correspondence with Trinity and National. That approach carried us through some lean years, but it isn't built for what's ahead: a three-party reinstatement agreement, a renovated chapter house, and a new generation of undergraduates who can use the Epsilon Chapter House.

So the Board has adopted a 8-committee structure — each with a clear purpose, defined membership, and a direct line of reporting back to the full Board. Seven are ongoing; two are temporary groups with a specific mission. Here's a quick look at each one.

1. Executive Committee: Made up of our officers (President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary), this group keeps things moving between full Board meetings — setting agendas, coordinating across committees, and making sure urgent matters get in front of the full Board quickly.

   
   

2. Finance Committee: Chaired by our Treasurer, this committee oversees the budget, financial reporting, and the financial policies that keep SATH on solid footing — including the resources we'll need for the reopening and for 340 Summit St.

   
   

3. Governance/Nominating Committee: This is the group responsible for building the Board itself: recruiting new Directors, onboarding them, and keeping our bylaws and governance practices in good shape.

   
   

4. Development/Fundraising Committee: Reopening a chapter isn't free. This committee will lead our fundraising strategy and alumni engagement efforts to make sure we have the resources to get Epsilon back on its feet.

   
   

5. Communications/Marketing Committee: You're reading this because of them. This group is responsible for keeping alumni informed — through updates like this one, our newsletter, and other alumni communications — as things develop.

   
   

6. Reopening Committee: Perhaps the highest-stakes group right now, this committee serves as SATH's primary point of contact with both Trinity College and St. Anthony Hall National, working through the details of the reinstatement agreement and tracking our progress toward the July 2027 target.

   
   

7. Buildings and Grounds Committee. A permanent committee focused on the care and maintenance of the Epsilon Chapter house at 340 Summit Street — keeping the building and grounds in good condition, overseeing ongoing repair projects like the current window restoration, and making sure the property is ready for the chapter's return.

   

   Ogilby Hall ca. 1941

   1. Ogilby Committee: Many of you know Hall's story — it was built with funds donated by Epsilon undergraduates and alumni, and for years it provided both undergraduate housing as the home for the Eating Club. Ogilby now needs to be brought up to code and requires significant renovation, and this committee will work through that with Trinity College: negotiating on the building's future, and defining the scope, design, and cost of the work ahead. Once that picture is clear, the project moves into fundraising mode with the Development Committee, and this sub-committee will act in a supporting role until we are able to proceed with the project. We're specifically looking for alumni with negotiation, architecture/design, or construction cost-estimating experience for this one — if that's you, we'd love to talk.

      
      

8. Historical Committee (temporary): This one is a little different — it's not a standing committee, but a focused, time-limited effort. Its job is to take an honest look at Epsilon's historical practices and traditions, consider how much has changed since many of us were undergraduates, and help the Board put updated best practices in place — especially around hazing prevention — before we welcome a new generation of members. This committee will also help us build a historical sequence for Epsilon, it will be one that takes into account individual's experiences, as well as the evolution of the chapter, the more memories, the closer we will all remain to the chapter and Trinity College.

We're Looking for Volunteers

A stronger committee structure means more transparency, more accountability, and — frankly — more hands on deck. And that's where you come in.

The Board is now recruiting alumni volunteers for each of the eight committees:

• Executive Committee

• Finance Committee

• Governance/Nominating Committee

• Development/Fundraising Committee

• Communications/Marketing Committee

• Reopening Committee

• Buildings and Grounds Committee

  • Ogilby Sub-Committee

• Historical Committee (temporary)

If you're interested in serving, we want to hear from you. Let us know which committee (or committees) interest you, along with a bit about your background and what you'd bring to the table — relevant professional experience, prior involvement with SATH or Epsilon, and how much time you're able to commit. The Board will review all interest and follow up individually as we finalize committee assignments.

This is genuinely a good moment to get involved. We're building the team that will carry Epsilon through reopening, and we'd rather draw on the full strength of our alumni network than fill seats by default.

Interested? Please complete this form so that the SATH Board can take into account your skills and interests and consider your inclusion on one of the numerous committees. We need the best of our community, so let us know.

What's Next

Look for more updates as the Board finalizes committee assignments and as the reinstatement agreement with Trinity and National moves toward completion. We're grateful for the alumni community's patience and support through this transition, and we're genuinely excited about where things are headed.

Onward to July 2027.

YITB

Andrew Whitney for The St. Anthony Trust of Hartford Board