From MEA's Executive Director - Rachelle Bristol

Turning Leaves, Hurricanes, and Black Cats

As I write this, the leaves are starting to turn signaling the beginning of fall. The weather is chilly in the evenings, and apple picking is on the list of things to do. Hurricane Lee has passed through Maine albeit without as much gusto as originally indicated much to the relief of many, including boat owners who wished for a longer season full of salt air and cool ocean breezes. October is on the horizon which brings pumpkins, trick or treating, decorations, and images of black hats and black cats.

Many of you know that since moving to Maine I have been adopted by a beautiful, black cat named Abby. She is technically my partner’s cat. However, she has taken a liking to me as well and has become a huge part of my world. There is a pecking order though, and she reminds me who rules the roost whenever I forget. Recently, while I have been working remotely, she has taken to jumping into my chair and staring defiantly at me to challenge whether I will move her or not. I must admit that I have taken some remote meetings from the couch rather than disturb the Ladybug. Who can resist the green eyes of a beloved pet who helps make the tough days better and the good days better yet? Given her important role in my world, I got to wondering about fun facts about cats, especially black cats. It is fall, and Halloween is fast approaching. So, I did some research and found some interesting things…

1) There are 22 breeds of cats with solid black fur. The Bombay breed is the only breed whose black fur will not fade. Most black cats actually change color over time. Their fur fades in sunlight to a rust or brownish color.

2) European sailors used to bring black cats onboard their vessels for good luck.

3) Most black cats have yellow eyes due to an excess of melanin. (Abby has green eyes making her even more special and rare.)

4) Black cats have at least two days dedicated to them. There is a Black Cat Appreciation Day on August 17th and National Black Cat Day on October 27th.

5) Black cats were worshipped as gods in ancient Egypt. The black cat was the physical embodiment of the goddess Bastet, a woman with the head of a black cat who watched over the crops, women, and the home.

6) Black Cats have their own café in Himeji, Japan. It is the first of its kind. Truth.

I also found a lot of articles that labeled black cats as bad luck and omens of bad things to come. I honestly cannot imagine that as Abby curls up on my lap at night or falls asleep next to me. This got me thinking about how we all make assumptions about people, places, or things that we have never met, visited or experienced, and more often than not those assumptions are inaccurate at best. It is a good reminder to me to be aware of my own assumptions and interactions with others so that I can continue my own journey open to personal development and growth.

MEA is also on its own growth journey. Every July, the MEA Board of Directors adopts strategic foci, and these foci drive the work of the union for the following year. The three foci are:

Membership Growth, DEIJ (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice), and Local Capacity/Member Engagement. To implement these foci, MEA is focused on meeting the needs of our members and growing an engaged, empowered membership. We will continue to gather feedback from you about your needs and wants to better support your work as an educator and a union leader/ member. We will be conducting surveys on DEIJ issues and will be looking for additional support to help us assess our own progress towards being an antiracist organization. We are planning trainings for all educators to help inform professional practice and build leadership competencies. MEA is on the move and needs each of you to help us, help you. If a survey or focus group invite comes your way, please respond. It is only through the two-way feedback loop that we can best grow as a union and not make inaccurate assumptions about our collective work.

As the school year progresses and the days get shorter, I just want to say thank you for all you do for your students and for MEA. The MEA staff and leadership look forward to partnering with you to move the strategic foci forward. And if you are ever on a Zoom call with me and see a black cat instead, don’t worry. It just means I have lost my chair once again. Have a great fall.

Best,
Rachelle