A. For RCP or The Noble Blades use, communal weapons can be borrowed by a member of The Noble Blades if he/she is in good standing (current membership, signed waiver, etc.) and has permission of a senior member of the group.

B. For all other uses (i.e. non-RCP groups), weapons can only be signed out by a member of The Noble Blades who is also a current recognized actor/combatant in the Society of American Fight Directors (or other qualified individual pre-approved by a senior member) who in turn must instruct and supervise the actors of said group in the proper use of the weapons. Only groups that accept and allow instruction and oversight by The Noble Blades will be allowed to rent and use communal weapons.

A. For RCP or The Noble Blades use, the responsible individual need only fill out the sign out sheet on the weapons cabinet. There is no charge.

B. For all other uses (i.e. non-RCP groups), the responsible individual will fill out the sign out sheet on the weapons cabinet as above plus a standard RCP multi-copy rental form (one copy to RCP, one to the renting group and one retained by the responsible individual) and distribute and collect copies of RCP's legal waiver for all individuals handling the weapons. Non-RCP groups will be charged $5/week/weapon for small items (daggers, knives, guns, etc.) and $10/week/weapon for large items (swords, quarterstaves, etc.). Payment should be determined and collected in advance based on the applicable rehearsal and performance period. Checks should be made payable to RCP with "The Noble Blades" written on the memo line.

The Noble Blades are a subset of, and subject to, the Reston Community Players. A key phrase of RCP's mission statement that applies to the blades as well is "a commitment to theatrical excellence... with a level of professionalism rarely aspired to in amateur theatre."

Our own mission statement is as follows: "Founded in 1993, The Noble Blades are the resident stage combat troupe of the Reston Community Players and the area's only professionally trained, community theatre-based fight group. The Noble Blades are committed to continued education about stage combat and its performance of stage combat in an entertaining, educational, historically accurate and safe manner."

All artistic and performance-related activities in RCP (including main-stage shows, NVTA one acts, Shelton Hall Memorial Scholarship, Travelling Players and The Noble Blades) fall under the purview of the board-appointed artistic director for RCP. The Noble Blades are expected to conform to RCP's artistic standards. Though that control has been only lightly exercised so far, The Noble Blades recognize the role of RCP's artistic director in ensuring a standard of quality for everything that carries the RCP name.

Day-to-day oversight of The Noble Blades (including artistic, logistic and financial functions) is the responsibility of The Noble Blades liaison, who is appointed by the RCP board of directors and serves solely at their pleasure and discretion. The board recognizes the risk inherent in stage combat and has shown a tremendous level of trust in The Noble Blades to date.

As previously stated, The Noble Blades fall under the RCP umbrella and we must always keep the best interests of the entire organization in mind.

RCP provides The Noble Blades with unprecedented resources, including a rehearsal space, a fully equipped scene shop, storage, insurance and publicity all at no internal cost. Through RCP, the blades also have access to many other theatre groups and other opportunities throughout the metropolitan area.

All active Noble Blades members join RCP yearly for access to the above resources and in turn are welcome and encouraged to take part in all RCP activities.

All revenue from The Noble Blades activities are accounted for under our own line item in the RCP budget, allowing us to track and spend it on new weapons and other items which belong to the group to be used for classes, rentals, training, etc. Effective December 2001, any money spent on behalf of The Noble Blades must be approved by The Noble Blades liaison to the RCP board of directors before reimbursement will be issued. Forms should be filled out as usual and placed in The Noble Blades box for the liaison's signature and subsequent reimbursement by the RCP treasurer. This arrangement is similar to the fiscal responsibility assigned to producers of main-stage or one act productions.

The Noble Blades engage in many stage combat related activities throughout the year. These include:

Classes: The Noble Blades offer a beginner/brush up class each year, usually in the first quarter. We also offer periodic "master classes" with guest instructors, usually SAFD certified teachers and fight directors. Lastly, we offer SAFD skills proficiency tests, though in recent years these have been limited to re-test workshops due to a lack of teachers available to come out to Reston week after week. However, opportunities for would-be actor/combatants exist elsewhere in the area and beyond.

Workshops: We also offer stage combat workshops to theatrical and educational organizations throughout the DC area. A senior member of the group will serve as the client liaison and lead workshop, while other members are welcome to participate.

Demos: The Noble Blades put on stage combat demonstrations for educational and civic organizations. Again, a senior member will take the lead and will involve others as necessary.

Fight Choreography: Members of The Noble Blades provide fight choreography to various educational, community, regional and professional theatrical groups throughout the area. These services are offered at minimal or no cost and often in conjunction with weapons rentals. The only Noble Blades member that can take the lead on a choreography gig is someone who has passed a Skills Proficiency Test from the SAFD. Other members of the group may assist this person, but cannot choreograph in The Noble Blades' name nor use RCP weapons outside the group for any purpose. See the weapons sign-out/rental policy for full details. The board of directors is adamant about this, primarily for liability reasons.

The Noble Blades are committed to continuous learning in the area of stage combat. Though not required, we highly recommend that our members join the Society of American Fight Directors (SAFD). SAFD membership includes their newsletter and magazine, which contain notices of workshops throughout the country. Please note that you do not need to be an actor/combatant to join the SAFD. The Noble Blades will continue to post class info on their Web site and encourage members to check out other sites including www.safd.org for info on training elsewhere.

The five member committee will consist of the following individuals:

Reston Community Players artistic director (invited, though he/she may choose not to attend or send another board member as proxy).

Board appointed Noble Blades liaison.

Three members of The Noble Blades general membership to be elected by the membership yearly. As with RCP's board elections, this process will consist of nominations taken in advance or from the floor, votes placed by secret ballot, and results announced before adjournment of the meeting.

The producer for each year's touring show will be selected by The Noble Blades liaison, just as RCP's executive producer chooses the main-stage and one act show producers.

The primary means of communication with our members will be continue to be our Web site, www.nobleblades.org. RCP's newsletter, The Callboard, will also be used as usual, but it is less immediate and has limited space.

Members should check the site frequently for news and updates. Additionally, a listserv is being added to the Web site. Members who sign up will receive an e-mail message every time the site is updated. This will also be the primary method of sending notices out to the membership of The Noble Blades. Like all listservs, the user must sign up for the service on their own. See the Links page on the Web site for instructions.