Fundraiser scales new heights

Coming this summer to the Woodmen Tower: a chance to rappel down the outside of the 478-foot skyscraper.

That's right: Rappel. Down. Skyscraper.

This September, the Mid-America Council of the Boy Scouts is putting on an “urban rappelling” at which people can hook up to a secure rope system and drop down the side of the building. It will be a fundraiser for the Boy Scouts, joining a charitable craze that is spreading across the continent.

For $1,000, you can take the drop, which the Boy Scouts, Woodmen of the World and event company Over the Edge assure is safe.

“It's not as frightening as it seems,” said Katie Godbout, the Mid-America Council's public relations director. “It should be pretty exhilarating.”

So far, the Boy Scouts have received one high-profile rappelling commitment: Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle.

Suttle joked that he has three fears in life: water, heights and his wife. When he told his wife about rappelling the city's second-tallest building, Suttle said her response was, “You're going to do what?”

Suttle said he plans to keep looking up as he drops down. “I feel very safe and confident.”

Over the Edge started as an event in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and has expanded to 55 events across the United States for 2010, with most events supporting the Special Olympics. The Omaha event will be Sept. 18, a Saturday.

On its website, the company says that while the event's perceived risk is very high, the actual risk is extremely low. It touts a clean safety record with “zero incidents” and says the event is not risky, adventurist or crazy.

The rappelling involves a two-rope system with a main line controlled by the rappeller and a safety backup, handled by trained staff, that restricts the descent, the company said.

Over the Edge said it treats the site as an industrial work area and adheres to industrial rope usage standards, which are stricter than what is typical for recreational climbing. Ropes are inspected before and after each event, and a safety check is performed before each person's descent and every 2½ hours during the event, the company said.

Winds of 35 miles per hour or greater usually cause an event to be postponed, but Over the Edge said rain would be a comfort issue, not a safety problem.

The company carries $10 million in liability insurance. A call placed to Over the Edge was not returned.

Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society, which owns the Woodmen Tower, signed off on the use of its building.

The Boy Scouts suggested the idea to Woodmen through Mark Theisen, the company's executive vice president and a board member for the Mid-America Council.

Joseph Hromadka, Woodmen's vice president of administrative services, said Woodmen officials satisfied questions about liability and safety even the impact on the nesting peregrine falcons following a series of calls with Over the Edge.

“They felt this is a very serious matter and safety was their top priority,” he said.

So will anyone from Woodmen rappel down?

“I haven't heard anybody jumping up and down saying they want to do it,” Hromadka said. When he suggested to his wife that he might want to try, Hromadka said her response was “not good.”

The event isn't expected to close any streets, although event chairman Rick Sanders said the Boy Scouts will need an event permit from the city.

Plans call for people to rappel down the Woodmen's east side, landing not on the street but on a patio atop the fifth floor.

Proceeds will benefit the Scoutreach program for inner-city youths. The Boy Scouts, which will have upfront costs of $24,500 to bring in Over the Edge, hope to net $50,000 from the event and make it a regular fundraiser.

For the first event, the Boy Scouts expect to get 60 to 90 people to sign up either for themselves or to hook up someone they know.

“It's an opportunity for people to send their friend or CEO over the edge,” said Lloyd Roitstein, the Mid-America Council's president.

Contact the writer: 444-1128, jeff.robb@owh.com

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