Cincinnati Lawyer Michael W. Hawkins, a member of the Board of Governors of the American Red Cross, recently traveled with the Red Cross to Ghana, Africa, on a mass measles vaccination campaign.

Hawkins, a law partner with Dinsmore & Shohl in Cincinnati, said the trip gave him an opportunity to learn about other cultures.

"This was a rewarding trip to me,'' Hawkins said. "This was an opportunity to provide humanitarian assistance to others less fortunate. We had a chance to talk to elderly people, tribal leaders and children. We visited a Muslim leader who had an Osama bin Laden sign in his tent. We talked with an Apostolic Faith group that didn't believe in medicine, but we were able to convince them to let the kids be vaccinated."

Red Cross workers inoculated 8 million children in Ghana with the measles vaccine. The goal is to eliminate measles in Africa by year 2005 by inoculating 200 million children between the ages of nine months and 15 years old, Hawkins said. To date, 70 million children have been inoculated in Africa.

The mass measles campaign is a joint program of the American Red Cross, the Federation of Red Cross Red Crescent Societies, Centers for Disease Control, the World Health Organization, UNICEF and the UN Foundation.

Hawkins plans to attend the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Society meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, in May.

"The measles campaign trip has created a lot of local interest, especially fund-raising groups,'' Hawkins said.

Nearly a thousand kids, ages 5 to 15, will have a chance to enjoy and experience firsthand the wonders of nature in June and July.

The chance comes through the Salvation Army's Camp Swoneky. Registration started Monday at 114 E. Central Parkway, Over-the-Rhine and runs through May.

Ginny Tripp, city ministries development manager, said those interested must call to make an appointment first.

Youth camps are held on June 25-29 and July 9-13 for ages 7-12.

Camps for single parents and children are June 13-15, ages 5-15

For children only the cost is $15. For single parents and children, the cost is $25.

Camp Swoneky is part of the Salvation Army's summer youth programs, Tripp said.

"The aim is to help campers make positive decisions, stimulate creativity and foster independence," Tripp said.

Jumping ropes for the heart at the Mason City Schools netted $33,003.95 for the American Heart Association. A check for that amount was presented last Friday at the school.

"About 2,100 children participated," said Shelly Benesh Hausman, public relations official for the school.

Allen Howard's "Some Good News'' column runs Sunday-Friday. If you have suggestions about outstanding achievements, or people who are uplifting to the Tristate, let him know at 768-8362, at ahoward@enquirer.com or by fax at 768-8340.