At the December 2024 CEB-US Annual Conclave in Georgia, the Club Epagneul Breton of the United States, Inc. (CEB-US) proudly celebrated Linda Rice of Surprise, Arizona, as the 2024 recipient of the esteemed Peter Ward Service Award (click learn more and see past recipients). This award is a cherished tradition within our community, conceived to honor the dedicated members whose selfless and often unsung contributions have shaped the club and supported the broader Epagneul Breton community across the United States.
The Peter Ward Service Award is a tribute to sustained volunteer service, recognizing individuals who embody the spirit of generosity, dedication, and humility. Each year, a committee composed of previous recipients selects the honoree, and Linda Rice was unanimously chosen for this distinction.
Linda, alongside her husband Don, has been a cornerstone of the Epagneul Breton community through their small family-run kennel, Sun Country Bretons, located in Surprise, AZ. Over the years, they have bred exceptional dogs while nurturing the traditions and values of the breed. Linda has been a steadfast and generous supporter of CEB-US, contributing her time and talents to numerous club initiatives and events. Together, she and Don have traveled across the country to attend and assist with countless CEB-US gatherings, exemplifying the spirit of camaraderie and shared passion that defines our community. They've also played a pivotal role in the revitalization of our regional club in the southwest - Epagneul Bretons of the Southwest.
Linda’s leadership and service to the club are both extensive and invaluable. As the long-time webmaster for the official CEB-US website, she ensured that members had access to timely and accurate information, fostering connection and communication across the nation. Linda also played an integral role in the inception of the Epagneul Breton Foundation, lending her artistic, creative, and literary talents to design, maintain, and update the foundation’s website, www.epagneulbretonfoundation.org. Her quiet dedication to these critical efforts has left a lasting impact on our community and our breed.
Linda continues to share her love of the Epagneul Breton with newcomers to the breed and veterans of the EB community alike. She still melts at the smile of a puppy and finds pride in sharing stories of past EBs that accomplished so much and helped establish the breed's foothold in the southwest and beyond.
During the award presentation, one of the speakers remarked, “Linda is one of those quiet, diligent, and highly effective people whose contributions often go unnoticed because everything she does is executed so seamlessly. Yet her efforts have been fundamental to the success of CEB-US and the advancement of the Epagneul Breton in the USA. This is precisely what the Peter Ward Award seeks to recognize and honor.”
We are deeply grateful for Linda’s many years of unselfish service and her unwavering commitment to the Epagneul Breton community. Her contributions have strengthened our traditions, brought us closer together, and ensured the continued vitality of our beloved breed.
Congratulations, Linda, on this well-deserved recognition. Your dedication and humility inspire us all, and we are fortunate to count you among our ranks. Here’s to celebrating your remarkable achievements and to the continued growth of the CEB-US community!
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