THE GENIUS CLUB: A novel of life and survival in a declining America The setting is the Eldorado Estates Country Club resort in a 'tony' area of Southern Florida. The resort was once upon its opening 'the place, ' a restricted conclave and playground of the very wealthy. But as the area developed and other plusher resorts dotted the area, Eldorado became a second class destination now unrestricted and open to anyone who could afford it. The facilities were still there but it no longer held the same panache, as it dropped a notch and became a status spot for more of the older middle class. Douglas Carpenter is gifted two months at Eldorado every year-December and January-by his son Chance with the understanding that Doug does not visit him and his family over the holidays. Doug, a retired corporate executive with the looks of a garden gnome wanders aimlessly around the resort assuming the role of a womanizer-a role he always fantasized about but never has been. His afternoon ritual is to have his happy hour at 3 PM every day in the resort's bar The Sun and Fun Room trying with no luck to pick-up women, really any woman. At age 80, even with the aging princesses and matriarchs abounding, it is not an easy task.

Then one day his performance piece attracts Velma Robinson a voluptuous lady of 70 who still turns heads (even old lecherous heads) in a revealing bikini. They somehow hit it off (miracles can happen) and to relieve their boredom and loneliness they form what they call The Genius Club as a guise to tackle society's problems. They never envisioned anything really happening other than stimulation to relieve their boredom. As others join them, The Genius Club takes shape as a reservoir of other's stories and hope for change in a society gone mad. Even if nothing is accomplished it becomes a form of group therapy where some lost and disgruntled souls can become involved and stimulated. The book depicts a possible route for people to get involved and take some action for what they perceive as a loss of humane values. Join the journey with The Genius Club where change is not focused on the acquisition of wealth and material possessions but on enhancing people and humanity. It doesn't take a genius-at any age.