The Maine Association of Retirees has become the Coalition to Preserve Retirement Security's 50th Member.

The association has more than 15,000 members and is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and expanding the rights and benefits of Maine's public service retirees.

Maine has 67,000 public employees not covered by Social Security. Mandatory coverage would cost the state $446 million over five years, according to The Segal Company.