About 1,026 holders of residential and commercial property leases from Great Northern Paper Co. have joined a new organization that will represent them in negotiations with the paper company.

The Maine Leaseholders Association held its annual meeting last Saturday in Bangor. About 525 leaseholders participated in the meeting, whether in person or by proxy.

Maurice Deshaies of Westbrook was elected president of the association.

Other officers are Steve Simonds of Presque Isle, vice president; Timothy Pinette of East Baldwin, treasurer; and Paul L. Rudman of Bangor, secretary.

Directors include Deshaies, Simonds, Pinette, Herbert Bunker of Augusta, Crozer Fox of Southwest Harbor, Leroy Nisbett of Monmouth, Robert Emerson of Millinocket and John McDevitt of Burlington, Mass..

According to a statement released by the association, Daniel Corcoran of GNP was one of the speakers at the meeting. Corcoran said the company welcomed the formation of the association and expressed hope that it would lead to better communications between Great Northern and its leaseholders.

Corcoran also attempted to justify potential increases in recreational lease fees by citing a dramatic increase in taxes assessed on Great Northern for its leased recreational properties, according to the statement.

In his report to the membership, Deshaies said he was encouraged by the number of leaseholders who had joined the association. About 57 percent of the 1,800 holders of commercial or residential leases from Great Northern have joined.

Membership is open to all GNP leaseholders. For more information, write to the Maine Leaseholders Association in care of Maurice Deshaies, York Insurance Group of Maine, P.O. Box 840, Westbrook 04092.