The Des Moines Moms Club, a private Facebook group, boasts thousands of members.The page was founded by Katie Patterson nine years ago when she became a mom.”Several of my friends had babies then so I had just started a Facebook group for just us to be able to say hey how do you change a diaper? How do you do the formula? And how do you get some sleep and some things like that,” Patterson said. It grew from just a few friends to a whole community.Patterson says her main goal has always been to connect everyone to the resources they need. “I have led initiatives to get formula connected to moms during the massive formula shortage. I have led initiative to this past fall, I started the teacher wish lists all across Iowa,” Patterson said.Last week, Patterson announced the free Facebook page would only be accessible through a $1 per month fee. The fee later changed to $2.99 per month.Some group members weren’t happy with that.”What does that mean when we take a community and put a price tag on it?” said member Nicolle Hook.Nicolle Hook says the Facebook group has been a priceless resource for her and her family.She hopes the page remains free.”To then take those resources and that decade of comments and information and sharing tips to each other put it behind a paywall, feels a little unethical,” Hook said.Other moms in the group share they have no problem paying the fee.”I did go ahead and sign up for the subscription,” said member Ashley Vratny. “Obviously, there are mixed opinions but to me, I was either going to pay or just leave.”Patterson announced on Wednesday after receiving rude comments and harassment on the page she will table the idea of a subscription for the Facebook page.Patterson said her work on the group is on pause.Non-paying members are not getting kicked out.Patterson may have the subscription on her website Des MoinesMomsClub.com in the future but she’s not sure yet.For those who already paid, she said she will communicate in an email about what happens next and what she built for paying members to join.
The Des Moines Moms Club, a private Facebook group, boasts thousands of members.
The page was founded by Katie Patterson nine years ago when she became a mom.
“Several of my friends had babies then so I had just started a Facebook group for just us to be able to say hey how do you change a diaper? How do you do the formula? And how do you get some sleep and some things like that,” Patterson said.
It grew from just a few friends to a whole community.
Patterson says her main goal has always been to connect everyone to the resources they need.
“I have led initiatives to get formula connected to moms during the massive formula shortage. I have led initiative to this past fall, I started the teacher wish lists all across Iowa,” Patterson said.
Last week, Patterson announced the free Facebook page would only be accessible through a $1 per month fee. The fee later changed to $2.99 per month.
Some group members weren’t happy with that.
“What does that mean when we take a community and put a price tag on it?” said member Nicolle Hook.
Nicolle Hook says the Facebook group has been a priceless resource for her and her family.
She hopes the page remains free.
“To then take those resources and that decade of comments and information and sharing tips to each other put it behind a paywall, feels a little unethical,” Hook said.
Other moms in the group share they have no problem paying the fee.
“I did go ahead and sign up for the subscription,” said member Ashley Vratny. “Obviously, there are mixed opinions but to me, I was either going to pay or just leave.”
Patterson announced on Wednesday after receiving rude comments and harassment on the page she will table the idea of a subscription for the Facebook page.
Patterson said her work on the group is on pause.
Non-paying members are not getting kicked out.
Patterson may have the subscription on her website Des MoinesMomsClub.com in the future but she’s not sure yet.
For those who already paid, she said she will communicate in an email about what happens next and what she built for paying members to join.
