     // clean out the container: remove all elements, detach event listeners, null out references
     private function cleanContainer():void
     {
-        listContainer.removeAllElements();
+        if (listContainer)
+            listContainer.removeAllElements();
         
         if (yearList)
         {

    //
    //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    [SkinPart(required="true")]
    /**
     *  The default factory for creating SpinnerList interfaces for all fields.
     *  This is used by createDateItemList().

                        break;
                    }	
                }
                if (tempList && listContainer)
                {
                    tempList.addEventListener(IndexChangeEvent.CHANGE, dateItemList_changeHandler);
                    listContainer.addElement(tempList);                    
                }
            }
        }
    }
