     //  minDate
     //----------------------------------
     
-    private var _minDate:Date;
+    private var _minDate:Date = new Date(MIN_DATE_DEFAULT.time);
     
     private var minDateChanged:Boolean = false;
     

        if (minDateChanged || maxDateChanged || syncSelectedDate || minuteStepSizeChanged)
        {        
            // check min <= max
            if (minDate.time > maxDate.time)
            {
                // note assumption here that we're not using the defaults since they
                // should always maintain minDate < maxDate integrity

                newEnabledValue = true;
                
                tempDate.month = i;
                if ((tempDate.fullYear == _minDate.fullYear
                    && tempDate.month < _minDate.month) ||
                    (tempDate.fullYear == _maxDate.fullYear
                        && tempDate.month > _maxDate.month))
                    newEnabledValue = false;
                
                curObj = listData[i];
