public int getRosterAvailabilityCode (Date date) {
		
		// check roster's availability code for the date. Default is non available
		for (RosterAvailability ra : rosterAvailability) {
			if (ra.getDate().compareTo(date) == 0)
				return ra.getAvailabilityCode();
		}
		
		return RosterAvailability.ROSTER_ABSENT;
	}