docs: def get_start_date(self):
          """Gets the start date.
  
          return: (osid.calendaring.DateTime) - the start date
          *compliance: mandatory -- This method must be implemented.*
  
          """
          sdate = self._my_map['startDate']
          return DateTime(
              sdate.year,
              sdate.month,
              sdate.day,
              sdate.hour,
              sdate.minute,
              sdate.second,
              sdate.microsecond)