diff --git a/db/migrate/009_convert_member_rate_to_full_rates.rb b/db/migrate/009_convert_member_rate_to_full_rates.rb
index ed3589e..781154e 100644
--- a/db/migrate/009_convert_member_rate_to_full_rates.rb
+++ b/db/migrate/009_convert_member_rate_to_full_rates.rb
@@ -16,11 +16,18 @@ class ConvertMemberRateToFullRates < ActiveRecord::Migration
     # Add a new Rate object for each Member
     Member.find(:all, :conditions => ['rate IS NOT NULL']).each do |member|
       say_with_time "Converting rate for #{member.user.to_s} - #{member.project.to_s}" do
+        # Need to find the first date for any TimeEntries  #1924
+        first_time_entry = TimeEntry.find(:first,
+                                          :conditions => ['project_id = (?) AND user_id = (?)', member.project_id, member.user_id],
+                                          :order => 'spent_on ASC')
+        date_in_effect = first_time_entry.spent_on if first_time_entry
+        date_in_effect ||= member.created_on
+
         rate = Rate.new({
                           :user => member.user,
                           :amount => member.rate,
                           :project => member.project,
-                          :date_in_effect => member.created_on
+                          :date_in_effect => date_in_effect
                         })
         rate.save!
       end